Plant fair attracts more than 2 500 visitors

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - More than 2 500 people visited the Garden Route Botanical Garden's fourth annual Indigenous Plant Fair from Friday to Sunday, 30 October to 1 November, making it another successful year for the garden's biggest annual fundraiser.

Even Sunday's rain failed to deter the supporters, who turned out to celebrate indigenous plants, conservation and the garden.

Visitors could choose from more than 6 000 plants, representing about 500 to 600 species. The selection catered for home gardeners, landscapers and those interested in environmentally sustainable gardens.

The fair also offered activities for the whole family and specialist talks on gardening, including author and horticulturist Geoff Nichols. More than 30 food and craft stalls, a children's zone, face painting and restaurant offerings added to the weekend's attractions.

The botanical garden thanked everyone involved in presenting the fair, as well as the public for their support.

As the garden's most important annual fundraiser, the fair generates essential income for daily operations, maintenance, plant collections and conservation work.

Those who missed the event can still visit the garden's nursery, which stocks a selection of indigenous plants. It is situated at 49 Caledon Street, and is accessed through the botanical garden's main gate.

The garden is already looking ahead to the 2027 fair and invites nurseries, businesses, conservation organisations, artists and community groups to get involved as exhibitors, sponsors or volunteers.

For more information or to participate, send an email to [email protected].

There were a variety of food stalls and shaded places where visitors could sit and relax when they weren’t shopping.

Lukas Schmahl, Zak Schmahl and Arthur Rhodes with some stickers to create awareness of Alexander's Wish, a project to extend the botanical garden's indigenous forest with tree donations.