Get Ready For Garden Day

WORDS Mary Garner PHOTOS Marguerite Oelofse


Garden Day is an opportunity to celebrate the fruits and flowers of your hard work.

Sunday, 15 October, the Garden Day movement wants us to celebrate our gardens and welcome summer back into our lives. This day is all about setting down tools, wiping your brow, and allowing yourself to appreciate the joys of a garden, whether it’s your own or a friend’s.

The organisers of this movement want to raise awareness around how gardens can bring communities and people together. Many of those who own a garden work tirelessly to maintain it, yet, statistically, these same people spend up to 20% more time gardening than they do revelling in its splendours.

“In this century of absolute convenience and consumerism, we have become disconnected from nature – especially those of us who live in cities,” says gardening author Jane Griffiths. “My organic vegetable garden is not only my oasis and sanctuary, but it also provides us with organic vegetables and herbs. I encourage everyone to put down their phones and switch off the TV and go outside, into your garden or a friend’s garden, and enjoy reconnecting with nature this Garden Day.”

You could arrange a flower crown-making party, host a tea party, have a deli-style picnic, swap plants or arrange a neighbourhood garden party. The possibilities sit entirely within the realms of your imagination and desire. In anticipation of this year’s Garden Day, a whimsical photo shoot was done that included fashion maven Jackie Burger and Babylonstoren gardener Constance Stuurman, among others. The images are wonderfully inspiring.

“Rosemary and slangbos are my favourite plants to work with in flower crowns,” says Constance, “as they create a beautiful, sturdy structure.” You needn’t have a sprawling property to have a garden – urban or rooftop gardening is something any city dweller can do. Start your garden now, and join in the celebrations.

Events To Get You Ready For Garden Day

Woodmead Flower Crown Workshop – Johannesburg

Join floral designer Jannie Olivier at Woodmead Shopping Centre, who will give a demonstration on how to make a flower crown. Jannie is the current Interflora tutor and judge and has been since 2015. He was the Interflora National Designer from 2004 – 2007.

When: Saturday 14 October – 11am to 1pm
Where: Woodmead Shopping Centre Main Entrance
Cost: Free, space is limited to ten participants per time slot.

Flower Crown Workshops – Cape Town

Join floral stylist Blomboy at the Oranjezicht City Farm Market for a free flower crown workshop.

When: Saturday 14 October – two sessions: 9am and 11am
Where: Oranjezicht City Farm Market, Granger Bay, V&A Waterfront
Cost: Free

For more information about Garden Day, visit gardenday.co.za. To win one of three Ludwig’s Roses vouchers, worth R600 each, enter here.