Line-Up Of Experts At Garden Ideas Market This Weekend

Visitors to the Garden Ideas market this weekend at Simondium’s Country Lodge will have the opportunity to interact with a variety of experts during a series of talks and demonstrations. The inaugural market will take place from Friday, 27 July, to Sunday, 29 July, and presents gardening enthusiasts the chance to get inspiration for their gardens.

The informal sessions will take place in the Peacock Palace and promise to be fascinating for season and aspiring gardeners – young and old. Renowned author and conservationist Edward Netherlands will talk about frog-friendly gardens and the importance of the species to bio-diversity. Ed will give guidance on how to attract frogs to your garden, the benefits of frogs in your garden and how to ensure that they thrive in specific environments.

Willie Schmidt from Aspidistra Garden Centre will chat about chickens and how to incorporate them in an urban garden. Willie breeds more than 35 different types of show chickens and will give great tips on how to make chickens a functional and decorative part of your garden. He will also have special chicken coops for sale.

Botanical artist Ann Kerr will share her lifelong love and enthusiasm for plants and botanical art. This Fine Arts graduate and former art teacher now lives in Prince Albert and is looking forward to engage with visitors about succulent plants and container planting. “Plants and gardens speak to me and I am looking forward to showing people my art, hanging baskets and succulent boxes. I just adore plants and their beauty, which continue to inspire me.”

Other interesting participants include Cathy Esterman of Heatherby’s Heritage Roses, who has been championing these low maintenance, disease-resistant blooms for years. Heritage roses date back more than three centuries and were established in the Cape by the early settlers. Another enthralling exhibitor is Harry Lewis of Desert Living Plants, who will have a diverse selection of Haworthia and other rare indigenous succulents available at the market.

The market will be open from 10h00 till 16h30 daily on Friday and Saturday and till 16h00 on Sunday. Entrance costs R40 per adult, under 18s enter for free. Ample secure parking is available. For more information, contact 021 874 1046.

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