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Tongaat Plants

Tongaat Plants

Date: 2013-09-27
The advent of Spring never ceases to amaze. Even more so, as recently we have been harvesting seeds from Southern Pondoland to grassland remnants closer to our base in Frasers, for a major coastal grassland rehabilitation project.

Coastal grasslands are heavily depleted and are under constant threat from monoculture, overgrazing and invasive alien plant species.

To collect grassland plant seeds at their best it's preferable for an area to be burnt first as the resultant new growth is mind-blowing , especially if there's been early Spring rains about.

Everyone thinks a forest is diverse in its range of species and plant types. Well, grasslands knock spots off forests for their amazing bio-diversity.

Many of the plants are transient in their colour and beauty and therein lies the ethereal beauty of grasslands as there is rapid turnover from early Spring until Mid-Summer of an amazing variety of lovely flowering veld plants. Thereafter seed production takes place and the circle of life starts again.

The sobering thought is we are having to search high and low to find relatively undisturbed grasslands. Extremely few coastal grasslands remain intact.

Think strongly about planting a small (or large) area of your garden to emulate a grassland. You will not be left unsatisfied.

Research it, speak to the right people and get out there and have a look this Spring. Amatikulu Nature Reserve, a short drive up the North Coast has some amazing grassland to check out to get the juices flowing and don't pick without permission. Enjoy.