Gorgeous gardens galore open this weekend at the Stihl Open Gardens The garden of Jocelyn Boyley no 3 Shepstone Place, and the park of Shepstone Place, Hilton. R5 entrance fee per person, parking on the verge outside of the complex. These gardens are next door to Folly Hill which has a shop, restaurant and nursery, as well as a beautiful garden with spectacular views. This garden is five years old, and is a mixture of old English and indigenous plantings with many roses and perennials. Surrounded by forests, the garden is situated in a two acre park which Jocelyn landscaped and planted and forms the common area for the complex and there is a wonderful water garden which brings lots of birds and wildlife to their living area. The stream runs through the complex and many trees, both indigenous and exotic have been planted which are beginning to make a statement on the property. Light refreshments will be available, all proceeds to the Umgeni SPCA. Jocelyn’s gallery which features many of her oil paintings, will be open throughout the Stihl Open Gardens. Directions: From Pietermaritzburg drive up Old Howick Road and turn left into Denis Shepstone Drive at Crossways Hotel. Drive past the Police station on the right and after about 1,2 km you will see the complex – next door to Folly Hill. Parking is outside the complex The garden of Mike and Sue Tarr , Folly Hill, Dennis Shepstone Drive, Hilton Open 5/6, 12/13, 19/20 and 26/27 October Folly Hill is a rambling old property with magnificent trees and spectacular views The azaleas are well known throughout the region and Sue Tarr is a highly regarded landscaper whose garden is an inspiration to many gardeners in the region. Well established borders with roses, perennials and shrubs are well established and large swathes of ground cover have been used between the old trees to create a cool low maintenance garden. A new house is currently underway on the property, which has meant that the much loved ‘ yellow garden’ is no more, however, between Sue and her talented daughter Lindy, there are lots of new developments and exciting new things to see in the garden, not least of them a wonderful jungle gym for children, HIghlights:An old dairy has been converted into a delightful shop and there is an excellent restaurant for light lunches and teas. Directions: From Pietermaritzburg drive up Old Howick Road and turn left into Denis Shepstone Drive at Crossways Hotel. Drive past the Police station on the right and after about 1,2 km you turn right into Folly Hill (opposite the Umgeni water reservoir). The garden of Ashley and Sandra Milanese “Alskeith Farm” OPEN: 26/27 October and 2/3 November This two acre garden has beautiful mature indigenous and exotic trees and shrubs, with meandering paths full of perennials and annuals including rare and exotic delights. HIGHLIGHT: Tea and snacks available, with all proceeds and donations to FREEME and SPCA. Ample parking. DIRECTIONS: From Durban / PMB. Take exit 107 (Howick / Tweedie) Turn left towards Tweedie - go 500m to T-Junction, Turn Right onto R103 towards Lions River / Nottingham Road. After +/- 8kms pass Piggly Wiggly Centre on the left and St Ives on the right, after 500m turn right onto gravel road towards Caversham. Alskeith Farm is 1.5km on the right The Stihl Open Gardens of Pietermaritzburg and Midlands garden of Jan and Val Jefferiss, Inkwazi farm, Balgowan OPEN: 26/27 October and 2/3 November Nestled between green valleys and mountains lies this stunning house and garden. Once in the garden it is hard to believe that it is only seven years old and was started from scratch by Jan and Val. A magnificent ornamental dam is the main feature, where white faced and yellow billed ducks, quackers and a variety of birds have found a haven. The garden is a mixture of fauna and flora with colours abounding. Strolling around it feels like you are in a sanctuary that you just dont want to leave. HIGHLIGHTS: There is a factory shop where the beautiful hand crafted pots of Imbiza Designs are on sale. Juices will be available. Entrance is R15 per person with ALL proceeds going to Howick Hospice and Free Me. This is a NEW GARDEN on the Stihl Open Gardens. Directions: From Pietermaritzburg take the N3 towards Howick. Take the Howick North Tweedie exit. Turn left towards Tweedie and continue to the T-junction with the R103. Turn right onto the R103 towards Balgowan and Nottingham Road. After 20 km you reach the Balgowan rail siding and Michaelhouse School on the left. Continue towards Nottingham Road on the R103 and INKWAZI farm is situated on the left hand side exactly l.4 km. from the entrance to Michaelhouse School. The property is wheel chair friendly. The garden of John and Jacqueline Arnott, Birnam Wood/Cedara district OPEN 19/20,26/27 October Telephone 033 330 4541 The garden was designed to give areas of peace and seclusion and to provide colour during most of the year with perennials and flowering shrubs. The planting of annuals is kept to areas where they can obviously show off and give colour. The garden is large and now mature which gives the plants an added coping devise especially during the winter drought when the frost lies regularly on the ground . This garden is particularly interesting for those who practice waterwise gardening, and much can be learnt from the Arnot’s climate aware garden! Donations to a charity of the gardener’s choice. Directions: Take exit 99 off the N3. 100m on the Bulwer/Underberg road,turn left into Wilson Road. Proceed about 800m to the T Junction. Turn right to Birnam Wood and travel 5km on gravel road to number 24 on the left. GPS coordinates: 29 degrees 34’ south 30 degrees 14’ east The garden of Revell and Rose Sivright - Glengarry. Phone 033 – 267 7225 or 082 783 3445. OPEN: 6/7, 13/14, 20/21 and 27/28 October The Glengarry Garden will be open every weekend in October. Now almost thirty years old, this delightful English Country Garden was established by the Sivright family. Featuring stunning young Beeches, Birches, Maples, Nyssas and Dogwoods and thatch cottages surrounded by Viburnums, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Russell Lupins and a sprinkling of annuals. The Glengarry Nursery has cultivated cuttings from this unique cold climate garden so that you can take a piece of Glengarry home to your garden. HIGHLIGHT: Set amongst the charming gardens is the Glengarry Garden Café open on the weekends from 8am – 4pm serving a variety of healthy homemade farm goodies served with freshly brewed coffees and teas. Directions: Turn off N3 at Nottingham Rd, travel thru Nottingham Road Village and to Rosetta on R103. Turn left up Kamberg Rock Art Road - for 31 kms (tar rd.) turning left at Glengarry - Highmoor Rd. Glengarry first on right. You will find Glengarry at 29.19.22s and 29.43.04e The Underberg Garden Festival Now firmly established as a “must see” among garden lovers, this Festival runs from Friday the 25th of October until Sunday 27th of October, 2013. Eight glorious gardens in the Bulwer, Underberg and Himeville area include historic and established country and farm gardens as well as young village gardens. The Festival hub is just outside Underberg Village,at “the Barn”, a beautifully restored dairy where we will hold our annually Flower Show, interesting talks and offer Arts and Crafts, teas, luncheons etc... Book for the day talks and Saturday evening cocktail function which introduces our Celebrity Guest presenters: Tanya Visser – editor of The Gardener magazine and presenter of the popular TV garden series; and Anja Taschner of the famous Ludwig house. Anja has been putting together the Ludwig stands at the Sunday Tribune Garden show in Pietermaritzburg for a few years now. She also compiles the Rose catalogue and is in charge of the breeding programme for new varieties. Anja is also a rose landscaper, with considerable knowledge about fragrances and the many uses of rose oil, rose water etc. The Southern Drakensberg Arts Association will showcases their stunning work at “the Barn” The Festival Pocket Guide, at R50 per person, serves as entrance to all gardens. and will be available from these outlets in the week preceding the Festival. Bulwer - Ard Lui B&B Pietermaritzburg – Blackwood Nursery Underberg – Underberg Spar and Mike’s Restaurant. The Himeville - Underberg Garden Club was founded in 1956 and currently enjoys a membership of close on 150. Majestic mountain views, stunning countryside and to complete the picture, roses at their best, beckon you. Please come, view and enjoy the 2013 Open Gardens Festival. Alta and Bill Small - No. 31 Mountainairs no 8b Tel No: 033 701 1269 Cell: 082 093 7793 OPEN 25- 27 October This delightful small garden has been developed over the past 12 years. It includes many interesting features. For Altas 80th birthday, her daughter (a gardening landscaper) and two sons from England and Australia, designed and restructured one bed into a beautiful picture, to remind her constantly of their love and care Directions: Beyond Spar in Underberg village, on the R617 to Kokstad, take Berg Road to the left. (Underberg Club is on the right.) At The Underberg Studio turn left into Ridge Road. Entrance is on right, at T Junction. GPS: S 29.79281 º, E 29º48790 Through the main gate turn right, then first left. The garden of Beth Fey no. 38 Mountainairs Tel No: 033 701 1833 Cell: 082 092 5432 OPEN 25- 27 October Beths love of gardening spans more than eighty years. She still tends the Himeville Museum gardens on a regular basis and is a much loved member of our community. She says“I moved here two years ago. My main project has been pruning and managing overgrown shrubs and hedges, to create some space around the house. Big Liliums were my favourites previously but now I am learning about rose culture from my friends here. By the time I reach 100 years old I might have a great show. Meanwhile I have lots of musthaveyous growing in happy abandon in borders between the shrubs and trees. I dont have a potting shed; I use my nice carport instead. This is because I cannot help growing seedlings, bulbs and cuttings! Enjoy!“ Directions: Beyond Spar in Underberg village, on the R617 to Kokstad, take Berg Road to the left. (Underberg Club is on the right.) At The Underberg Studio turn left into Ridge Road. Entrance is on right, at T Junction. Through the main gate turn right, then first left. GPS: S 29.79281 º, E 29º48790 Heritage Plants Centre’Elize and John Jackson Tel.No: 033 701 2234 Cell: 082 253 7928 OPEN 25- 27 October This gently landscaped garden, framed by a view to the mountains, has been created over the past eight years. Carefullly placed shrubs suited to our extreme climate, form the structure. These include camelias, viburnums and acers. The garden is the propagation source for seed and cuttings, and provides the mother stock for many unusual plants grown in the commercial nursery on the farm. Enjoy the significant collection of old roses, some species dating back to 1600. Refreshments and light meals available in the Tea Garden. Directions: Take the R617 from Underberg towards Kokstad. 4km from Underberg turn right onto the Drakensberg Gardens Road. 2.2km turn left into Penny Lane. GPS: S29° 45.775 min E29° 27.333 min . The garden of Gail and Joffs Coni Tel No: 033 701 2702 Cell: 082 941 7428 OPEN 25- 27 October Gail first participated in Open Gardens 2009, when her garden was just being developed. She says: “Having created my garden from bare veld, without any significant trees as a base, I think it is now well on its way to becoming established! Taking wise advice to make three in every five shrubs evergreen, I am assured of colour throughout the cold, dry winter. “ Gail considers hers a sharing rather than a showing garden – it is a place well and truly loved and enjoyed by the whole family. Directions: In Underberg village, turn right onto the Himeville / Sani Road. Polo Way is the first road to the left.GPS: S29º 47.408” E29º 29.625 The garden of Judy and Bruce Hansen ‘Mia Castello’ 657 The Meadows, off Sani Road; Tel no: 033 701 2766 Cell no: 083 777 8240 / 083 635 9009 OPEN 25- 27 October This elegant town house garden on an estate, is generously planted with a wide variety of plants and shrubs. Colour, fragrance and texture abound and provide a heady experience for visitors. Formal pathways (there is no lawn) provide access to the flowerbeds and herb garden, with some delightfully quirky features adding further interest along the way. Over 100 rose bushes provide the finishing touch to this picturepostcard garden. It is framed by spectacular views out to the dams, farmlands and up to the mountains. Directions: From R617 Bulwer: In Underberg village take a right turn onto the Himeville/Sani Pass road. Pass the Underberg Village Mall; pass Fairview Rd . Turn left at TWK /The Meadows signboards. GPS: S29º 78254 , E29º 49306 The garden of Mary and John Moat ‘North End’ Tel.No: 033 702 1290 Cell: 082 375 5311 OPEN 25- 27 October A large farm garden of mature deciduous trees under-planted with casual herbaceous beds and featuring traditional perennials and roses. There is a wonderful sense of space and a glorious view to the mountains. Johns considerable artistic talent has found further expression in the creation of this charming garden. Directions:From Underberg village, take the Himeville /Sani road. Proceed through Himeville village to the Sani Pass crossroads. Turn right and travel approximately 1,5km to North End Farm on the left hand side of the road. GPS: S29º 43 29.07 E29º 32 18.32 The garden of Anita and Tex Turton ‘Glengariff’13 Mountain View Tel No: 033 701 1711 Cell: 084 515 6234 OPEN 25- 27 October Glengarrif Farm is owned by the Rennie family. Its lovely old stone farmhouse has been their home for thirty years and echoes with the sounds of happy children growing up in this idyllic and tranquil setting. Anita has gardened here with love and joy, trying to create the feel of an old English country garden. There are any number of well established rambling roses to set this tone. All the garden beds share both mixed textures and colours, also making them very olde worlde. Enjoy your walkabout and do join them for a cup of tea.” Directions: From Bulwer - 14km after Bulwer, turn right to Pevensy (dirt road). Go down this road for 12km over two railway lines. The farm is the second farm on the right after the second railway line. From Underberg - 12km on the way to Bulwer, at the Coleford / Pevensey cross road, turn left to Pevensey. Stay on this road for 8km over the railway line, over the Polela river. At the T junction turn right, after 800m the farm is on the left.GPS : S29 57 45 , E 29 21 19 w’ The garden of Debbie and Dave Mingay Tel No: 039 832 9821 Cell: 083 662 0560 OPEN 25- 27 October This has developed into a large farm garden with a magnificent view of the Mahwaqa Mountain and the Lurane River. Thanks to Debbies considerable flair for design and colour, coupled with her passion for gardening, there are a variety of features as well as unusual plants. Take some time here, to enjoy the sense of peace and gentle tranquility. Refreshments are available. Directions: From Bulwer - 14km after Bulwer, turn right to Pevensy (dirt road). Go down this road for 12km over two railway lines. The farm is the second farm on the right after the second railway line. From Underberg - 12km on the way to Bulwer, at the Coleford / Pevensey cross road, turn left to Pevensey. Stay on this road for 8km over the railway line, over the Polela river. At the T junction turn right, after 800m the farm is on the left.GPS : S29 57 45 , E 29 21 19 w’ The garden of Debbie and Dave Mingay Tel No: 039 832 9821 Cell: 083 662 0560 OPEN 25- 27 October This has developed into a large farm garden with a magnificent view of the Mahwaqa Mountain and the Lurane River. Thanks to Debbies considerable flair for design and colour, coupled with her passion for gardening, there are a variety of features as well as unusual plants. Take some time here, to enjoy the sense of peace and gentle tranquility. Refreshments are available. Directions: From Bulwer village travel 12km on the R 617 towards Underberg. Turn right onto the Farm road. Travel 3 km to the homestead. GPS: S29º. 5043.20” E29º 4322.64” The garden of Lauretta and Piet Grobler ‘Ard Lui’ Tel No: 039 832 0004 Cell: 082 809 6269 OPEN 25- 27 October Lauretta has been custodian of the historic Ard Lui garden for nine years now. During this time she has gradually added new features and extended the cultivated area. A stone wall and a pond, indigenous plantings to attract the birds, more roses … there is always a new idea to pursue in this large, most interesting garden. Yet there remains a strong sense of history as one walks among the ancient trees …and you can almost hear the happy chattering of the children who spent their days at school here, in the late 1890s. Refreshments and light meals are available in the tea garden Directions: In Bulwer village, on the left just beyond the Police Station GPS: S29° 48 45, E29° 46 08 The Harding open gardens Opening times: Friday and Saturday – 10 a.m. to 4p.m. Sunday – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: A one -off charge of R20/ person provides access to all the gardens on show. Tea and eats are extra. Proceeds to the SPCA The Garden of Dave and Pam Nothard, Morelands Farm, Harding OPEN 25- 27 October This large farm garden is renowned for its many varieties of beautiful roses. Rose beds surround extensive lawns. There are panoramic views of the dam and farmlands from this large home. There is an interesting, decorative vegetable garden which you can also stroll around. Teas, Lunches and refreshments will be served in aid of local charities. Preserves and plants grown on the farm will be on sale. Directions: from Kokstad. Take the first turning into Harding, go straight through Harding town down the dip and up, to turn right onto the D120 district road. Continue straight for exactly six kilometers where you will come to Morelands farm on your left which will be clearly signposted. Directions from Port Shepstone. Take first turning into Harding, go for one kilometre then turn left on to the D 120 district road. Continue straight for exactly six kilometres where you will come to Morelands farm on your left which will be clearly marked. The garden of Eddie and Sheila Bowler, Willowdene Farm, Willowdcene Avenue, Harding OPEN 25- 27 October This garden is about 1 hectare in size. It features many varieties of well established trees such as jacaranda, oaks and palms, under which grow a wide variety of azaleas, shrubs, perennials, annuals and roses. The entrance drive curves besides weeping potato bush and standard iceberg roses, and leads to a topiary display of Sheena’s Gold beautifully contrasted against the stark white walls of the Spanish style home. An archway leads to the lower garden which consists of many garden rooms. The pillared stoep overlooks a broad swath of lawn, in the centre of which stands a tranquil fish pond and fountain. Tea, coffee and homemade cakes, brunch and lunch will be served on the stoep, with proceeds going to Hospice and S.P.C.A Sheila is a keen floral artist. The Port Shepstone Floral Art Club will put on a floral display with a theme of Recycled Junk as Containers. These floral art arrangements will be on display throughout the garden. Directions; On the N2 between Kokstad and Port Shepstone take the Harding West turn. At the first street, Turner Street, turn right and approx 50 metres turn right into Willowdene Avenue. Drive to the end to the last wooden gate. The garden of Gloria Larken ‘Nkondwana Farm’ Harding. OPEN 25- 27 October This garden is situated on the drier, warmer side of the Harding area. There are wide lawns, shady trees and the beds are planted with a mixture of indigenous and exotic shrubs, perennials and annuals. A great variety of indigenous and exotic shrubs plus perennials and annuals provide as much colour as possible. Possessing an ample water supply and a sprinkler system, plants are able to be watered during the drier warmer weather before the rains come at the beginning of spring. Due to Mother Nature’s vagaries, this garden has had to undergo some changes. A very rainy weekend followed by high winds during late summer caused three of the lovely old Jacaranda trees to blow over! A fourth was so damaged by the falling tree next to it that it had to be removed as well. A young Albizia adianthifolia (Flat Crown), an Acacia Xanthophloca (Fever Tree) and a Mulberry Tree are replacing the dear old Jacarandas, but of course they will still be quite small come October. A few new beds have been added in the garden and it is hoped that there will be a bright show of annuals and perennials at the time of the Open Gardens. A new rose bed has also been added. Tea, coffee and juice plus eats will be supplied. Any donations for the refreshments will go to Hospice. Directions; From Port Shepstone Turn left off the N2 at Hluku Store (Approx 66 Km from the Coast). Continue for approx six kms and start looking for the Open Gardens sign on the left side of the road. Follow the farm road which runs between cane fields. Do not go down the avenue of large old wild fig trees when you come to it. Keep right and continue for 3 – 4 kms down into the valley to two dwelling houses. From Kokstad, etc direction: Follow N2, by-passing Harding. Approx 10 – 12 kms from Harding, turn right at Hluku Store. Continue for approx six kms and start looking for the Open Gardens sign on the left side of the road. Follow the farm road which runs between cane fields. Do not go down the avenue of large old wild fig trees when you come to it. Keep right and continue for 3 – 4 kms down into the valley to two dwelling houses. From Harding: From the C B D head out on Murchison Street, turn right into Moodie Street which leaves town towards Ronnie Buhr’s farm and Beckenham Store. After approx 10 kms look for Open Gardens sign. Follow the farm road which runs between cane fields Do not go down the avenue of large old wild fig trees when you come to it. Keep right and continue for 3 – 4 kms down into the valley to two dwelling houses. The garden of Val and Guy Payn ‘ Burnside Farm’ Harding OPEN 25- 27 October This country garden has been planned around a few well established old trees and shrubs. Originally planted in an English cottage style, Val has slowly been transforming the garden into an ecologically self-sustaining garden. There are many interesting combinations of indigenous plantings carefully selected to suit the prevailing garden conditions, and these are combined with some exotic favourites to create a natural, semi-wild look. Veldt grasses are innovatively used to blend the garden into the surrounding landscape. Shade areas have been planted to resemble natural woodlands. The garden is designed to be low maintenance, and relies completely on rainfall. No chemical pesticides or artificial fertilisers have been used in the garden for over fifteen years, so the garden contains a rich variety of bird and insect life. Other features are a large formal water feature, an organic food and herb garden and an orchard garden where a variety of herbs, veggies and fruit are grown. These are fertilised with compost and vermicompost (earth worm castings), and insects are controlled with companion plantings of herbs and flowering annuals and by the use of ‘chicken tractors’. Recently, Val has been experimenting with various ‘no dig’, minimum till planting methods. She has also created a pollinators garden which, with luck, will be in flower for open gardens. Directions; Burnside Farm is situated on the N2 highway between Kokstad and Port Shepstone, about 5 kms out of Harding on the Kokstad side. Look for the sawmill next to the road with a sign that says ‘Guy Payn Sawmills’. Take the turn towards the sawmill. At the sawmill gate, do a sharp u turn to follow the road that goes under the N2 highway bridge and up the hill. Follow the telephone / electricity posts to the top of the hill. Go past the house with the wooden slatted fence. Val and Guys garden is the next garden, on the right. MOTH COTTAGE GARDENS The Moth Cottages are situated at 5 Holman Street, Harding. They are an inviting oasis not far from the noise and busyness of the village. These are communal gardens made up of individual little manageable town house gardens which form a composite whole of pretty and bright gardens (country cottage mainly). At the moment there are five tenant gardens on show at the cottages. In the centre of the gardens is a bed which is in the process of being transformed into an indigenous, water wise haven for wildlife, birds and butterflies. In one corner of the garden is a memorial to the fallen soldiers and Moths who have served their country. The memorial is surrounded by an inviting restful garden with roses and lavenders. Directions; On the N2 coming from Kokstad take the first entrance into Harding (Harding West) which is a right hand turn. At the 2nd street turn right into Holman Street. The Mothwa Cottages are on the right hand side and will be clearly sign posted. PLEASE PARK OUTSIDE THE ENTRANCE. When coming from Port Shepstone take the last entrance which is the left into Harding and follow the same instructions. The Garden of Dinx and Angus Rennie, Rooivaal Farm, Harding. This mist belt garden surrounds a magnificent 1876 Victorian home. There was no garden until Dinx married Angus in 1989 and started gardening as a hobby. In keeping with the Victorian theme, the garden has developed along formal lines. The garden is built on a very steep slope and makes good use of terracing and massed plantings to contain steep banks. It has masses of iceberg roses, as well as a natural looking water feature with a waterfall and pond, and an organic vegetable garden. . Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and eats will be served-, with donations given to Sherwood Hospice. Directions; 70km from Port Shepstone toll road; turn right into D121; One and half km down good gravel road; turn right into Rooivaal Farm, Angus and Dinx Rennie. 9 km. Remember that you can download a brochure you can now download your copy of the Stihl Open Gardens brochure simply by clicking on this link stihl.co.za/stihl-open-gardens.aspx
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:37:46 +0000
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