IT is good to know that an organisation like the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) is so actively working to promote the sustainable use, conservation, appreciation and enjoyment of South Africa’s rich diversity and is safeguarding our floral heritage.
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To appreciate the wonder, beauty and amazing variety of our native plants South Africans who travel around their country should make a point of visiting any of the ten Sanbi National Botanical Gardens situated near where they are staying There is at least one of these gardens in each of our provinces.
The Free State National Botanical Garden in Bloemfontein is still on our ‘must see’ list but we hope to visit it next year. Typical of the grassland region, it spans a valley between picturesque dolerite koppies.
We loved the beautifully laid out Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden in Worcester, which is set against a backdrop of spectacular mountain peaks. It features an array of succulents and bulbs from our drier areas.
We visited the Lowveld National botanical Garden in Nelspruit one hot spring day and found it cool, serene and incredibly scenic. The Crocodile and Nels Rivers run through it and there are striking waterfalls and a delightfully cool African rainforest section.
My husband and I often take a stroll around our own province’s garden, the KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden in Pietermaritzburg.
At its heart is a magnificent plane tree avenue that is more than 100 years old. It has lovely walks, gorgeous trees and attractive displays of indigenous plants.
With some 300 different geophytes to be found around Nieuwoudville, the town’s Hantam National Botanical Garden near Nieuwoudville, is a showcase for the area’s world-famous bulbs, including Geissorhiza splendidissima, known as the blue pride of Nieuwoudville.
A host of other flowers – sparaxis, gazania and arctotis species to name a few – vie for your attention and during autumn whole fields into a pink haze when the Brunsvigia bosmaniae flower.
We loved visiting this informally laid-out garden and enjoyed its incredibly colourful spring floral display.
We’ve heard much praise for the Pretoria National Botanical Garden but have yet to visit this national treasure. It is described as an urban retreat of seasonal surprises that showcases many southern African plants.
I was blown away by the gorgeous Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Roodepoort, a must-see for anyone who loves gardens. We were fortunate to have some wonderful sightings of the garden’s famous Verreaux eagles. Other delights are the Witpoortjie waterfall and massive, landscaped indigenous gardens.
Harold Porter National botanical Garden, between the sea and the mountains in attractive Betty’s Bay is another garden on our ‘must see’ list. This tranquil Western Cape garden is home to many of the Cape’s fynbos treasures.
Cape town’s Kirstenbosch National Garden , on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, is a national treasure that every South Africa should see. We spent a whole day there and even that wasn’t long enough. It has earned international acclaim as one of the seven best botanical gardens in the world.
Finally, the latest addition to the Sanbi National Botanical Gardens collection is Kwelera, near East London. It is still being developed so will only be open to the public in a couple of years’ time.
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