Garden bliss takes on a thousand shapes but one of the purest and most satisfying joys is to see the seed of a special tree – one that reminds you of a special place, time or person – finally push its head through a hard crust of earth.

The weeping boer bean (Schotia brachypetala) starts to flower towards the end of the year when the children are writing exams before the long summer holiday. Blood-red clusters of flowers appear on the grey trunks that send nectar tears down to earth.

Make a point of harvesting a few seeds from that beloved shady tree in Grandpa’s backyard, or pick up a few along the hiking trail in an indigenous forest so that you can sow them in a seed box or container. First submerge the seeds in a glass of water – those that float to the top have to be thrown away and those that sink are fine for planting. Put seeds with hard husks – such as those of the weeping boer bean and thorn trees, in boiling water and soak them overnight before you plant them.

Words and image: Home magazine