Friday 23 & Saturday 24 October, 9.30am-5pm (Klein Optenhorst open Sunday too)

In 2009 Wellington Garden Club hosted the following open gardens:

Five beautiful farm gardens:
On two of the farms with wine cellars you can indulge in wine tasting, and wine per bottle will be for sale.

No animals are allowed and children must be under parent supervision.
We’re only 70km from Cape Town. Take the R44 from the N1 to Wellington.
Charities in Wellington will benefit from the profits.

Entrance: R40 children under 12 free – all gardens included
Tickets available in advance: Basson Skoene, 26 Church Street, Wellington
W’Rite Shoppe, Pick & Pay centre or W’Rite Shoppe, Church Street, Wellington

Tickets including maps on open days available at: Wellington Museum and Open Gardens. (The museum is at the bottom of Church Street on the left hand side, just beyond the Shell garage on the right).

For more info contact:
Lizette Siderfin 021 873 2985 / 076 147 8283 hvanwyk@iafrica.com
For directions on open days contact: Susan du Toit 084 664 1665

Klein Optenhorst Garden

Klein Optenhorst lies in the historic Bovlei valley just outside the town of Wellington.

The garden was terraced by the current owners in 1987, and planted over the years with a range of interesting and unusual heat-tolerant plants. Among these is the largest collection of salvias ever assembled in South Africa (including many indigenous ones) which flourish in the warm Wellington climate. Other features include an ancient wild olive, believed to be more than 400 years old, a gravel garden, and various ponds.

The terraces from the stoep of the nineteenth century farmhouse lead down to a large farm dam with fine views of the surrounding farms that lie on the foothills of the Groenberg.

Directions:
Once in Wellington, turn into Kerk Street (the main street) and pass through the town towards Bains Kloof. Just after Bovlei Winery turn left, then fork right immediately after. At the T-junction turn right. Klein Optenhorst is higher up on the left, on the untarred section.

There is a small nursery attached where plants raised in the garden can be bought.

By popular demand this garden will also be open on
Sunday 25 October 2009.
Entrance fee for the day is R30.00 including delicious scones and tea.

Contact:
Naas & Jenny Ferreira, 021 8641210 or n.ferreira@mweb.co.za

Mischa - John Barns’ Garden

Mischa is surrounded by spectacular scenery and is situated below Groenberg mountain. From the tasting rooms you look down on lovely lawns, swimming pool, dam and rose garden. Mischa Wine Estate has a selection of handcrafted wines for tasting at R20,00. Wine per bottle is also for sale.

Eventide - Lou Barns’ Garden

Eventide’s Homestead situated between green vineyards was built in 1945 and a wing added in 1981. When you enter Eventides gate and drive up the lane flanked with Johannesburg gold tees you see white iceberg roses and a beautiful fountain in front of the homestead. The rest of the garden is a shade garden and also a haven to seven dogs. Tea, coffee, fruit juice and snacks will be served in this garden. Come and enjoy a ”cuppa” and relax in a lovely country setting. There will be stalls selling plant, jams, dried fruit, vegetables and many more at bargain prices.

Cordiersrus - Johan and Estelle Malan

This farm has been in the Malan family for many generations. This, mainly white, pink and blue garden has beautiful large trees, lawns, immaculate flowerbeds, and a formal rose garden. On a clear day you can see Table Mountain in the distance.

Welbedacht - Schalk and Myra Burger

After this well-known Rugby family bought Welbedacht, which means well thought out in Dutch, they lovingly restore it to its previous glory. Then added a cellar producing wonderful wines. Next came a cricket pitch and clubhouse complete with cricket library and positioned between the vineyards and oak trees. The huge dam with its little island and gazebo is the main focus point in this green garden. Come and taste Schalk Burger and Sons unique wines. More than ten different wines to try, all for R10.00. Wine per bottle is also for sale.