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African Style Gardens
This is a new page for those wishing to introduce an African theme to their backyard landscapes, perhaps as a water conserving alternative to the popular Balinese style garden.
So many popular garden plants come from the African continent (and nearby islands), there are many to choose from. You might have some in your garden already. However, the focus here is on an aesthetic style. Therefore plants from other regions, including some Australian natives, could be substituted.
More ideas for plants to include in an African-style garden coming in future updates.
One of the things you'll want to consider if developing an African-style garden is a round or oval gazebo with neat African-style thatching. There are many businesses now supplying this style of thatching in reed, grass, or synthetic materials, or the entire structures.
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Related topics:
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Suppliers of African-style garden products to Qld
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EXOTIC THATCH
www.exoticthatch.com.au
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Exotic Thatch supplies a variety of quality African Cape Reed thatch products Australia-wide.
Thatched umbrellas are an easy way to add tropical flair and provide a much cooler shade than typical canvas umbrellas.
Thatched gazebos not only look good but provide shelter for your outdoor entertaining area or spa. Available in DIY kit form. Installation can also be arranged for customers in Brisbane and Sydney metropolitan areas.
Thatch tiles can be purchased separately for your own building projects.
Visit the Exotic Thatch WEBSITE, for pictures, information, and to locate your nearest sales representative.
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If you sell outdoor art, gazebos, or other accessories appropriate to an African themed garden (available to Queensland homeowners) you may like to consider low cost advertising here.
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More Links
The following links are for background information - some species may be unavailable in Australia
PlantZAfrica.com plants native to southern Africa and related topics. Includes information about the Thatching Reed Thamnochortus insignis.
Biodiversity Explorer
(Part of Museums Online South Africa) Information on many African plants - search for your genus of interest
Hyparrhenia Grassland Species profiles, Food and Agriculture Oganisation of the United Nations. Several species of this genus of grass (especially H. hirta) is used for thatching
The Baobab Tree
Certainly NOT for suburban gardens, but you might like to learn more about this tree before you start planning your African garden design to get a feel for the visual form and the underlying biology of an iconic African plant and the landscape from which it comes.
Should you be in a position to be able to grow such a tree, note that there's an Australian species (Adansonia gregorii) which would be preferable for Australian gardeners if it can be obtained. Australians tend to call these "Boabs" rather than Baobab. A common name for the boab is "bottle tree" but it should not be confused with the "bottle trees" of the genus Brachychiton.
Links about Adansonia
Meet the Plants (select Adansonia from the menu) Pacific flora database of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, USA
Trees of Miami note picture of an Adansonia digitata growing in a city park
Australia:
Boab trees in: Tropical Topics Newsletter, No. 71 Dec 2001. Environmental Protection Agency, Qld Govt (PDF)
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