tawandamusarurwa
Andrew Mangwarara
THE lush suburb of Highlands is home to Sabre Business World, which strives to satisfy the corporate world’s needs with conference facilities for business training and management meetings.
The owners have endeavoured to create a green venue with the right atmosphere for high-profile events since 2019.
The general manager, Mr Josh Middleton, said Pleasure in Palms (a palm nursery) maintains the gardens for them.
After parking your car, you will immediately notice the leopard tree (caesalpinia ferrea), characterised by soft foliage and beautifully marked bark.
Queen palms (arecastrum romanzoffianum), which have matured over the years, are an excellent addition to a garden where various palms are sold by Pleasure in Palms.
At the entrance, you will not miss the full-grown parasol plant (schefflera arboricola), mondo grass (ophiopodon japonicus), the African lily (agapanthus africanus), the stalked bulbine (bulbine frutescens) and a touch of silver provided by lavender (lavandula officinalis).
A water lily-filled pond greets you as you are about to enter the reception area.
Here, pots with screw pine (pandanus utilis), agave attenuata and asparagus fern (asparagus officinalis) intrigue you with their desert, tropical foliage forms.
As you leave the car park, you are also welcomed into the garden by a mature bird of paradise (strelitzia reginae), with its crane-shaped yellow flowers.
Not too far from there is the giant white bird of paradise (strelitzia nicolai), which has its indigenous roots in southern Africa.
It is capable of reaching a height of 12 metres.
Interestingly planted together are the northern large leaf dragon tree (dracaena steudneri) and Mauritius hemp or false agave (fucraea foetida), trying to outshine each other with their sword-shaped leaves.
But I think the leaves of the false agave, with their white and green stripes, take the trophy.
Some garden chairs, which are wisely concealed, provide privacy for serious business discussions. Past that area, you are mesmerised by the sound of a waterfall in an open courtyard, where business leaders can sit to have lunch.
As I always say, what is a garden without a water feature?
The sounds of nature, like waterfalls and bird tunes, add to the relaxing atmosphere in this landscape.
It pays to green up your surroundings and add colour such as the one provided by white roses near the food court.
A brick walkway is always better than a solid cement floor. Bricks also allow the soil to breathe and water to percolate into the ground.
This greened up space is unique because, at every corner, there is a surprise space the landscaper created, managing to have different “rooms” in a garden.
Each corner created has its own privacy.
The nursery at the back has its own garden space, where you can also be refreshed as you explore the different palms found there.
Other interesting plants here are variegated shell ginger (alpinia vittata), bulrush (typha capensis), date palm (phoenix reclinata), Japanese sago palm (Cycas revoluta) and purple heart (setcresea purpurea).
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Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter