Publications
McGregor Magic Garden Festival
21 – 23 September
Visit the McGregor Magic Garden Festival over Heritage weekend to celebrate nature’s magic. There are more than 30 private gardens open to view, including community gardens. Visitors can also look forward to a variety of expert talks and demos (bonsai master Willem Pretorius and new Kirstenbosch curator Werner Voigt share their knowledge and botanical artist Geoffrey Visser paints ‘live’), guided walks, workshops, music and performances.
See the festival programme on quicket.co.za for venues and event times.
Cost The festival brochure ticket costs R120 per person and includes the map, access to all open gardens as well as entrance to the Garden Market where you can enjoy performances and lucky draws. Or pay R25 for access to just the Garden Market.
Other programme features are priced individually. Book your talks, walks and workshops on quicket.co.za.
Contact Call 023 625 1954.
Hermanus Flower Festival
21–24 September
This year, the Hermanus Botanical Society will be celebrating everything that fynbos has to offer with their theme ‘Fynbos 4 U’. You can expect to see wonderful arrangements of fynbos flowers and about 400 labelled specimens in bloom. Attend talks on many interesting theme-related topics from painting with aloe sap to making fynbos gin and much more. You can also look forward to DIY workshops, fun for the kids and delicious treats.Venue Fernkloof Nature Reserve, Fir Avenue, Hermanus
Times
09:00 – 16:00 from Saturday to Monday
09:00 - 14:00 on Tuesday
Cost Adults pay R25 each; under-12s enter free.
Contact Visit fernkloof.org.za for the full programme or call 028 313 0819.
Johannesburg Garden Club – Charity Open Garden
5–6 October
Visit a magnificent garden designed by Tim and Liz Steyn in Westcliff, Johannesburg. The garden works in such a way as to frame the vistas across Johannesburg. Guests can also visit the tea garden and enjoy the champagne and smoked salmon bar.
Venue The Stables, 34 Pallinghurst Road, Westcliff
Time 10:00 – 16:00
Cost Entrance is R50 per adult; under-12s enter free. Tickets are sold at the gate.
All proceeds go to Johannesburg Child Welfare.
Contact Visit johannesburggardenclub.co.za or call 083 309 7949.
Mulligatawny Farm: Open Garden
12–13 October
Spend two delightful days meandering through the magnificent 16-hectare garden on the Mulligatawny Farm.
The glorious garden includes wetlands, 130 species of waterlilies, thousands of roses, irises, crab apples and a large collection of bamboo varieties. There’s also a garden cathedral, a lakeside folly, a flowering meadow, sculptures, stunning views, exceptionally rich birdlife and much more…
Venue Mulligatawny Farm S6, Skeerpoort, near the Cradle of Humankind
Time 09:00 – 17:00
Cost Tickets are available from R100 – R200 (all proceeds to St George's Turning Point Foundation). Get yours at webtickets.co.za.
Contact Call James on 083 326 4493 or email info@turningpointfoundation.org.za; visit turningpointfoundation.org.za.
Open Gardens Constantia
18–19 October
Four diverse gardens will be on show at the Constantia open gardens, making a wonderful comeback after the severe drought last year. Each of the gardens represent a different way of being water-aware and as ecologically responsible as possible. From a small lawn-less garden with indigenous plants to a larger, formal garden with planting cleverly organised to suit water needs.
Times
Friday 18 October 14:00 – 18:00
Saturday 19 October 09:00 – 17:00
Cost Pre-purchased tickets are R70 (R80 on event weekend); this includes entry to all gardens as well as a SOZO’s Barista coffee or tea and a light nibble. Proceeds from ticket and plant sales are donated to food garden projects like The SOZO foundation and Soil for Life.Contact Visit opengardensconstantia.wordpress.com or call 021 712 5668.
The Bedford Garden Festival
18–20 October
The Bedford Garden Festival is in full bloom, so take your senses on an adventure trail of amazing food, music, art and inspiring open gardens – all in the beautiful garden village of Bedford and surrounds. Ten farm gardens will be open this year with refreshments served at most. Some farms also offer light lunches. In the Bedford village, there are more open gardens, plant nurseries, a country market and more!Venue Various gardens in the area; see the programme and download your map from bedford.co.za.
Visit bedford.co.za for a list of participating open gardens. Here you will find the times and costs associated with each open garden as well as any special activities and contact details.
Franschhoek Open Garden Festival
25–27 October
Celebrate the start of summer in Franschhoek with the annual Franschhoek Open Garden Festival. This year, the festival has 10 gardens on show, ranging from small village gardens to beautiful large farm gardens. Other attractions include the ‘Garden in a Pot’ competition as well as tea and wine-tastings in some of the gardens. This year, the show coincides with the Franschhoek Art Show, so there will be much to see and do over the weekend.
Cost Tickets cost R200 per person to see all the gardens for the whole weekend and they will be available at La Motte Wine Estate and the NG Church Hall in the Main Street in Franschhoek. All profits from the show are donated to Fleur de Lis, the home for the aged in Franschhoek.
Contact For more information, email glyndajacobs@gmail.com or contact Franschhoek Tourism on 021 876 2861.
Elgin Open Gardens
26–27 October & 2–3 November
Visitors to the Elgin Open Gardens can look forward to eight gardens maintained by keen and dedicated owner-gardeners as well as five lifestyle venues with gardens open in the Elgin and Bot River districts. The gardens range from large established country gardens (some over 50 years old) to young, recently planted gardens on farms and smallholdings. Choose the weekend that best suits you and bring the whole family for a fun day out.
Venue View the map here to see the participating gardens.
Time 10:00 – 17:00
Cost Entry ranges from free to R35, depending on the venue. Details are available here.
Contact Visit elginopengardens.co.za for more or call 021 844 0154.
Johannesburg International Flower Show
30 October – 3 November
Waterfall City will be transformed into a blooming display of floral excellence when hosting the first edition of the Johannesburg International Flower Show. Whether you are a floral design fundi, a green-fingered gardener or you wish to soak up the sun and enjoy a day out, this event is for you.
Visitors can expect themed floral exhibits by top designers, a Super Food Garden designed by Amorentia Estate and Nursery, plants to purchase and much more! In collaboration with Nu Power, a number of solar panels will be installed, making the Johannesburg International Flower Show a solar-powered event.
Venue Waterfall City, Johannesburg
Time 12:00 – 19:00
Cost Tickets are available from R175 per adult and R75 for children U16/pensioners. Get yours on johannesburgflowershow.com.
Contact Visit johannesburgflowershow.com or call 011 880 5202.
Rustenberg Manor House Open Garden
1 – 3 November
The private Rustenberg Manor House gardens will once again be open to the public this October. Spend the day strolling through the beautiful gardens and appreciate the spectacular mountain views or enjoy light refreshments under the oak trees. Plants will also be on sale.
Venue Rustenberg Manor House, Stellenbosch
Time 09:30 – 16:30
Cost R50 entrance fee per person
Contact For any further information, contact Rozanne Barlow on 082 442 1721 or visit www.rustenberg.co.za.
