During my stay at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden I renovated and redesigned the Cape Peninsula and African Salvia beds. Cape thatching reed (Chondropetalum tectorum, above left) is an excellent backbone for herbaceous langorous plants, like Scabiosa africana and Helichrysum dasyantum.

Above right, Kirstenbosch's stunning spring display of Namaqualand daisies (Dimorphotheca sinuata).

Some of the sages I used in the African Salvia bed were Salvia africana-lutea, (above left) and the newly discovered Salvia thermarum (above center). I also learned to pollinate Strelizia 'Mandela's Gold' with a porcupine quill (above right).