Plant expert launches gardening guide
It is hoped the publication will inspire both home gardeners and commercial nurseries to prioritise indigenous plants.
Gardeners and nature lovers were treated to a special occasion when renowned South African author and indigenous plant expert Elsa Pooley visited Ramsgate Stationers at Southcoast Mall recently.
Pooley was promoting her latest publication – South African Indigenous Garden Plants: The Gardener’s Guide – a comprehensive reference work already being hailed as essential for gardeners, landscapers and conservation-minded plant enthusiasts.
The beautifully illustrated guide weighs 3kg and features 2 400 South African indigenous plants, showcasing the country’s extraordinary botanical diversity while encouraging eco-friendly gardening practices.
Pooley collaborated on the publication with fellow authors and plant experts Andrew Hankey and Geoff Nichols. Demand for the book has been strong, with the first print run already sold out.
Flora and Fauna Publications Trust chairperson Elizabeth Forsdick said Pooley dedicated 11 years of her free time to researching and compiling the guide.
“This plant book is so easy to read and will be a good encyclopedia for the next 20 years,” said Forsdick.
It is hoped the publication will inspire both home gardeners and commercial nurseries to prioritise indigenous plants, supporting biodiversity and more sustainable gardens, particularly in the face of climate change.
Also at the launch was Gavin McDonald, author of Disperis Orchids of South Africa – a coffee-table photographic guide spanning 276 pages and featuring more than 450 colour plates.
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