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Private Tours to Town and Country Gardens

AUGUST 2007

The Cape Town Flower and Garden Show in partnership with specialist garden tour consultant Madelief Louw, is offering garden lovers the chance to experience two guided private garden tours.

Tour 1: Thursday 25 October 2007

Elgin/Grabouw farm gardens

"Windermere", surrounded by fruit orchards and mountains in the distance, was purchased by Duncan and Liz Henderson four years ago after the sale of their nursery. The new garden indicates their interest in growing lavenders and perennial plants. A driveway bordered with sweet scented lavender greets the visitors with a long walkway edged with colourful perennial plants and shrubs leading to a manmade water feature. Undaunted by the steeply sloping ground, a woodland was introduced in this revamped garden.

Return to Peregrine Farm Stall, Grabouw, for luncheon, driving over Viljoen's Pass, through magnificent scenery with fruit orchards lining either side of the road.

Visit "Freshwoods" winner of the 2003 Award of Merit from the World Federation of Rose Societies. A plant person's heaven this magnificent garden has a major collection of heritage and species roses, rare trees (including maples) and a collection of rhododendrons and deutzias. Owners Dr Peter and Barbara Knox-Shaw, have successfully propagated rare plants from seeds sent from all over the world. A recently established woodland garden is an added feature.

Departure point Kirstenbosch Garden 8.30am. Collection point at The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West at 09h15. Cost per person is R220.00 and includes an entrance ticket valued at R50.00 to the Cape Town Flower & Garden Show at Lourensford Wine Estate.

Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned coach and enjoy guided tours by the owners of both gardens with tea and refreshments to be enjoyed in superb surroundings. Luncheon at Peregrine Farm Stall for own account.

Tour 2: Friday 26 October 2007

Kenilworth/Constantia town gardens

Depart from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for "Valley House" a 10-hectare garden, of which 4 hectares has been landscaped and planted to suit the totally organic lifestyle and philosophy of Jenny and Darty Louw, earning them the 2006 Top Billing Lifestyle Award.

With the assistance of bulldozers, the steep slope of the property has been altered to create recreational space, a children’s garden, a natural water feature for water birds, lawns at different levels for family picnics, areas filled with colourful shrubs and plants and a large vegetable and herb garden with fruit trees. Imaginative garden features dot the landscape with narrow pathways winding through luscious greenery inviting guests to explore. The garden is shared by water mongooses in the vlei, six porcupines, a myriad of birds, a Cape clawless otter and a brood of chickens and ducks who are locked safely out of harms way in a large "predator proof" enclosure at night. A remarkable garden set in an exclusive suburb of Cape Town.

Enjoy luncheon with private caterer Nikki Booth at her Bishopscourt home before visiting "Stellenberg" in Kenilworth. Not generally open to the public, a guided tour of "Stellenberg" offers a unique opportunity to garden lovers.

This very lovely classical garden is complemented by the magnificent Cape Dutch manor house and outbuildings and surrounded by oak trees and carefully tended lawns with a formal garden designed by internationally acclaimed designer David Higgs. The owners, Andrew and Sandy Ovenstone, have taken great care to complement the historic homestead and outbuildings with carefully designed garden "rooms" reflecting the history of the owners since the original land grant was made by Governor Simon van der Stel in the 18th C.

Departure point Kirstenbosch at 9am with a pick-up point at The Cellars-Hohenort in Constantia. The cost of R280 a person and includes a ticket to the Cape Town Flower & Garden Show at Lourensford Wine Estate valued at R50, a 5-star meal, and tea and guided tours of both gardens. Travel in an air-conditioned coach and enjoy the day with a small group of garden lovers.

Note: Visits to these gardens is by appointment only as the gardens are not open to the general public. The number of visitors is limited to 20 on each of these days. It is recommended that comfortable walking shoes be worn on both tours.

For reservations contact Candice Eaton at iKapa Tour & Travel (tel. 021 510 8666). Consultant and Guide, Madelief Louw of Specialised Personal Tours.

For general enquiries contact the Cape Town Flower Show office on +27 (0)21 422 0390 or visit www.capetownflower.com

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