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South Africa Garden Tour 2014
Wednesday October 8th to Thursday October 23rd, 2014
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October 8 & 9, 2014 |
October 10, 2014 |
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October 11, 2014 |
October 12, 2014 |
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October 13, 2014 |
October 14, 2014 |
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October 15, 2014 |
October 16 & 17, 2014 |
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October 18, 2014 |
October 19, 2014 |
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October 20, 2014 |
October 21 & 22, 2014 |
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Tidbits of Information
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October 20th Cape Town
We start the day with a private tour of Vergelegen Gardens -
Vergelegen has been a gardener's paradise since the van der Stel
era in the 1700's and today 18 exquisitely themed gardens are on
display for you to enjoy. Not only a farmer, the founder of
Vergelegen, Willem Adriaan van der Stel, was also a botanist, a
forester and a horticulturist. He wrote "The African Gardeners'
and Agriculturists Calendar' of which much is still relevant to
this day.
The oldest oak tree in South Africa, the ancient White Mulberry
tree and of course the five camphor trees that were planted in
the 1700's gracing the front of the Homestead all bear testimony
to his great horticultural talent.
Then we enjoyed a wine tasting - The wines produced in
Constantia are recognized worldwide for being of the highest
quality. South African Country Life Magazine, April 2010 "One
would have to travel far and wide to find a place more
enchanting than Vergelegen ..." by Anita de Villiers. With its
world renowned handcrafted wines, 310 year old history and
heritage, exquisite gardens and refined cuisine, it comes as no
surprise that Vergelegen continues to be the choice of the
discerning visitor, seeking a total sensory experience. For this
reason, the Estate has borne witness to many visits of heads of
state and celebrities from all over the world.
http://www.vergelegen.co.za/ and a delicious Lunch as
well!
Then a visit to the private gardens of Henk Scholtz. ‘This is
probably the most photogenic garden I've ever been to.
Everywhere you look, you turn your head and there's a picture.’
Monty Don BBC: "Around the World in 80 Gardens" For 26 years he
has lived here and made many changes along the way. Of note are
his thoughts to us….think water wise, when in doubt go in
circles and have as many flat surfaces as possible.
http://henkscholtz.com/about.html
Finally the Babylonstoren Gardens. Babylonstoren is one of the
best preserved werfs (farm yards) in the Cape Dutch tradition.
Not only the manor house from 1777, but pioneer structures all
the way back to the founding of the farm in 1690. The Koornhuis
(for storing wheat and hay) and the old cellar are exceptionally
fine. An ornate fowl house, pigeon loft, leaning bell tower and
historic gates embellish a traditional courtyard surrounded by a
low, whitewashed wall. The Babylonstoren garden is at the heart
of the farm. It was inspired by the Company Gardens of the Cape,
where for centuries ships would replenish with sweet water,
vegetables and fruit at the halfway station between Europe and
Asia. It also hales back to the mythical garden of Babylon.
http://babylonstoren.com/garden
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DCS04697 - 4963
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