Logan’s Garden in Matjiesfontein

The original Karoo National Botanic Garden was created at White Hill, c.5kms away from Matjiesfontein, in 1921. It was known as the Logan Memorial Garden. However, the site proved too dry and too isolated and the garden was moved and re-established in Worcester in 1945.

Whitehill railway siding (Google)
Whitehill railway siding (Google)

At the Lord Milner Hotel the guests were relaxing around the swimming pool or in the shade on various verandahs so I wandered around by myself, camera in hand. Tweedside was Logan’s home and it seems he made a succulent garden around it – no hankering after plants and flowers which wouldn’t survive the heat. The garden showed signs of the extreme heat and no rain, but even so there were plants at which to marvel.

Logan's garden at Matjiesfontein
Logan’s garden at Matjiesfontein

Vygies, small and big, were used for groundcover together with ‘fat fingers’.

Vygies in Logan's garden

Tall, prickly things give height, as do the quiver trees. 

Tall, prickly things

Quiver trees in Logan's garden

The spekboom are used as hedges, and free-standing plants, but just look at the wrinkles on the leaves – it has been burning hot, with little rain. We are talking of temperatures ranging from 30C-40C in the daytime and a rainfall of

17-2-1-logans-garden-lr-4510

Of course there were aloes

Aloes in Logan's garden

Aloes in Logan's garden Aloes in Logan's garden Aloes in Logan's garden

Aloes in Logan's garden

And euphorbia, geraniums, and prickly things…

 

Geraniums in Logan's garden

Logan's garden, Matjiesfontein

Logan's garden, Matjiesfontein Logan's garden, Matjiesfontein

Thorn trees in Logan's garden

Logan's garden, Matjiesfontein

Marvellous, isn’t it – I could go on for quite a while yet…

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