April 2010
Feature - Saint Verde

After travelling through the lush green countryside of the Dargle Valley in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, a quiet, dusty, district road brings you to Saint Verde, the home of Neville and Sharon Trickett. Here you’re not greeted with the usual farm garden of azaleas, hydrangeas and oak trees but rather a superb collection of succulents, cacti and palms more befitting a garden from the arid regions of the world.

Set amongst rustic old buildings, the amazing array of plants is totally overwhelming, uplifting and inspiring, all at the same time, and it proves that an intense passion for collecting and growing plants can be transformed into an awesome garden scene. The large mature specimens that dominate the formal raised garden are perfect for showing off the shape, form and majestic beauty of this interesting group of plants. The understory is planted up with a splendid collection gathered from around the globe and consisting mainly of succulents. Sharon mentioned that her main interest is Agaves and Echeverias – they certainly make a major impact in the garden.

The Saint Verde nursery produces outstanding plants that are offered for sale to the public on the last weekend of every month. These open weekends present a wonderful opportunity for visitors to purchase and enjoy the amazing plants, and to indulge in the somewhat different, almost surreal atmosphere of this phenomenal spot. The plants are all beautifully presented in a splendid range of different pots and containers and displayed on old wooden tables, it is a striking scene that makes an immediate impact and leaves a lasting impression. Plan a visit to the Tricketts, it’s an outing that you will long remember.

1. A magnificent pink-foliaged Echeveria takes centre stage on a table filled with a selection of quality succulents in decorative ceramic pots. They’re all ready and waiting to enhance the interiors of homes and the patios and gardens of plant lovers.

2. Stacked rows of terracotta pots wait patiently to be filled with an exciting or interesting plant. Until then they form an earthy backdrop for the splendid succulents that are offered for sale at Saint Verde.

3. The collection of beautiful old tables is almost as awesome as the rows of plants that are displayed upon them. They certainly make for an amazing shopping experience that will be remembered for being totally out of the ordinary.

4. Lime green ceramic pots adorned with succulents in every shape and form, colour and hue are waiting to be snapped up decorators and plant collectors alike.

5. The nursery selling area looks down upon a formal, raised garden filled with a superb collection of cacti, succulents and aloes from around the world. Large ALOE ferox are the focal point in the foreground whilst a stately specimen of ALOE barberae stands tall and proud in the background. The steps lead to the growing and propagating part of the nursery and are flanked by graceful BUTIA capitata palms. Potted plants fill up every spare nook and cranny, lending their own special charm and character to the landscape. Saint Verde is a wonderful place to admire the unique sculptural shape, form and beauty found in the 'whacky' world of xerophytes.

6. The indigenous tree aloe (ALOE barberae) is fast becoming one of the most sought after feature plants in suburban gardens. They are often grown in large pots or containers, in which they make a bold statement for many a year. A word of caution: if planted directly into the garden always make sure that they have adequate space in which to grow and develop. They can attain rather large proportions in a relatively short space of time.

7. Succulent high tea? These charming little plants require very little water and can be grown successfully in all sorts of containers. A jug of water a month keeps these plants in supreme condition. Giant Echeverias stand tall against a backdrop of mirrors and garden ornaments in front of the dry stone wall of the barn.

8. SEMPERVIVUM arachnoideum is the botanical name of this charming little plant that forms rosettes of tiny leaves joined by white threads. This gives rise to the very appropriate common names: cobweb houseleek or spider's web houseleek.

9. These colourful pots have been carefully selected to show off the succulents to absolute perfection. There’s something to suit every manner of taste and style.

10. A dwarf or miniature mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria) is just one of the many types of plants available in fashionable lime green pots.

11. The Saint Verde homestead has 'baker’s racks' of, yes, you guessed it – succulents! Here they are, all arranged in an orderly fashion on the front veranda.

12. This rare and unusual Echeveria hybrid shows off the complex intricacies of the shape of both the foliage and flowers.

13. Echeveria ‘Black Prince’, with a flower spike emerging from the rosette of waxy leaves. The flowers open a vibrant red shade, forming a striking contrast with the dark, chocolaty foliage.

14. A sturdy cactus dominates this part of the formal raised garden, which is all set about with potted succulents. The rustic metal gate adds a certain charm and sense of maturity to the scene.

15. Saint Verde is not only about interesting and collectible plants, but extends way beyond the realms of the ordinary. This old iron monger shop is adjacent to the plant area.

Names of succulents in pots

1. AGAVE parryi var. truncata, the artichoke agave or mescal.

2. GRAPTOPETALUM paraguayense, or mother of pearl plant.

3. A roof houseleek, SEMPERVIVUM tectorum, in a tea cup.