Climate change is on everyone's lips - especially since Greta Thunberg's recent speech at the UN - and rightfully so. We have seen the global movement towards sustainability grow, and gardening for a changing climate is a key trend to emerge over the past year.
With South Africa seeing its driest weather conditions in over 113 years, and the Vaal dam dipping below 55% - resulting in level one water restrictions - there is a need for ecological gardens that can cope with extreme weather conditions.
South Africans are slowly starting to become waterwise, utilising rainwater harvesting, grey-water systems and boreholes, as well as decreasing lawn areas.
To help people get going, world-renowned landscaper Leon Kluge recommends indigenous plants when creating a water-wise garden.
"When thinking of water-wise plants, we assume succulents or aloes, but this is not necessarily the case. We have a number of plant species that may not be considered 'succulent', but are beneficial in conserving water in your garden."
• Agapanthus praecox
• Plectranthus neochilus
• Carpobrotus spp
• Aloe spp
• Strelitzia reginae
• Dymondia margaretae
• Asparagus densiflorus
• Leopard Lilly
— WATER-WISE PLANTS FOR YOUR GARDEN
Kluge recommends limiting exotic species in favour of more water-efficient, indigenous varieties. Groundcovers, for example, can be spread to cover the soil, helping to conserve water by reducing evaporation.
Kluge, who has become synonymous with modern contemporary landscaping and garden design, will be the head judge for the upcoming Johannesburg International Flower Show.
With experience in Israel and the Comores Islands, Kluge opened the award-winning Fever Tree Nursery in Nelspruit on his return to South Africa.
His love of using unusual plants in his designs led to his inclusion on the South African team that went to the 2018 Chelsea Flower Show. His talent was also recognised with a silver medal at the Gardening World Cup in Nagasaki, Japan, and a gold medal at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show.
The Johannesburg International Flower Show has committed to being an eco-friendly event, aiming at setting the standard for other events of its type going forward.
"When we started planning, we didn't give much thought to the environmental impact of the event; we just knew that it was a great idea," says Mike Sham from the Johannesburg International Flower Show. "It soon became obvious that we needed to put environmental issues at the heart of our plans."
The Johannesburg International Flower Show is being held in partnership with Waterfall City and is taking place just below the Mall of Africa. Fortunately, the complex has a well-designed grey-water programme and the show will get more than half of its water requirements from this system. Landscapers will have access to water twice a day in limited quantities.
Events of this scale can be power hungry. Instead of the usual reliance on diesel generators, a small solar installation, provided by NuPower, will provide electricity to more than half of the event. The solar panels will feed clean electricity into a temporary power grid. The show is aiming to use only green power in the future.
Another partnership crucial to the success of the eco-planning of the show is one with Wastepreneurs. The company supports the work done by waste pickers and sorters by providing improved trolleys and more convenient depots to offload their waste and receive payment.
During the show, Wastepreneurs will run a sorting facility and all waste generated will be sorted on the spot before being sent to the depot.
"The Johannesburg International Flower Show strives to compete with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, The Philadelphia Flower Show, and others. As those events have a head start of more than 100 years, it is important that our show gets the environmental issues sorted out from the beginning," says Sham.
• The Johannesburg International Flower Show takes place at Waterfall City at The Mall of Africa from October 30 to November 3. For tickets and details, go to johannesburgflowershow.co.za
