Blackwood’s Open Midlands Gardens

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Times: 9:00 – 17:00

Entrance: R10 per garden (some gardens have their own cost)

Enquiries: Jackie 082 924 5892
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Hilton
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MIKE AND VIV VAN BREDA
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Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 September

Hilton Central, 38 Daisy Road

An established, formal garden in central Hilton, planted with clivias, fuchsias, hydrangeas, azaleas and a succulent collection.

Directions: From the Rotunda, follow the Cedara Road. Turn the second left into Dale Road and the second left into Daisy Road. It is the second property on the right.

Why visit? English, rambling, informal. An orchid house, a succulent collection, and a worm farm. Organic, no pesticides.
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SARAH BOWMAN
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Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 October

18 Flamingo Road, Leonard, Hilton

A vibrant English paradise adorned with over 250 roses and thoughtfully designed to delight visitors of all ages with whimsical fairy hideouts, symmetrical foundations, and breathtaking vistas across the manicured lawns. It was planted in memory of a beloved grandmother and designed with kids in mind. Enjoy tea under the rose-lined arbour or stroll through the lemon orchard.

Previously a part of a much bigger property, they have a gorgeous old windmill in memory of years gone by.

Directions: Coming off the highway, turn into Hilton Avenue and turn towards the Shell Garage. Turn left into Park Lane (just before the Checkers Centre and then immediately right into Azalea Road, just below the centre. Continue for 1.5 km until you reach a sharp corner with the Garden of Remembrance on your left. Turn right into an avenue of plane trees and continue to the first gate on your left (no.18).
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THE MIDLANDS ROSE SOCIETY
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Gail Birss
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Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 October

Garlington Estate, Seeking Drive, Hilton

Step into history at the Heritage Garden, lovingly curated by the Midland’s Rose Society since 2017. Over 138 varieties of old garden roses, dating back to the early settlers, bloom in a picturesque setting, preserving the rich botanical legacy of South Africa’s past. The garden is entered by a ramp, as well as having a pathway around the perimeter of the garden to make it wheelchair friendly. Four arches enter the grass section, and four beds grow four shades of roses. In the centre of the garden, there is a gazebo with a table and chairs. All the roses are labelled and this year there will be a map of the garden with information about the interesting stories of some of the roses. Roses and rose calendars will be on sale.

Directions: From the N3, take the Hilton off-ramp onto the M80. Turn right towards the Hilton Life Hospital. Take the second road to the right into Elizabeth Drive. Take the second road to the left, Seeking Drive to the entrance of Garlington Estate. After entering through the gate, drive to the T-junction, turn right, past the next boom, and turn right again into Karoo Lane. Follow this road, which goes off to the right, almost taking a loop around buildings. The Midland’s Heritage Garden is on the left. It is well-marked with a large sign. You may have to walk the last 200 m.
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BARBARA ROGERS
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Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 October.

19 St Michaels Road, Winterskloof

An established English country garden with a collection of magnificent mature trees and a majestic view. The Garden is terraced with two duck ponds (a children’s special!). There are pockets of delight around every corner. It was built and established in 1946 and bought in 2021 by the current owners.

Directions: At the Crossways traffic lights continue along Dennis Shepstone Drive. Pass the Police Station and continue to Cowan House School. Pass the School and turn left into Amy Wilson Drive. Pass Ronocco Nursery and continue to the T-Junction. Turn left into St Michaels Road 100 m up the road to No 19.
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MARGARET CLINTON-PARKER
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Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 October.

6 Keans Drive, Hiltara Park

A cottage-style garden with roses mixed with informal planting and a pretty water feature. A Zen Garden is tucked into the corner near the patio and swimming pool.

Directions: From Cedara Road, turn into Patterson Road (Golden Pond sign), then turn left into Keans Drive – thatched house on the right.
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NATASHA STEYN
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Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 October.

No.1 The Gates, Hilton College Road

This one-year-old garden is an indigenous sculpture garden with a collection of sculptures, including work by Anton Smit and Lewellyn Davies. This self-maintaining garden has cut flowers for the house all year round and is part of the Hilton College Estate and conservancy.

Directions: From the N3, take the Hilton Road turn-off and turn towards Hilton College. The Gates Estate is on Hilton College Avenue on the left before you get to Hilton College. Enter The Gates Estate from Hilton College Avenue at the security entrance. Go around the circle and take the 3rd exit; Stork Road. The last house at the end of the road on the right is No 1.
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Howick

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AMBERFIELD
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Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 October

Directions: If entering Howick from the Durban direction, drive through the town centre on Main Street. Turn right into Karkloof Road (Super Quick Tyres on the corner). Turn left into Mare Street (Cookhouse on the left-hand corner). Continue up Mare Street, and the Amberfield entrance is on the right.

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Anne Colvin, 17 Jacana Lane

This is a small garden with a paved walkway. It is fully fenced and has a lovely mixture of plants and textures. The garden was redone this past year. There is also a stone statue from Zimbabwe.

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Christa Lubbe, 1 Guinea Fowl Lane

It is an informal garden with a mix of indigenous plants, including aloes, in a cottage style. The design includes bird baths, stones, a wooden bridge, two large cycads, and garden ornaments.

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Colleen Bennett, 8 Quail Lane

A small garden with a mix of roses and shrubs to attract birds, bees and butterflies.

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Jean Harborth, 3 Quail Lane

A small formal garden with a rose section, stone features and a little bit of everything in stunning colours. Throughout the garden, there are statues, rocks and succulents.

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Jeanette McLean, 28 Weaver Lane

This small garden only has one type of annual planted. It relies on the colours and textures of the plants in the front. The back garden has succulents and hardy plants in three beds. It’s an easy-maintenance garden.

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Karen Braithwaite, 2 Quail Lane

A cottage-style garden inside the fenced area and an indigenous outside the fenced area. This is a garden-inthe- making, so it’s not finished yet. It includes roses, an arch and wall trellises. Indigenous plants have been planted for birds, bees and butterflies.

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Liz Denison, 17 Francolin Lane

A small complex garden. Lots of roses.

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Lyn Gemmell, 9 Jacana Lane

A garden with hardy flowering shrubs. Easy Maintenance with some roses and pots. Heat-tolerant and colourful, low-maintenance planting.
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Mike and Gill Wilson, 4 Mannikin Drive

This garden is a work in progress. Work began nine months ago. It is filled with lovely herbaceous borders and many roses, some heritage roses. This garden is set in beautiful tree-filled surroundings. A rose lovers’ paradise!
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Nan Foss, 1 Plover Lane

The total replanting of 90% of the garden happened five years ago, using contrasting textures, bark, plants, and foliage to encourage wildlife and birds: seasonal indigenous bulbs, trees, and underplanting for privacy. The garden is maturing beautifully. It is private and relaxing, with many birds. A new duiker path leads into a deeper garden, using bark as a pathway. Over 200 different plants are found in this confined area.
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Rikki Abbott Wedderburn, 7 Loerie Close

A garden that boasts various plants that flourish in a tranquil, shaded area. A constantly challenging and changing garden that makes unusual use of height and self-seeding. The garden has five different aspects. It’s filled with many colourful, shade-loving plants, and others that do surprisingly well in the shade abound – from camellias, azaleas, lobelia, fuchsias, and more. As a result of the shade, flowering tends to be later than in sunnier gardens.
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Yvonne Dredge, 27 Francolin Lane

This is a corner unit, so the garden goes around three sides of the property, with lawn on either side of the beds.
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Floral Art

A floral art display will be held in the main Amberfield lounge by the Midland’s Floral Art Society and the Amberfield residents. There will be a one-hour floral art demonstration (free of charge) by Midland’s Floral Art Society members, which will be held at 10 am on Saturday 19 October. Teas and eats will be available for sale in the main lounge.
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AMBER GLADES
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Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 November
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Sandra Turner van Rij

Amber Glades, D507, off Karkloof Road, Howick

Landscaper Gary Cox designed the garden with diversity in mind. The design softens the built environment, incorporating zones for grass areas to create a small park and serve as a play area for children. Additionally, there is a pergola for relaxation and gatherings, covered for shade and designed for minimal maintenance..

Directions: Take the Karkloof Road out of Howick, past Amber Valley. Amberglades is on the right-hand side shortly after that.
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CAROL SACKE
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Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 October
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12 Broadacres Country Estate, District Road, Merrivale Heights

A cherished memorial garden lovingly cultivated by Carol and Kevin Sacke in honour of their daughter. It features an array of enchanting garden rooms, including a champagne garden, a proudly South African Garden, and a golfers’ delight. All are adorned with Carol’s artistic vision, inviting visitors to explore, reflect, and connect in this sanctuary of love and remembrance.

Directions: N3 North, take exit 99 Howick South/Underberg and immediately left into Wilson Drive to the T-junction and turn right up District Road. Drive to Broadacres Country Estate, District Road, Merrivale Heights, Birnam Wood Road.
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CHERYL AND OWEN DAVIES
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Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 November
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30 Curry’s Post Road, Howick North

The garden is informal on many levels and botanically diverse with koi ponds and bronze sculptures.

Directions: From the N3, take exit 107 (Howick/Tweedie) and go right over the bridge if coming from Pietermaritzburg and left from Nottingham Road. At the 2nd traffic light, go left up the Curry’s Post Road. They are 800 m from the traffic light, on the right-hand side of the road above Protea Gardens (big white wall and green gates). There’s a number 30 on the pillar that houses the bell.
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COLBOURNE FARM
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Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 November

Heinrich Odendaal

Karkloof Road

An old English garden surrounds an old red brick house dating back to the early 1900s. The Garden has been under the present owner for the last six years. The main goal was to create an easy-to-maintain garden with mostly perennials in this large space. From early spring, the garden starts showing off with a flush of blooming clivias, rhododendrons, and azaleas. Key features include big open spaces (lawns), a forest garden (clivias) and a spectacular vista over the Karkloof and Loskop.

Directions: From Supa Quick, Howick, head North on the Karkloof Road. Pass the Karkloof Country Club, the Conservancy (on the right) and the Colbourne Dairy (on the left). After 17.7 km, turn left onto a gravel road (at the Colbourne Farming sign). Follow the gravel road for 700 m. You will drive straight into the Colbourne Gate, over the cattle grid. Follow the tree-lined road for ±800 m up to the Colbourne main house.
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KIM AND GORDON STUART
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Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 October

1 Oakleigh Drive

The garden has been developed from scratch over the last 20 years. A formal garden that is softened by roses and perennials. The bottom garden is freeform and typical of a Midlands country garden and frames the views of the river and adjacent countryside from the house. It’s essentially a shade garden, compelled by its difficult-to-garden west-facing aspect. Only the hardiest of hardy survive, but the garden is lush and beautiful.

Directions: From the N3 take the Howick North/Tweedie turn off and drive towards Howick. PassGreendale Supermarket on your right. At the robot, turn right into Amber Avenue and immediately left into Wear Avenue. Wear merges into Northumberland. Merge right into Braemar. Turn right into Rylands. Turn right into Rosebank. No 1 Oakleigh is at the end of Rosebank – park on the verge.
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SHARON BUTLER AND MARILYN NORTHMORE
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Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 October
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Cnr R103 and Caversham Road

An abundance of roses, azaleas, flowering cherry trees, informal beds and veggie gardens. There is a lovely water feature and shady moss-covered stairways with a ‘secret garden’ walkway along the R103, full of flowering shrubs and rockery beds. There is an aloe garden and two veggie gardens.

Directions: Coming on the N3 from Maritzburg: Take the Howick North/Tweedie offramp (exit 107). Turn left into Main Street (R107) following the Tweedie sign. At the T-Junction, turn right onto the R103 (Lion’s River sign). Go past the Nelson Mandela capture site and then Piggly Wiggly on your left. Keep going for 1 km. Arrowfield is on the corner of the R103 and Caversham Road.
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BALGOWAN

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PETER’S GATE HERBAL CENTRE

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Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 November

Kirsty Makin

R103, Lidgetton

Large area under lawn and beds of herbal plants, including herbal trees. A vast collection of medicinal, culinary, cosmetic, permaculture and indigenous herbs all organically grown. It is an insect and bird-friendly garden that supports a large population of pollinating insects, including bees. A 30-year-old family-run business, overlooking the majestic Caversham Valley.

Directions: From Durban, take Exit 107 from the N3 northbound. Turn left at the stop street and follow the road to the T-junction. Turn right onto the R103 in the direction of Lion’s River. Follow the R103 for approximately 12km, and you’ll find Peter’s Gate Herbal Centre on the right.
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BOSCH HOEK MANOR HOUSE, BOSCH HOEK FARM

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Sunday 1 September

Kayleigh Page

Explore the enchanting forest garden nestled between the fairways of Bosch Hoek’s 9-hole golf course, boasting a 60-year-old legacy of majestic clivias, japonicas, azaleas, hydrangeas, camellias, and rhododendrons, offering visitors a serene retreat amidst nature’s splendour.

Directions: From Durban, take the Balgowan and Curry’s Post glide-off and turn right over the N3 and travel 500 m to the Bosch Hoek main gate.
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PIETERMARITZBURG
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ST JOHN HAW
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Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 November

19A Hosking Road, Pietermaritzburg

The formal Italian Mediterranean-style garden has many terraces and water features. The house was built in 1941 and includes lots of Victorian and Edwardian metalwork.

Directions: From Howick Road, pass Redlands Hotel on the right and take the second right onto Hosking Road. The house is just a few hundred meters up that road, has a grey wooden gate and is on the corner of Hosking and Edgehill Roads.
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WOODGROVE RETIREMENT VILLAGE
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Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 October

28A Howick Road, Pietermaritzburg

Entry: R20 per person.

Enquiries: Mary Thrash 072 614 1612

Directions: From the N3, take the 82 Armitage Road/Sanctuary Road turn-off. Go straight through the traffic light, into the traffic circle, and then the second exit into Hyslop Road. Take the second right into Gough Road, then the first left and immediate right into Howick Road. Woodgrove Retirement Village is on the right.
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Gillian Dyer, 49 Conifer Drive

Informal indigenous shrubs and trees screen a beautiful small garden planted with roses and annuals, creating a garden of tranquillity. Interesting large rock features.
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Jean Peterson, 33 Conifer Drive

A mix of colourful shrubs and annuals, a few roses, some indigenous shrubs and trees. Side and back gardens on difficult slopes. The back bank was landscaped by Mike Hammersley with a water feature off the back patio.
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Joan Dowsett, 10 Elm Ridge

A garden designed with rocks and gravel. Clever use of grass, gravel, and succulents makes this garden memorable. Bird baths, an old wheelbarrow, poles and rope add to the design.
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Mary-Ann Spurr, 7 Cypress Way

A sunny north-facing terraced garden. Roses inter-planted with colourful annuals occupy the top terrace. Hardy perennials and shrubs fill the bank and lower terrace.
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Maureen Walwyn, 8 Elm Ridge

The garden features attractive plantings and the use of succulents to save water.
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Craft Market

Sale of tea, lunch, plants, and baked goods from 10 am daily.

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CASA MEXICANA
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Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 November

Christopher Duigan

35 Montgomery Drive, Athlone

A labour of love spanning 28 years, where Barry Lovegrove’s inspired vision intertwines extensive hardscaping with a diverse array of indigenous flora, creating a captivating Afro-Mexican oasis boasting architectural marvels, tranquil water features, hand-painted tiles, a hidden forest path and a rich tapestry of aloes, plectranthus, mature trees and potted succulents, inviting visitors to experience a harmonious blend of culture and nature.

Directions: From Athlone Circle, follow Montgomery Drive downhill to No. 35.
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DARGLE

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MILLFORD FARM

Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 October

Tim and Kate Baynes

Positioned on the top of a hill, Millford’s formal terraced garden frames the beautiful Dargle valley. The garden has been designed formally, creating beautiful rooms to view the surrounding landscape. Although formal in structure and planting, the overall feel is overflowing with herbaceous borders filled with roses, delphinium, peonies, foxgloves, and dahlias.

Directions: From Pietermaritzburg/Hilton, travelling along the N3, take exit 107. Turn left at the top of the flyoff and continue until the T-junction (Everything Shop). Turn right onto the R103 and travel 5 km until the turnoff to the Dargle on the left. Follow the Dargle Road for 14.2km and turn right onto the district road D666. Continue up the gravel road for ±4km then turn right onto the farm road at the large stone gates signposted.

Enquire about workshops including a Sip and Sow and Bouquet Basics with Kate on 082 774 1394 or email millfordfarm@yebo.co.za.
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KAMBERG/ROSETTA
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GLENGARRY

Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 October

Rose Sivright

Glengarry Park, 1 Highmoor Road

The grounds are extensive and park-like, and they are home to a wonderful collection of English perennials. Acid-loving shrubs abound, including rhododendrons, deciduous and evergreen azaleas, pieris, leucothoe, kalmia, loropetalum, and deutzia. This is a plant-person garden with many delightfully different plants. A fairy garden to enchant both young and old is waiting to be discovered.

Directions: From Pietermaritzburg, travel northbound on N3 and take Nottingham Road (Exit 132). Turn right and travel to the village of Nottingham Road. Keep right under the railway bridge and continue through the village to Rosetta (R103), 8 km away. Turn left onto the Kamberg Rockart Centre Road at Rosetta and travel 31 km along this road. Turn left onto the Glengarry and Highmoor Road, and Glengarry is immediately on the right.
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TEA GARDEN

Kamberg Valley Association Tea Garden Home-baked teas and light lunches available between 10:00-15:00 on Saturday 26 October. Funds raised will be used by Kamberg Social Responsibility Committee. St Peters Church will host Flowers through their Church on Sunday, 27 October, from 10 am to 1 pm. Teas will be on sale, with donations to the Church gratefully accepted.
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PROSPER FARM
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Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 October

Belinda Price

D314, Kamberg Road, Rosetta

Prosper Garden is set on a working dairy farm. It is a sweeping, spacious park-like garden with magnificent views across a dam to the Sleeping Giant and Grazing dairy cows. The gardens are framed by mature plain trees, some over 70 years old, magnificent copper beech, beautiful oak trees, and white Stinkwoods with well-established border planting. Walk through the paved pathways to hidden gardens of hydrangeas and more.

Directions: Take the Nottingham Road Exit 132. Turn right and continue to Nottingham Road Village. With Gowrie Village on your left at the stop street, turn right and continue under the railway bridge. Continue on this road for approximately 7 km until you see the Ugly Duckling on your right. Take the Kamberg Road to the left. Travel approximately 12 km on tar. Follow this road past Springrove Dam on your left until you reach a dirt road D314. Signboards read ‘Prosper Farm, Brad & Belinda Price’. Turn right onto the D314 and follow this for about 3 km until you see a sign for Proper Farm indicating to the left. Drive until you see the silver gate with the ‘P’ on it.
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SANDSTONE FARM
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Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 October

Sue and Graham Armstrong

D450 Kamberg Road, Rosetta

This 4-acre garden is a beautiful combination of exotic and indigenous plants, with three interesting water features featuring sandstone retaining walls. The large stone-walled garden has a magnificent terraced rose garden and an interesting potager featuring raised beds. A recently constructed greenhouse stands prominently in a productive vegetable garden.

The garden and farm are home to numerous exotic trees planted by the owners in 2010. The garden overlooks two well-known trout dams and onwards over the rolling hills of the Kamberg Valley and onto Giant’s Castle peaks in the Ukhalamba Drakensberg mountains.

Directions: Travel along the Kamberg Road P168 from Rosetta and turn right onto the D450. Sandstone is the first entrance on the left after going about 1-2 km down this road.
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PROSPERITY FARM
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Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 October

Deborah Erskine

D314, Kamberg

Step into history at the farm, where the echoes of the past resonate through a meticulously preserved landscape dating back to 1885. It is adorned with exotic trees, megalithic planes, Italianesque walls, thatched pavilions, and vibrant herbaceous borders.

Directions: From the N3 take the Nottingham Road off-ramp. Turn towards Nottingham Road. Travel under the railway bridge towards Mooi River/Rosetta. At Rosetta, turn left towards the Kamberg. Drive for 13 km. Turn right onto the D314 (signpost saying Prosperity Farm. Ed and Debbie Erskine). Drive for 5 km.
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NGUNI RIVERSIDE ESTATE
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Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 November

Portion 232 of Farm Springvale, D146, Rosetta

The garden is just over a year old. It’s a work-in- progress garden. There’s a beautiful walk along the Mooi River. Very old structures by the river. A rose propagation event will occur at 11 am and 2 pm daily. Each demonstration will be approx. 20 minutes. No charge.

Directions: Follow N3 towards Nottingham Road from Howick. Take the Linga Lapa/Windmills turn off, Exit 132. Turn right and head towards Nottingham Road. At the stop street at the junction, turn right to join the R103. Follow the R103 towards Rosetta, going past Marrakech Cheese on the left. Turn left at D146 and follow the dirt road, curving left until you reach Nguni Riverside Estate on the right.
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KARKLOOF
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WATERFORD HALL
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Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 September and Tuesday 24 September

Eileen Stuart

This garden features amber beech trees, a Chinese pavilion, a white garden, water features (pond), various flowering shrubs, perennials and annuals. This converted abattoir is unique.

Directions: From the main street in Howick, take the Karkloof Road past the Ambers. Farm No. 10 is opposite the Farmer’s Market.
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BENVIE
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Monday 9 September – Sunday 13 October

John and Jenny Robinson

Entrance: R50

An arboretum of conifers with azaleas and rhododendrons. The garden was established by John Geekie 130 years ago and is still maintained by the family. Trees and shrubs from around the world were planted in open areas and around ponds. A walk takes you around the circumference of the garden to view the plantings of exotic trees and beds of colour with flowering azaleas –areas to picnic.

Directions: Take the Karkloof Road from Howick. Travel for 33 km and turn right on the York/New Hanover Road. Travel down York Road for 3 km, and follow the Benvie signs.
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BRACO FARM
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Saturday 7 December – Sunday 8 December

Cath Conway

48 Karkloof Road

Time: 9:00-20:00 Sat, 9:00-17:00 Sun

Entrance: R50 per vehicle

Braco is a family farm established by newlyweds Campbell and Camilla Shaw, in 1905. The 12 acres of garden surround the old farmhouse and meander to the river, paddocks and plantation.

Directions: Take the Karkloof road from Howick. The road is tarred from Howick for 21 km. You then travel on gravel for 3 km. Go past Karkloof Canopy Tours, Bushwillow Campsite and Shawswood on the left. Braco Farm is the next farm on the left. Drive straight up the Braco driveway, cross a river and keep left at the fork up to the Braco house.
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Braco Christmas Decorations:

The farmhouse will be open for viewing of the Christmas decorations collected by the family over many years. Christmas Carols on the verandah on Saturday, 7 December, at 2 pm and 6.30 pm. Bring your picnic and seating.
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BAYNESFIELD
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BAYNES HOUSE, BAYNESFIELD ESTATE
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Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 October

Lisa Thompson

This large garden was first started by Sarah Baynes in the late 1880s. It has large established trees, a formal rose garden, a maze, a viola carpet garden, and vintage tractors and implements.

Baynes Heritage House is a Victorian museum and will be open for house tours on the open day. Baynes House was built in 1882 by Joseph Baynes, and the large garden wraps around this grand house.

Directions: From Durban, take the off-ramp from the highway just after Camperdown to Richmond/ Eston/Umlaas Road/ Umbumbulu. Ensure you follow the directions to Richmond, the R56 and turn right soon after you have turned off the highway. (Do not go straight which will take you to Eston and Mid-Illovo). About ten minutes from this point, you will come to a T-Junction where you turn left to Richmond, and soon after that, you will see a sign to Baynesfield/Baynesfield Estate. Come down the hill, over a bridge and a level railway crossing. Continue up a slight hill, with houses on your right, until you see an avenue of plane trees ahead. Go up this gravel road in the avenue until you see a building on the left and more buildings on the right with cars parked under a huge yellowwood tree.
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NOTTINGHAM ROAD
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HYDRANGEA LODGE
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Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 November

Marita Kruger

1 Braemar Lane

A rich tapestry of history intertwines with a picturesque landscape adorned by majestic trees, vibrant rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas, inviting visitors to stroll through tranquil pathways for a serene escape. Hydrangea Lodge has a history dating back to the 1950s. The large trees form a delightful canopy over flowering shrubs, making this a garden for a lovely, peaceful meander.

Directions: From Nottingham Road, take the R103 going North towards Rosetta. Go past the Police Station. Turn left immediately into Braemar Lane and drive to the end of the Lane.
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NOTTING HILL LODGE
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Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 October

Lorraine de Klerk

R103, Old Main Road

A garden where trees stand sentinel amidst a rich tapestry of indigenous flora, offering tranquil moments and scenic vistas along a serene forest walk leading to a picturesque dam adorned with water hyacinths and red hot pokers, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in nature’s splendour.

Directions: From Pietermaritzburg, take the N3 North. Turn off at Howick North/Tweedie (Exit 107). At the top of the off-ramp, turn left. At the T-junction, turn right onto the R103, and you will pass the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, Notting Hill Lodge is 1.5 km past Michaelhouse on your left. It is well signposted.
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MOOI RIVER
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SUNSET FARM
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Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 November

Claire and William Meyer

Hlatikulu Road

Large lawns, big trees, over 3000 roses and various annuals fill this garden, which is at its best in early November. A long 60 m pergola covered in climbing roses, a gazebo with a water feature, a pond with Koi fish and a formal rose garden are highlights.

Directions: Take the Mooi River off-ramp from the N3 (North). Drive into Mooi River Town. At the circle, turn left. At traffic lights, turn right and drive over the railway bridge. At the stop, turn left (no stop sign). At the following stop, turn right (no stop sign). Continue on Lawrence Road for 2 km. Turn left into Hlatikulu Road and continue for 5 km. Sunset Farm is on the left.
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