Garden Day 2020

Garden Day returns for a virtual celebration of our beloved green spaces

Inspirational flower crown ambassadors, a packed calendar of virtual events with our very own garden guru Tanya Visser and a #mygardenmoves dance challenge are set to connect plant lovers across South Africa as Garden Day marks the beginning of Spring for the most meaningful Garden Day yet. 

On Sunday 11 October, South Africans across the country will celebrate their unique green spaces and gardens in every shape and size. Created by gardening app Candide, Garden Day is an annual celebration that calls on plant lovers to put on a flower crown, down tools, and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

This year on the day the movement will host its first ever Virtual Garden Day Gathering with a host of events, including a Q&A session with Tanya Visser, a celebrity flower crown off with actor and comedian Schalk Bezuidenhout and radio and television presenter Zoë Brown, garden-inspired gourmet cooking with Chef Karen Dudley and more via Zoom and Facebook Live. 

Get moving 

Garden Day is especially poignant this year as over the past few months, South Africans have turned to their green spaces to find solace and balance. Gardening has been proven to boost both mental and physical well-being and we know gardening burns calories.

Another way to burn galleries in the garden is by doing the #mygardenmoves dance challenge. Visit the GardenDaySA profile on TikTok, watch the @KellyKikx dance video and post your own #mygardenmoves dance challenge video to stand a chance to win your share of R10k.

How to make a flower crown 

To inspire South Africans to celebrate all things green, Garden Day will also host a number of virtual events in the run up to Sunday 11 October including flower crown making workshops. A flower crown filled with your favourite blooms is the perfect accessory for a Garden Day celebration. Here, travel blogger and photographer Natalie Roos aka @tailsofamermaid shares her tips for bringing a selection of colourful blossoms together in a lush flower crown with a romantic ribbon tie back.

You’ll need:

stub wire

florist tape

ribbon of choice

selection of flowers

Steps:

1. Combine two to three lengths of stub wire with florist tape to create your crown structure.

2. Create 2cm hairpin loops at each end to thread through your ribbon.

3. Make sure the wire fits around your head, measuring from ear to ear.

4. Secure each flower stem onto the wire with florist tape.

5. Tape the wire strands together to strengthen your crown structure.

6. Add and overlap flowers to create a lush crown.

7. Tie the crown around your head and secure with the ribbon at the back.

8. Voila, it’s time to celebrate!

Join the movement

Visit Gardenday.co.za for a handy toolkit to help you plan the perfect virtual celebration, including recipe ideas, downloadable invitations for your virtual celebration and things to do and make with children in the garden as well as the final programme for the Virtual Garden Gathering.

Catch news, updates, and inspiration at @GardenDaySA on Candide, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Tag your posts with @GardenDaySA and #GardenDaySA to share your green celebration with friends, family, and fellow plant lovers online.