A soul-soothing gadern project

Andrew Mangwarara

ORTHOSMILE DENTAL CLINIC, which is run by Dr Farai Nhembe, is located in Milton Park, Harare. Its garden has an excellent design that provides a perfect place for patients to relax.

It also serves as a playground for the many children who are treated at the centre.

The inspiration behind greening up the environment came from the doctor’s parents, Leonard (late) and Margaret, who had green fingers.

Dr Nhembe shared how her own passion developed from a tender age as she enjoyed produce such as carrots and pumpkins from their garden.

The clinic’s garden has plants like lavender, rosemary and roses, which have a calming effect on patients.

The clinic also uses essential oils of lemon grass and vanilla for the same purpose.

Since the building sits in the middle of the garden, sometimes staff get the occasional wasp or bee through the windows.

Various plants, among them the candelabra aloe (aloe arborescens), are in the garden. There is also a tropical forest theme in the carpark and a springtime garden theme in the driveway.

A neatly planted row of queen palms (arecastrum romanzoffianum), symmetrically spaced with precision, creates a great welcome, whilst a well-kept hedge on the perimeter wall and driveway gives a lasting impression.

The centre has received many donations of plants from patients who appreciate and support the garden.

These include the cycas revoluta (Japanese sago palm), the love fern, the sweet chicco and orchids.

The Agapanthus also adorn the landscape all year round, giving an illusion of a lush green garden with minimum watering.

Inside this beautiful garden is a unique small greenhouse where tomatoes, rape, pepper and mustard greens (tsunga) are growing under drip irrigation to conserve water.

The lawn is a mixture of two grasses — Durban grass and couch grass — which have an all-year-round green effect as they help each other to conserve moisture.

Brick paving completes the country-style outlook.

The garden is maintained by Moses Nyabutsi and was developed with the help of Siphelani Njabuyu.

Dr Nhembe employs garden sense by watering during the cooler times of the day and resting the lawn in winter and reviving it in August.

If you would like to be featured in our green-up campaign, contact us on the number above. Feedback: [email protected] or [email protected]