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Heavenly paradise in Wilgeboom
What used to be a one-hectare kraal in Wilgeboom farm is now a beautiful garden described by many as a paradise and a biblical Garden of Eden.
What used to be a one-hectare kraal in Wilgeboom farm is now a beautiful garden described by many as a paradise and a biblical Garden of Eden.
Allet Maree is the proud owner of the garden which is among the fifteen gardens chosen to raise funds for PAWS.
She credits all the hard work and beauty to her four gardeners without whom, she says, there would not be a beautiful garden and people flocking to see the garden.
Seretse Sybok, Johannes Mokoto, Kgosietsile Mogooemang, and Ashley Lander are the hardworking and dedicated gardeners who water the plants daily, replace dead flowers, cut grass, and assist with ideas to make the garden more beautiful.
Seretse says he believes trees bring fresh air and the Maree garden is therapeutic to anybody who enters through the gates. ‘We did not go to school to study landscaping. This is our God-given talent. It is all about using our minds and hands to creatively add beauty to the garden,’ he said. Ashley says he now knows all the flowers’ names. ‘We are a good team keeping this garden beautiful.’
Johannes and Kgosietsile add that as long as they maintain the garden regularly, it will always be beautiful.
All the men smile when they talk about Allet whom, they say, prays with them in the garden for an hour every day. ‘She is a Christian woman who loves nature,’ says Seretse.
Photos: Selogile Leshage
Allet, who avoids the spotlight says her family moved to Potch in 1989, and her love for gardening emanated from her mother, Bella. She says the peacocks in the garden were a beautiful image that symbolised Jesus’ greatness. ‘My favourite plants are palms, star jasmines, clivia, breadfruit, heavenly bamboo, lilies and other plants. There are a lot of flowers in this garden with springs of water flowing between the plants. Without the four precious men helping me here, this place wouldn’t have been so beautiful,’ she said smiling. Allet says tragedy struck when her other gardener, Amos, passed away a few years ago. ‘Where Amos planted flowers years ago, they are still growing. It shows the good heart he had,’ she said sadly.
Nature lovers who visited the garden on Saturday could not believe the beauty they were seeing. With smiles and awe on their faces, they described it as ‘paradise’ and ‘heaven’. ‘What a privilege to get lost in such a moment in a beautiful garden with the sound of peacocks and chickens. The garden creates a peaceful feeling that is created by repetition and planning of colour. Beautiful!” said one happy woman.
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