Ivor Markman

 

Farmer’s wife and keen gardener Nellie van Aardt says she doesn't grow flowers - she “fights nature”.

Like the surrounding countryside, she has a personality that's tough and resilient - enough to wage the conflict.

The result of her ongoing battle to counter the obstacles nature keeps putting in her path is a stunning garden on her farm Baviaanskrans, about l0km from Cookhouse on the Patryshoogte road.

From the dusty road only the Cape Dutch-style farmhouse sitting amidst some trees can be seen.

The beautiful and lush garden is hidden behind the acacia and aloe-strewn landscape.

The obstacles Nellie faces are daunting and many gardeners wouldn't attempt to do what she has achieved.

“I face west, have no depth of soil, have very little water and the water is brak," she said.

“I cannot get trees to grow very big because of the depth-of-soil problem, so I go for succulents and indigenous plants where possible."

“This is a very hot area and I just let the plants grow on their own.

“I've got verbascum, pervis castle, inca lily, and blue forget-me-nots.

“I've got lots of lavender and rosemary in the garden.

“They are both water-wise, but while not necessarily indigenous, they help with low maintenance.

“These plants love the heat and make a nice ‘English country’ look.

Nellie's efforts have become an inspiration for other gardeners with similar problems and they come from far and wide to seek her advice.

“I've had the ladies from Klipplaat here. They always make this their last stop because they say they go home inspired.”

Nellie prefers to cut slips and propagates most of her plants because of the expense.

Her garden is a mixture of succulents and easy growing plants, some indigenous, other not.

To compensate for the lack of depth of soil, rain-softened ant heaps are crushed and spread over the flower beds.

“We find it is very fertile, it remains soft and it has no weeds,” she said.

After years of use, the level of the soil in the flower beds has risen higher.

“We mix everything together with manure and compost and it is very fertile. That is why everything looks so lush.”

The drought-resistant, humble acacias provide some shade and Nellie loves the dappled, filtered effect they create.

Hidden throughout the large flower beds are lots of little paths which allow here access to the plants.

“The reason I have these little paths is because I water with a hose-pipe and sprayer (and) don't have much pressure.

“I'm always walking in the beds with my hose somewhere,” she said.

The farm, part of the inheritance left to his widow by Somerset East attorney, de Klerk de Lange Massyn, was bought for the sum of £3020 sterling at a public auction by her husband’s great grandfather, Carolus Johannes Willem van Aardt, in 1859.

Nellie has lived with her husband, Carlie, a merino fine wool farmer, on the farm for 29 years.

In a barren part of the garden Nellie designed and constructed a simple round water pond as a visual feature.

“All I ever wanted when I built this pond was frogs.

“Everybody promised (to bring me) frogs but no-one brought any. I don't think anyone wanted to catch frogs for me," she quipped.

Then one day, while Carlie was parking their car, he announced, “You know what, the frogs have arrived.”

Nellie was delighted.

Nature had done her own thing and the frogs arrived.

One week later, as she was surveying the garden and pond, she noticed six mating frogs.

“That night they made a sound like none I had ever heard before and the next morning there were frogs' eggs like I'd never seen.

“Exactly one week later I had a million tadpoles,” she chuckled.

 

Text: Copyright Ivor Markman 2013