GRAAFF-REINET — On Tuesday, November 8, the Graaff-Reinet Garden Club spent the day in Wendy Kroon’s magnificent garden on the farm Excelsior.
Her English country garden, set among the rocky outcrops of the Sneeuberg Mountains, features an abundance of Heritage Roses.
Unfortunately, three weeks prior to the meeting, all her roses were hit by a black frost, but nevertheless, Club members were treated to a beautiful garden with a variety of annuals, which were all in full bloom.
"It really was such a privilege to spend the day in her garden and we are so thankful to her for opening her garden and home to us all," said Jess Yeats . "We all enjoyed hearing about Wendy’s passion for gardening and how she overcame different gardening challenges at the various homes she’s lived in," she continued.
Rae Gilbert, the chairperson of the Heritage Rose Society and owner of Bosky Dell Farm in Knysna, was the guest speaker for the day. She delivered a very informative talk on Heritage Roses explaining their different characteristics - she brought to life their history and made the local gardeners wonder what unique story each Heritage Rose in their own gardens has to tell.
John Westcott, who was also in attendance, then spoke about vermiculture and the importance of it in everyday gardening resulting in many of the Club's members going home with some nutritious worm tea for their plants.
In conclusion of the day's programme, the Club held their annual rose competition and all in attendance were delighted by the quality and standard of roses produced this year.
In the Florabunda division of the competition, Sam Kroon took the top honours with her Ballerina rose entry. She also claimed the second place in this category.
In the Hybrid Tea division, Mariette Slabbert came in first with her Esther Geldenhuys rose entry and Sheila Rose-Innes second with her Vera Johns rose entry.
The 'Love Of A Rose' award was presented to Wendy Kroon for starting The Heritage Rose Garden.
"It was a wonderful sunny day to picnic in Wendy’s garden, where we enjoyed the glorious views of the surrounding mountains and veldt contrasted with her lush and beautiful English garden," concluded Yeats.
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