This year, 20 gardens will be open to the public in the Elgin and Bot River districts, over the last weekend of October, and the first weekend of November.
These range from large established country gardens to small town gardens, all in a setting of great natural beauty no more than an hour’s drive from Cape Town. Many gardens will have plants for sale, and some will also offer teas and light meals.
Other events in the district include art exhibitions, greenhouse tours and wine tastings, some in the gardens themselves.
The Elegantly Elgin Wine Route will be in full operation during the open weekends too.
This is the 16th year of the Elgin Open Gardens scheme, which has gone from strength to strength, inspiring other gardeners with the range of plants that can be grown in the cooler and wetter climate of Elgin, an area renowned for its fynbos, its apples and wines, and its nurseries.
Some gardens have free entry, and others charge between R10 and R30.
For more information, call 021 844 0154, 078 02 12101, or email info@elginopengardens.co.za
Full details with a map are in a free leaflet from September in all major Western Cape nurseries.
This can also be downloaded at www.elginopengardens.co.za
