Joy beautifies local pool

JOY Wisedale is passionate about creating beauty in her surroundings, so it was no surprise when she offered to spruce up the gardens at Tesoriere Pool.

Joy, a Glenwood resident who owns a local landscaping business, said her neighbour regularly swims at the pool, and when she joined him one day, she noticed the gardens at this well-maintained pool were looking unloved.

“I spoke to a lifeguard when I noticed how terrible the garden was looking and asked why the municipality wasn't doing anything to make it look better. It would take no time at all to create something beautiful here. I was told the only way things happened were if they were sponsored or volunteered and my ears pricked up. I take any opportunity to garden!” she said.

Joy decided to start working on the garden last week, using plants she had left over from a garden she was renovating at her block in Glenwood, as well as a project she was busy with in Pietermaritzburg.

“I had plants to plant! I initially thought I'd just make one bed, but then I decided to go big. I specialise in indigenous gardens, so I have used some of the original plants which were in the bed at the pool, as well as the ones I had pillaged from home. They're taking strain now, but will settle soon and enormous growth will happen,” she said.

Joy said she had been working on the garden on Friday, when one of the boys from a local children's home came up to her and asked if he could help.

“He told me he was bored, so I got him working. He got stuck in and did a good job. I showed him my design, and taught him about design and how I work to mirror design and how to plant in a triangle. His friend came to join us and they enjoyed themselves, although I teased them afterwards that gardening wasn't so easy, as they were sweating and had sore backs!” she said.

Joy said she returned on Sunday to work on the bed, bringing her aunt with.

“I learnt everything I know from my aunt, so I was happy to take her along to help. She did some weeding and we put in some aloes,” she said on Monday, after returning to plant some Agapanthus.

She said she really enjoyed what she was doing, and was having fun 'making pretty' at the pool.

“I grew up in the 70s where we spent a lot of time at public pools. I have great memories of those times, so why not help make this public pool pretty too!” she said.