Whenever we visit South Africa we try to visit some different gardens, and a few months ago we were lucky to be just there when the Elgin Open Garden days were taking place. Elgin is a beautiful and lush area around the town of Grabouw, 70km Southeast of Cape Town. It’s mostly known for its apple orchards and its cooler climate. This also means it is the ideal area to create some beautiful gardens and so every year the Elgin Open Garden days give people the opportunity to visit some beautiful private gardens.

Fresh Woods

We’ll start with my favourite, Fresh woods, created by the Knox-Shaws family more of a magical enchanted place than just a garden. When you arrive you have the impression you just ended up at a small forest, but once you enter the magic begins. Sometimes this garden is described as a rose garden, but that doesn’t do it justice. Of course the garden is packed with thousands of roses in an enormous variety, but they are planted in a very natural way. Among and in old trees and shrubs they climb their way up to the sun.

When you walk in the garden you fall from one surprise into another. Hidden paths take you in the forest, but than all of a sudden the trees open up and the most beautiful perennial borders appear. Unfortunately when we were there a big storm has brought quite some havoc into one part of the garden and so we were not able to admire the large maple collections they had in the part of the garden. I truly hope they can save quite some of them and open that part of the garden next year.

It’s amazing how beautifully the plants are integrated and combined. Not only color- and texture wise, but in this garden it’s the plants that give each other support. A Climatis is using foxgloves as a trellis, trees support the rambling and climbing roses. It all looks like it was meant to be like this by nature, but, as gardeners, we know it needs a lot of effort to get this effect.

So if you have the chance, try to visit this enchanted garden forest and feel in paradise for just a few hours.

Auldearn Gardens

Another must visit garden in the Elgin region is the Auldearn Gardens. Tucked away far from the main road in between the apple orchards, it is quite an adventure to get to this beautiful place. After a drive over small dusty roads you arrive at the Auldearn Farm.

This hilltop garden is the work of Jenny Simpson and is packed with a beautiful mix of indigenous, exotic and rare plants. All skilfully put together in some beautiful colour schemes. Some ponds and a little stream bring even more life in the garden.

The garden is not only beautiful on its own, the views on the Koggelberg Biosphere reserve and the surrounding orchards at to the atmosphere of this place.

If you want to find out more about this event, than surely check their website : https://elginopengardens.co.za