Sundaymail Editor
Andrew Mangwarara
MOST gardens are glowing as a result of the abundant rains we are receiving.
Even those who struggle to keep their premises green due to water shortages have something to smile about.
This week, we feature Homelux Real Estate’s office garden, which was excellently designed using a variety of rare architectural plants.
Homelux specialises in leasing buildings, as well as buying and selling houses, enabling buyers to make the best choices for their business or lifestyle needs.
Besides the lush green kikuyu lawn, exotic palms have been incorporated into the garden design. They include the royal palm and the queen palm. The two are par excellence landscaping palms.
A garden without the cycad family is still in its virgin days, as cycads give a garden maturity and elegance.
They include the Japanese sago palm and the white-haired cycad. These are great cycads for the garden.
Cycas revoluta can grow to about a metre in height, so its position should be considered relative to all the other features in the garden.
Encephalartos species are indigenous to Southern Africa, so they deserve to be preserved in our gardens, as they are becoming extinct every year tkikuhat passes due to destruction of their habitat.
When designing a garden, try to preserve existing trees or long-living natural features, for example, the Msasa tree, which, among our indigenous trees, gives a garden the Zimbabwean feel.
Trees give shade to lower species of plants, while they, at the same time, give shade to the garden, thereby lowering the ambient temperature. They also provide a relaxing setting where garden chairs and tables are positioned.
According to Greek mythology, water represents power, wisdom, grace and wealth. That is why many still believe in water features, as Homelux has excellently done.
It brings life to a garden, especially when fish are in water with colourful water lilies.
It is equally important to choose plants according to your colour scheme, as is the case with Homelux’s garden, where yellow is the dominant theme.
The colour is represented by the yellow oleander, gazania rigens, forget-me-not tree, tree aloe, century plant and pencil euphorbia.
Always try to match the garden with the building, as is the case with the grey paint matching gazanias and dusty miller.
Let us continue to green up our cities, homes and communities.
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