Three months of heavy building operations had transformed The Domino Foundation’s Babies’ Home from a facility challenged by the ravages of time, damp and borer into a new space filled with light, comfort and many mod cons. The gardens, however, were inevitably looking less than their best and needed to have their game upped to complement the pristine structure, a safe haven for six babies and toddlers and their carers.
Into the picture stepped Umhlanga-based Custom Capital. Director, Pierre Du Toit, commented: “We had heard the gardens needed to be redone and we were keen to get involved both financially and in terms of volunteering. We engaged Ladybird Landscapes for their expertise and the entire cost was carried by Custom Capital.” Pierre’s brother and fellow director, Chris, added: “What better way to make a difference in the lives of these little people than quite literally getting our hands dirty to accomplish the task?”
With three decades of horticultural expertise and a trailer-load of compost, jasmine, tickey creeper, spekboom, dietes, shovels and rakes, Ladybird Landscapes facilitated the hands-on part of the day.
The nursery’s crack team directed Custom Capital’s enthusiastic volunteers through the programme of turning the soil, composting and planting the new herbaceous borders and then giving it all a good soaking. It was hard work in the Durban Summer heat and humidity, but good humour and community spirit were the key ingredients of the entire initiative.
