The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 19 Summer 2016/17 | Page 22

nurseries in Zimbabwe In addition to offering a delicious tea, these forums offer a unique opportunity for informal exchange with Guru Gil on a number of topics ranging from seasonal challenges to ‘hands-on pruning’ demonstrations. Capacity strengthening and ‘reaching out’ are also high on the Picabella agenda and over the years they have accepted students from local universities for their practical attachments. Home gardeners are also encouraged to bring their staff to observe the day-to-day workings of rose care. Events There is a buzz in the nursery when they open the garden to charity events for the first flush of roses in spring, and more recently, Picabella has hosted smaller intimate events such as book clubs, a birthday tea, a wedding ceremony and even a wine tasting event. Their hire service of beautiful roses in bloom, with the additional choice of handsome topiaries and flowering lavender in pots is growing in popularity and certainly removes the anxiety of purchasing and arranging flowers for weddings and other functions. Picabella is privileged to have been part of the inception phase of the La Rochelle rose garden and is proud of the magnificent spectacle of scented roses that grace the Country Hotel in Penhalonga and indeed, many other town and country gardens. Picabella’s interaction with key nurserymen and landscapers such as Henning Jordaan and Graham Williams, both highly respected for their landscaping talents, is valued and they have featured with them in recent gardening expos. Their philosophy The philosophy at Picabella is clear: ‘We are not just a rose nursery. We are here to promote the love of roses and to share our passion for this magnificent God- given flower’. Picabella Rose Nursery Gil 0773 208 032 Gerry 0733 360 164 [email protected] 22