News

DOYEN OF SOUTH AFRICAN HERB INDUSTRY IN CAPE TOWN

Margaret Roberts, South Africa's expert on herbs and flowers will share her knowledge of creating cosmetics from the garden, and companion and food gardening, at this year's Cape Town Flower & Garden Show in October.

Roberts is acclaimed for making herbs a part of everyday life in South Africa. She is a respected authority on the subject and over a career that spans more than 30 years has lectured extensively on the value of herbs.

As a physiotherapist Roberts has used her medical background to develop natural treatments for almost every ailment. She has inspired many thousands of people to create their own gardens, change their ways of eating and to use herbs and natural medicines to achieve health and happiness.

Margaret Roberts has also developed a unique range of herbal products from gourmet spices, salts, oils and vinegars to toiletries, bath products, potpourri's, fragrant oils, creams, natural foods, medicines and even insecticides, all manufactured at her farm on the northern slopes of the great Magaliesberg Mountains in North West province.

She is also author of a series of books about herbs, flowers, tissue salts, herbal teas and lavender. In appreciation of her contribution to South Africa's plant industry, the Margaret Roberts rose, an exquisite old English rose was named after her in 1993.

Tickets to Margaret Robert's lectures cost R30 and are available through Computicket or at the door. She will be talking on 'Cosmetics from your Garden' at 10.30am on Thursday 25 October and on 'Companion Planting and Food Gardens' on Saturday 27 October at 10.30 am.

The Cape Town Flower & Garden Show takes place at the historic Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West from Thursday October 25 to Sunday October 28. It opens at 9am and closes at 6pm daily. Tickets are R50 for adults and R35 for scholars and senior citizens, while children under 12 enter free. Tickets are available at Computicket (www.computicket.com or 083 915 8000) or at the gate. Secure parking will be provided. For information call +27 (0)21 422 0390.