tawandamusarurwa
Andrew Mangwarara
THE capital city is now synonymous with new service stations as fuel companies are capitalising on the high volume of vehicles and, in turn, demand for petrol and diesel.
One of the service stations that stands out, because of its beautiful surroundings, is Total, on Sam Nujoma Street, near the University of Zimbabwe.
This fuelling centre is greened up to modern-day standards, with the landscaping being the major highlight of the place. The landscape designer ensured every available space has colourful and vibrant plants to give the place a unique ambiance.
A coffee shop and a tyre service section are also available at the service station.
As you enter, you see a welcome sign erected among a group of plants, namely, the African lily (agapanthus orientalis), the New Zealand flax (phormium tenax), Joseph’s coat (alternanthera bettzickiana), the iris (dietes iridiodes) and others.
The outside lawn is adorned with a special plant, the fever tree (acacia xanthophloea), which has a characteristic yellow bark that provides an all-year-round colour theme, whilst its shade cools the surroundings as it grows up to 25 metres in height.
Adjacent to the service centre is a major intersection, where motorists jostle for a chance to take their preferred direction, in the surrounding islands decorated with different drought-tolerant succulents.
In the midst of this selection is a pathway that pedestrians can use to walk freely and even stop to cross the roads safely. Marigolds, crassulas, purple hearts, bulbinella and the ice plant are at home at the intersection.
Inside the centre, you are welcomed by two common cycads, the gorongo cycad and the Japanese sago palm.
You just have to go and see for yourself the lively water pond at the front entrance of the coffee shop. What a pleasant sight!
The tree fern thriving at the corner makes you feel at home. Well-blended plants allow one to refuel like a king.
The royal palm (roystonea regia) shares the stage among great members of the plant kingdom.
As you leave the centre, you are seen off by a Total sign inscribed on the ground with the golden duranta (duranta repens) plant.
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