By Nangamso Mabindla
21 January 2004

The East London beachfronts are becoming renowned for being open-air galleries, with the flower gardens along the coastline acting as living works of art.

The man behind the ever-changing creations is assistant horticulturist Tom Jansen. Jansen and his team of 31 people work all year round to make sure that the city's flowerbeds always look their best.

Their beat covers the beachfronts, the CBD, Queenspark Zoo and the City Hall and they plant up to 176 000 different seeds every year. "My staff is dedicated - that keeps me going," says Jansen. "If your staff is not enjoying the job, then you know that you, as a leader, are not treating them well."

The floral displays are changed every season. Capturing public attention with different and imaginative displays is very important to him, but is no easy feat. "I know the public well enough to anticipate what they want," he says. "You need to have a trained eye to make a success of the job. For instance, you need to have a good colour contrast: if you use yellow, you should use a pink or any colour that will compliment yellow."

Jansen has been working for the municipality for 15 years: "I love my job, which is why it is easy for me to do a good job every year."

In winter, Jansen uses calendula plants "because they can withstand the winter season".

"If you are a good horticulturist, you will not have any problems in identifying what flowers to use during the cold and unforgiving winter season."

It is also important to nurture the flowers so that they present the best display - as with all living things, this takes time and care. The flowers are watered once or twice a week and fertilised regularly to maintain their good condition.

The end result is crucial, especially as it is so visible. This keeps him on his toes. "People critique your work, it is more visible than other jobs."

Jansen says he appreciates it when people phone him to congratulate him on a job well done. "It's difficult to describe the feeling, but when they phone me to tell me to keep up the good work, I know I'm appreciated."

And as with any artist, the effort to create something different never ends and Jansen is already on to his next challenge - planning the city's floral displays for the winter season.