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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 16th Cape Town
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight to
Cape Town and once there to our hotel and the rest of the day is
at leisure until we met later on for dinner. It was wonderful to
have the same hotel for so many nights as you could relax, not
worry about packing and each room had its own tiny kitchenette
in case you wanted to prepare some snacks.
October 17th Cape Town
Our first visit this morning is an exclusive visit –
Stellenberg Gardens - for a very special private guided tour.
Among the internationally acclaimed gardens, Sandy Ovenstone’s
Stellenberg Gardens in Kenilworth is most definitely on the map.
Moreover, it was showcased by international gardening author and
presenter Monty Don in his 2008 BBC television series, Around
the World in 80 Gardens. This garden is usually open only one
day a year and we have special permission to see it, so
applauded our good fortune! One of the oldest properties in Cape
Town, has been called home by several prominent families over
the years. Fortunately, despite changes of ownership, the
property managed to escape the 'Victorianization' many other
homes in the region underwent and retains its classic 18th
century Cape Dutch feel. While the house is off-limits to
visitors, the main appeal is the property and gardens. It is
divided into different gardens, each with their own unique
characteristics: a white garden, a walled garden, a formal
medieval garden, an herb garden, and more.
Then on our way to the Cellars Hohenort Gardens in the beautiful
Constantia Valley...again very impressed with this visit... The
gardens at The Cellars-Hohenort are acknowledged as one of the
finest hotel gardens internationally and has been voted by
Garden Design, a top American magazine, as one of the top 30
hotel gardens in the world. We enjoyed a private guided tour.
Set over nine spectacular acres, in the breathtaking Constantia
Valley, The Cellars-Hohenort gardens are widely regarded as one
of the finest privately owned gardens in the world. These
exceptional gardens – awarded the prestigious 2010 Relais &
Châteaux Garden Award – are the result of Liz McGrath’s 20-year
vision, which has been realized through hard work, dedication
and love. The Cellars-Hohenort gardens highlight the history and
heritage of this spectacular property. Trees, dating back to
Simon van der Stel’s time, are surrounded by more recent gardens
including the unrivaled Cellars-Hohenort rose garden; each
designed to showcase the Table Mountain slope they call home. We
enjoyed lunch here as well!
http://www.collectionmcgrath.com/cellars/
On our way back to the hotel we decided that today was the day
to visit Table Mountain - what a view. ‘The proclamation of this
new national park will be a South African ‘gift to the Earth’
... Nelson Mandela. Table Mountain is part of a World Heritage
Site and home to a unique yet endangered plant diversity known
as fynbos.
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