The Rotary Anns of Benoni van Ryn are at it again!

With the arrival of spring, the committee members of the 24th annual Beautiful Gardens of Benoni tour are sleuthing around, peering around trees and conducting inconspicuous drive-bys in search of six magnificent gardens to form part of the highly anticipated 2026 tour.

Set to take place on January 31 and February 1, Beautiful Gardens of Benoni showcases the city’s blooming marvellous gardens, big or small, traditional or eclectic, as well as the green-thumbed artists who created these masterpieces.

Volunteering her garden, Alphen Park’s Sheila Caroline says that she will be swinging open her garden gates, affording the public an exclusive opportunity to stroll through her 45-year-old, ‘Secret Garden.’

Stepping onto the moss-covered path, leading through Sheila’s lush garden, nestled on the banks of Homestead Dam, you would be forgiven if your ears mistake the lapping waters for children’s laughter.

“In 1980, this garden was barren. I started toiling in the soil, planting saplings and filling the beds with seedlings,” said the keen gardener.

“Soon, my 12 grandchildren joined in, asking for a path to lead down the rabbit hole to the Mad Hatter’s tea party and a bridge to take them to Hook’s Pirate Island.

“My garden not only became my personal sanctuary but brought the children’s imagination to life.”

Clearing dried leaves from a cascading stream, which is fed by the property’s spring, Joseph Sibande laughs as the Rotary Anns discover yet another of the garden’s hidden gems.

“Decades of patience and care have given life to this garden,” said the gardener who has been instrumental in the flourishing beauty of this Alphen Park residence.

“Every tree, plant and flower has been planted with love, and every stepping stone laid with the intention of creating a magical world for the children.”

Sheila said that she wanted to share her slice of heaven with the community during the forthcoming garden tour as a means of sharing her life’s work.

“Nothing beats the beauty of the sun’s rays twinkling off the water, sparkling through the leaves of trees that are nearly half a century old,” she said.

“I implore other homeowners who have created backyard havens of their own to make them available for the garden tour. Beauty is worth sharing with others.”

The Beautiful Gardens of Benoni tour forms part of the Rotary Anns key fundraising initiatives, and entry is voluntary and free.

The tour is not a competition but a unique opportunity to showcase some of the city’s unique gardens.

To create a complete tour, an additional six gardens are needed, one of which would be selected to host the Anns hugely popular tea garden.

Money raised throughout the two-day event will be used to fund the organisation’s ongoing community outreach projects.

For more information about how you can get involved, contact Sally Matthee on 082 602 4272 or Rhoda Toker on 082 452 7795.

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