Garden Musings and Roots and Dirty Hands
If I should ever open a nursery I would call it something like Roots for Africa. We have a general saying in my language of Afrikaans when something is plentiful it is for Africa, like: daar was lekkers vir Afrika, or translated there was candy for Africa. There were loads of roots in this new Caprian cornflower (Centaurea gymnocarpa). In fact, I think there were too many! In only 37 or so days, these cuttings took root and their roots took over.
In this Garden Journal post, I muse about the garden and roots whilst I youthfully dig in the soil and compost to plant new plants. I also showcase yet another plant I needed to cut down. I get a little philosophical when I write about plants that grow "too well". I hope you enjoy this garden journal post!
Roots for Africa!
Almost 40 days ago, I needed to cut down one of my Caprian cornflower bushes because it grew into an area we needed to open and because it did not look nice anymore. But as I wrote in that post (linked above), from death new life comes. I took about 20 cuttings, placing 3 or so in used yogurt and coconut oil containers. Plastic is not good for the environment, obviously, but we cannot get rid of it as of now. So, why not utilize single-use plastics to our advantage! I have grown so many plants in these plastic containers. Some of them get brittle with time, but most of them don't.
Another reason for the post title, Roots for Africa!, is that I live with this utopian idea that everyone should be gardeners and plant plants like this. Or at least get people to do it for them. I have learned so much about plants in the 10 odd years that I actively gardened. I have made thousands of cuttings and have planted so many plants in just my backyards. Imagine a collective effort to plant indigenous plants, but alas, utopian thoughts!
As a gardener that wants to use indigenous plants, I see the contradiction in making a post about a non-native plant and how well it grows.
But this plant, according to my knowledge, does not pose a risk of becoming a weed because it does not produce seeds (that sprout in my area). But this plant grows so easily. As noted, in less than 40 days, I went from cutting to plant! Now I planted around ten of these plants with the hope that they take up root and produce wonderful purple flowers and grey foliage.
Some plants just grow so well. I try to mostly plant indigenous plants but some of them do not like to be grown from cuttings, or they need specific soil, and so on. I try my best to make cuttings from plants I know take well, but they are mostly slow growers. Some of them take up to a year to have a big enough rootball for transplanting. But again, this cornflower plant took only 40 days with roots so tangled and tight I needed to break them open!
But in the end, do our attempts at rectifying the destruction of the past even help? Every bit helps, but we also want beautiful lush gardens. O, the predicament! In any case, we do what we can do. And sometimes a big grey plant is just so pretty. Mixed with some local green ground cover, one can only sigh with happiness at the beauty.
Getting our Hands Dirty
Getting my hands dirty in the garden is one of the small pleasures that too few people enjoy.
We had so much rain the last couple of weeks. The ground is soaking wet, but this makes for such pleasant digging. What a youthful experience time and time again when you get to dig a hole for a new plant. The smell of the earth, the smell of the compost, fresh air after the rain, there are few things as nice.
Getting Philosophical Over a Dead Plant and "Growth That is Too Good "
It is funny. Sometimes when a plant grows too good it gets attacked by aphids and other nasties.
Maybe it is not true and only my perceived correlation. But every time some of my plants grow so well it dies due to aphids and mealy bugs.
On the left is a seemingly happy flower.
But underneath this little flower is loads of aphids and mealy bugs that literally suck the "blood" out of this flower. A little bit over dramatic there for a second, but when you touch the stems of this plant you can feel all the young saplings' sticky honeydew secretion. Poor plant. This usually happens (in my case) when these plants grow so well in pots. I do not know why yet, but I am not a big fan of pot plants when I have such a big garden already.
I cut down 90% of the plant with the hopes that it might survive and shoot new growth.
Why is it that so much growth attracts nasty insects? Why is it that even in our own lives, when we see so much growth it needs to come down? What goes up must come down, the highest trees catch most of the wind. People of yesteryear knew!
Postscriptum, or A New Journey
For a month or so I am leaving my garden in the care of others. I am planning a trip away from home and I am planting most of the small plants now. It is the rainy season so most will survive. Hopefully, my own growth stays intact so that I do not catch too much wind.
All of the photographs are my own, taken with my iPhone. All of the musings are also my own. Happy gardening and stay safe!