Plant lovers invited to meet botanist Elsa Pooley in Shelly Beach
This signing offers a rare opportunity to meet the author in person, have books signed, and be inspired by her decades of knowledge and passion for indigenous gardens.
Renowned South African botanist, landscaper and acclaimed author Elsa Pooley will be at Ramsgate Stationers at Southcoast Mall in Shelly Beach on Saturday, December 6, at 09:00 for 9:30, for the launch and signing of her new large-format publication, South African Indigenous Garden Plants.
Featuring more than 2,400 indigenous plant species, this beautifully illustrated guide is set to become an essential reference for gardeners, landscapers, horticulturists and anyone passionate about South Africa’s extraordinary biodiversity.
The book starts with a comprehensive introduction covering climate, garden design, wildlife-friendly spaces, spatial planning and maintenance.
The main section – an encyclopaedic plant catalogue – is divided into 13 chapters ranging from bulbs, orchids and aloes to shrubs, fynbos, grasses and trees. Each chapter explains planting, feeding and care tips, followed by a detailed catalogue of species with full-colour photographs, descriptions, flowering times and ideal growing conditions.
The publication concludes with a practical plant selector to help gardeners choose the right plants for their home landscapes.
Organisers are also hoping to launch Elsa’s new book on orchids, currently still in production. If printing stays on schedule, it will be available in time for the signing – a bonus for collectors and orchid enthusiasts.
About Elsa Pooley:
Elsa Pooley is one of the country’s most respected voices in indigenous flora.
She has authored several authoritative field guides, including A Field Guide to Wild Flowers: KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region and Mountain Flowers: A Field Guide to the Flora of the Drakensberg and Lesotho.
Elsa spent more than two decades studying and illustrating plants while living in game reserves such as Ndumu and Mkhuzi, and she has played a significant role in promoting indigenous gardening across South Africa through her writing, botanical art and environmental rehabilitation projects.
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