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GEORGE NEWS - A special ceremony laced with symbolism took place on Tuesday 17 July when 40 visitors from Japan planted 170 proteas at the Garden Route Botanical Garden. The proteas are the latest addition to the considerable collection of thriving trees and plants on the western borders of the garden, donated by them over the years.
The ceremony symbolises the Japanese group's friendship and goodwill toward South Africa, especially toward the group of dedicated people who established the garden with meagre resources.
This is the tenth year that Dr Shouken Murata, president of the Seifu Academy in Tokyo, and colleagues come to perform the ceremony.
The proteas and fertiliser were purchased at a cost of R28 900 and planted on a mound of sand, which provides the good drainage proteas need. The proteas form part of a new feature in the garden and feature 67 king proteas, each of which symbolises the life of Nelson Mandela. Manager Finn Rautenbach is thrilled about this boost to the garden. A total of seven differently themed features are being planned.
Chairman Roger Bath repeated his invitation to corporations, companies or individuals to sponsor a themed feature in the garden.
Ceremonial
While the planting took place, the group chanted special prayers and planted wooden stakes, engraved with wishes of universal goodwill towards the people of George and South Africa.
Reaching out in friendship are, seated from left: GRBG Trust chairman Roger Bath, GRBG manager Finn Rautenbach, president of the Seifu Academy Dr Shouken Murata and former ambassador to Japan Christo Prince. The trees planted by the Japanese visitors form a healthy, thriving border on the garden's western side.
As in the past, a commemorative plaque engraved with the names of the participants was placed near the donated plants. The youngest well-wisher was Kousel Kenko (4) from Osaka, who accompanied his parents. The visitors enjoyed the sunny weather and a cup of tea under a gazebo together with Christo Prince, a former ambassador to Japan who lives in George.
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The event was followed the following day with a lunch held at the George Arts Theatre to celebrate the tenth tree planting at the Garden Route Botanical Garden.
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