Resident exhibits design mastery in home garden

Andrew Mangwarara

WHEN you visit the Westgate suburb in Harare, you get the feeling that it is a place for the rich and famous.

It was a pleasure to visit Mr Godfrey Bezaliel’s residence, which was carefully designed to modern-day standards.

It took him a lot to come up with such a grand design.

Thumbs up for him on plant selection. He has a good sample of native and exotic cycads, as well as a number of other gorgeous palms.

The outside yard has a lawn to die for and a well-preserved ancient acacia abyssinica tree standing erect.

The combination of encephalartos manikensis and acacia is a match made in heaven. There is a well-trimmed duranta hedge around the tree.

This garden is well-protected from erosion by a cement wall encircling the small outside plot. It offers a great view since it is raised above the surrounding road.

Two Madagascar palms that stand opposite each other as you enter the gate have their own unique architectural beauty.

Once you enter, you will find a small garden. You wiil also get a glimpse of a neat swimming pool with sparkling clear water. A fountain at the top, encapsulated by a group of succulents, is intriguing.

The fishtail palm (caryota urens) is a welcome sight considering that it is a rare specimen in most gardens.

Next to it is the encephalartos horridus, a real gem from South Africa with grey spine-shaped leaves.

Tucked neatly by the corner is a grouping of different succulent plants, a water-wise landscape design that needs to be emulated by many.Design mastery is what one finds in this small garden.

In another corner is an old wheelbarrow with a piece of matching wood. The sculpture sits next to a cycad.

The cycas revoluta are in full bloom, and what a sight!

While the royal palm is majestic in this garden, the grouping of cycads continues throughout the place, even where space is limited. This creates an exotic unique garden.

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