Charles did a talk for the Formosa Garden Club recently at
his sister Wilja’s extraordinary venue, Ouland Royale, fondly also known as the
Barn, on the Reitz family farm Ouland, outside Plettenberg Bay. Charles is not
a seasoned speaker but quickly had his audience engrossed as he imparted some
of his knowledge about trees and gardening in general, all fuelled by his
natural passion.
Charles naturally concentrated on trees and tree care,
including creative pruning, with little tips that come from daily experience
and make all the difference in getting the tree to look just that much better
and that much healthier. He also spoke about subtleties of style in large and
small gardens, including tips on tending plants brought in from commercial
nurseries and their special requirements, and the best types of compost (which
you can’t buy).
Charles is also passionate about subtlety in gardens (and
roadsides for that matter) and not shocking the viewer with an overdose of
juxtaposed colours. Pavement delinquency is also a concern for him, when
property owners annex their roadside pavements with white painted rocks and
other illegal interventions.
And don’t worry about those innocent little daisy flowers
that pop up through the roadside lawns in spring; you don’t need to annihilate
them with your high-powered mower; let them be.
Above all, keep the neighbourhood tranquil. Garden services
have their place, but their workers are often machine-trained and love nothing
better than blowing away the peace and quiet, not to mention nutritious
detritus, with the leaf-blowing machines, a particular menace for Charles.
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