Plant event is blooming

KNYSNA NEWS - The third Pledge Nature Reserve locally indigenous plant sale was held with much success last weekend, with plant lovers coming out to enjoy the plants on offer once more.

The sale was held on Saturday 6 November just outside the reserve, which is situated right in the heart of town.

The purpose of the sale, which has become a monthly event since it was first held in September, is to help promote the growth of flora that are local to Knysna and its surrounding areas.

If you're not too sure what exactly locally indigenous means, it refers to plant species that commonly occur in our area and are suited to our climate, pollinators, soil types, and the vegetation type they occur in.

Photo gallery: Pledge Nature Reserve locally indigenous plant sale

Planting locally indigenous will ultimately provide shelter for the indigenous wildlife in urban environments and enhance genetic diversity.

A wide variety of plants are available to the public at each plant sale, including groundcovers.

At each event, a wide array of locally indigenous plants are available for plant growers and attendees choose from. The money made through sales goes directly into the drive to bolster the growth of locally indigenous flora.

According to Pledge Nature Reserve's Nanna Joubert, the selection of plants on offer at every sale is never exactly the same as the previous time. "We continuously get new species and types of plants from local growers to add to the sales," she said. "This means we're always able to offer people new and different kinds of plants at each and every sale."

Joubert also emphasised the importance of growing plants and flora that are indigenous to the area, indicating that is far healthier for the local environment than bringing in foreign species that could have negative impacts.

The date for the next locally indigenous plant sale is not yet confirmed, but it will take place in December.

Members of the public are able to peruse the selection of plants at their leisure. Photos: Blake Linder