Originally from South Africa, Clive and Moira Horton have fallen in love with the scenery and the community of Maryknoll. Their land is home to many Australian native plants including a rare Gymea Lily, as KATHRYN BERMINGHAM discovers.
CLIVE and Moira Horton didn’t think much of the plant growing at the back of their house when they moved in 13 years ago.
“We didn’t have a clue what it was,” Clive recalls. “It looked insignificant.“
Made of spiky, green leaves about a metre long, it didn’t look too different from many of the other plants growing on their two and a half acre Maryknoll property.
A few years ago, Moira moved the potted plant from the back of the house to the front yard – it’s now one of the first plants visitors see when they pull into the driveway.
Then, some weeks ago, a flower began to emerge from the centre of the plant for the first time. A singular bloom with a strong stem, the flower grew taller until it eventually reached around three metres tall.
“The stalk was going up, going up, going up and now it’s swaying out,” Clive says.
“One day it’s going to go boom and flower.”
Unsure of what the unusual-looking plant was, Clive began to undertake research to find what had been lying dormant in his garden for all this time.
He discovered that it was a Gymea Lily – a flower native to coastal areas of New South Wales.The Gymea Lily, scientifically referred to as Doryanthes excels, shoots up a stem up to six metres tall before blossoming into a cluster of red flowers. Blooming in spring and summer, each of the red flowers is about 10 centimetres wide.
“I’ve done a bit of research,” Clive said.
“I saw a video of another one that bloomed for about three months.”
According to the Centre for Australian Natural Biodiversity Research, the Gymea Lily is an Australian native that had two uses for the Aboriginal people.
The first was that it is elevated and sweet, so attracts honey-eaters that can then be killed and eaten.
In 1836, the Aboriginal people in the Lake Macquarie district of New South Wales were also observed cutting the plants and roasting their stems as well as their roots, which could be made into a cake-like substance.
Gymeas usually flower in more sunny coastal areas – it is rare to see one bloom in Victoria.
“We’ve been told it will only bloom about once every 100 years,” Clive said.
“I spoke to a lady at the nursery and she said she’s got the same plant and she’s been waiting years for it to flower.
“Apparently they don’t flower very often down here as they don’t like the southern climate. It’s much sunnier in New South Wales.”
The Gymea Lily also adapts well to being moved and may be planted bare rooted.
Aside from the lily, Clive and Moira have a range of other native plants and fruit trees growing in their backyard, which provide them with enjoyment in their retirement.
“I like my garden – it’s what we do now,” Clive said.
“We ran our own business so we were always working flat out but then you retire and you’ve got to keep busy.
The couple migrated from South Africa in 2001 to be closer to their children and grandchildren, who now live in Berwick and Safety Beach.
“South Africa is the most beautiful, exciting and vibrant country but it’s got lots of problems,” Moira said.
“We made opthalmic units for an company in Sydney and we thought it might be a good time to come.”
Entry requirements were strict and they knew they could be sent back to South Africa at any time.
“We had to run our own business for at least 10 years so that we could stay in Australia.
“That was the criteria to get in – buy a business and employ at least three Australians. It was really tough the first few years.”
Hard times were made easier by the supportive community that surrounded them. They both recall the time that one of their trees caught fire and both of the Maryknoll firetrucks were out attending other fires, but within minutes a crowd of neighbours had come to their aid.
“There’s a great community in Maryknoll. Everyone pitches in and works together, whether it’s at a working bee or gathering for the Christmas carols,” Clive says.
And Maryknoll has benefitted from them too – Clive and Moira have spent several years serving on the Maryknoll Progress Association and care for half an acre of reserve land.
“Keeping it weed-free is probably the major thing, and that takes time.
“If you don’t look after it the blackberries take over and it becomes a real problem.”
As custodians of the reserve, other responsibilites include monitoring and reporting inappropriate use (such as motorbikes) and keeping the land free of rubbish.
“It’s a really beautiful spot that we’re caring for.”
But it is the unassuming plant in the pot out the front that has really caught Clive’s eye.
“You can’t find out that much about it,“ Clive says of the lily. “I’ve phoned the nurseries around here. It’s definitely not something they generally see either.“
Friends and neighbours wishing to have a look at the garden’s star attraction are welcome anytime.
“We thought people might want to come and have a look at it or get some seeds from it,” Clive said.
“It’s quite unusual – we certainly didn’t know what it was.”
