Cape Town - The Elgin
valley is one of the most beautiful places in the world to visit at this time of the year. Roses are blooming along the wire fences of the apple orchards, and a host of art galleries, lodges and farm stalls offer great places for afternoon tea or a weekend retreat.
Now is the time to plan a visit over two weekends next month (November 1-2, or 8-9, from 10am-5pm).
No more than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, the 20 gardens open to the public in the Elgin, Bot River and Vyeboom areas will raise funds for schools, churches, environmental organisations and charities in the district.
The open venues range from large established country gardens to small town gardens, all in a setting of great natural beauty. Visitors can discover the range of plants that can be grown in the cooler and wetter climate of Elgin, an area renowned for its fynbos, apples, wines and plant nurseries.
Many gardens have plants for sale and some also offer teas and light meals.
Other events in the district include art exhibitions, greenhouse tours and wine tastings, some in the gardens themselves. The Elegantly Elgin Wine Route is also in full operation on the open weekends.
Auldearn is a garden on an apple farm established by Cape gardening authority Jenny Simpson. A highly knowledgeable horticulturalist with a passion for plants, Simpson has created a garden with panoramic views over the Kogelberg Biosphere.
Fresh Woods has an extraordinary collection of fragrant spring flowering heritage and species roses that are the ancestors of our modern hybrid tea and floribunda roses. It was these roses that lined the country lanes of Europe in the days of Shakespeare, Chaucer and Wordsworth. Developed by Peter and Barbara Knox-Shaw, Fresh Woods also features Japanese maples, rhododendrons, deutzias as well as unusual perennials and bulbs.
Indigenous enthusiasts should head for the Keurbos Nursery Garden developed by Ian and Jessie Walton. This informal, developing garden is filled with mostly indigenous plants and shrubby perennials.
Gardens you should be visiting include:
* Almenkerk Wine Estate, Viljoenshoop Rd, Elgin. Newly landscaped on a steep slope with massed indigenous plantings. Free entry. Walking trails, wine tasting and sales.
* Auldearn, Highlands Rd, Elgin. Acclaimed garden with panoramic views over the Kogelberg Biosphere. R15. Teas. Plant sales.
* Basterskloof, Van der Stel Pass, Bot River. An established country garden with rolling lawns, borders, shrubberies and many indigenous trees. R10. Olive oil sales, teas.
* Beaumont Wines, Bot River. A charming garden between a dam and an historic Cape Dutch homestead known as Compagnes Drift, and cellar. Free entry. Lunches. Wine tasting.
* Belfield, Viljoenshoop Rd, Elgin. Old, informal leafy garden with majestic views of the Overberg. R20. Wine tasting, sales.
* Boesmansrug, Graymead Rd, Vyeboom. Rose garden, secret garden. R10. Teas. Plant sales.
* Fairholme, Viljoenshoop Rd, Elgin. Busy nursery. R20. Plant sales.
* Fresh Woods, off N2, Elgin. Award-winning rambling, romantic garden. R25. Teas. Plant sales.
* Goedvertrouw, Van der Stel Pass, Bot River. Large variety of plants. R10. Teas, meals. Plant sales. Wine sales.
* Houw Hoek Outspan, Houw Hoek. Colourful nurseryman’s garden with greenhouses open for viewing. Entry R10. Teas, plant sales.
* Iona, Highlands Rd, Elgin. Recently redesigned with new vegetable and rose garden, magnificent views. Free entry. Wine tasting & sales.
* Keurbos Nursery Garden, Highlands Rd, Elgin. Informal bird-centred garden. R15. Teas, light lunches. Plant sales.
* Kromme Rivier, Kromme Rivier Rd, Elgin. A large, colourful park-like garden extending down to a lake. R10.
* l Lavenham, Viljoenshoop Rd, Elgin. Woodland garden with lawns, roses. R10. Art exhibition.
* Lorraine, Viljoenshoop Rd, Elgin. Spectacular views from this garden which has a natural rockface and waterfall. R10. Organic farm produce on sale.
* Lothian Vineyards, Elgin. Newly landscaped garden surrounded by water in a spectacular part of Elgin. The house features a vertical garden. R20. Teas, wine tasting, sushi and pizza.
* Oak Valley Flowers, Elgin. A chance to tour the largest producer of cut flowers in the Western Cape. Tours leave 10am and 2pm on all four open days. R50 pp, pre-booking essential.
* Palmiet River, Main Rd, Grabouw. One of the oldest Elgin gardens now planted with heritage roses and much else. Herb and kitchen gardens, rose and lily walk, woodland. Entry R25. Teas.
* South Hill, Valley Rd, Elgin. Contemporary landscaped indigenous sculpture garden. Free entry. Wine tasting, garden lunches and teas, art, deli and wine sales.
* Wildekrans Country House, Houw Hoek. Rambling country garden of historic homestead in dramatic mountain setting. Free entry. Teas, lunches, wine tasting and sales, Herman van Nazareth art exhibition.
* Visit the Elgin Open Gardens. November 1 and 2, and 8 and 9. Times: 10am-5pm. Entry: Some gardens are free, others charge between R10 and R25. For more info, call: 021 844 0154, 078 021 2101, or 083 458 3790, or see [email protected], or www.elginopengardens.co.za
Kay Montgomery, Weekend Argus