The Palace of the Lost City in Sun City, South Africa, features one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. The palace is decorated inside with many lovely blooms. South Africa is home to more than 22,000 species of plants, some of which are also grown in the United States. Bird of paradise (Strelitzia), a tender evergreen perennial, is a common example. Feed young plants frequently with high-nitrogen fertilizer till they reach full size, then feed sparingly. The goal is to acquire and maintain size without the need for division. Large, crowded clumps of Strelitzia bloom best. Bird of paradise performs well in containers and doesn't need transplanting until the plant breaks the pot. It recovers very slowly from frost damage, so protection from cold is necessary. Geraniums and gladiolus are also native to South Africa. Keeping the Palace of the Lost City supplied with 10' centerpieces requires a lot of flowers--and a few tricks. In the bowels of the palace is a flower shop that prepares all of the arrangements. The florists' designs rely heavily on protea, the national flower of South Africa. Protea (figure A) is also the state flower of Hawaii. Protea dries nicely, and blooms keep their color well. These tropical plants require constant moisture and warm temperatures throughout the year. Orchids are also used in palace flower arrangements. Short-stemmed varieties are placed in "orchid needles"--the little water tubes that come from the florist when roses are delivered. To keep flowers fresh and long-lasting, the palace florist adds baby-bottle sterilizer to the vases. Just a teaspoonful keeps his flowers looking good for a long time. Huge arrangements such as these are built in place because they'd be very heavy to move once complete. Grasses, branches, huge leaves and gourds are used.
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