
Tucked against the breathtaking Kaggaberg mountain, Bedford is a gem of the Eastern Cape, a place where life is lived with heart, humour, and a deep love for the land. Famous for our Bedford Country Gardens (held every October/November), weโre known for fun-loving farmers, fabulous hospitality, and landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see.
Here, historic charm meets wide-open spaces. Rolling grasslands and dramatic valleys - Mankazana, Cowie, and Baviaans River - are home to Angoras, Merinos, beef cattle, goats, and game.
Now in its twenty-third year, the Bedford Country Gardens event has quietly become one of South Africa’s most beloved rural gatherings – and the 2026 edition promises to be the finest yet. Every spring, this historic Eastern Cape village trades its usual stillness for something altogether more colourful, as private gardens fling open their gates and Bedford does what it does best: welcome strangers like old friends.
This year’s event unfolds over two long weekends – 30 October to 1 Nov and 6 to 8 November 2026 – with approximately 16 private gardens open daily from 08:00 to 17:00. Four distinct routes wind through the area, each with its own character: the Town Route, Mountain Route, Cowie Valley Route and Heading West Route. If you’re weaving through heritage rose gardens on a village street or standing in a farm garden with the mountains at your back, each route offers a completely different version of Bedford’s remarkable landscape.
Accommodation in Bedford can be booked in advance at www.bedford.co.za or hello@bedford.co.za and given how popular the festival has become, booking early is strongly advised.
The event has always been more than a garden tour, and 2026 is no exception. Highlights include Ernst Pringle’s Butterfly Talks, flower shopping at Floradella Flower Farm, and guided visits to the South African Heritage Rosarium and local Mill. Hope Street invites a leisurely browse through boutique shops, while Bedford’s restaurants and cafรฉs offer the kind of unhurried, flavourful meals that make you forget you had anywhere else to be.
For gardeners and garden club members, the event is a living reference book – planting combinations, heritage varieties, design ideas and the generous knowledge of passionate garden owners around every corner. For photographers, artists, nature lovers and anyone in need of a proper slow-travel escape, Bedford in spring is difficult to improve upon.
Full programme to be released in the beginning of October 2026.
Mark your calendar. Open your gates.
Two weekends. Four routes. Sixteen gardens in full spring bloom.
The 2026 Bedford Country Gardens opens 30 October to 1 November, and again 6 to 8 November.
From heritage roses to waterwise design. From hidden valleys to mountain views. From scones and coffee to gin tastings and guided talks. From the quiet gardens where nothing is hurried to the farms where everything grows.
This is where the Eastern Cape shows up for itself. This is where visitors travel from across the country to walk through private gardens and remember why beauty matters.
Book accommodation now. Bring someone you love.
The gates open soon.
For even information, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za. Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzu #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
Mark your calendar. Open your gates.
Two weekends. Four routes. Sixteen gardens in full spring bloom.
The 2026 Bedford Country Gardens opens 30 October to 1 November, and again 6 to 8 November.
From heritage roses to waterwise design. From hidden valleys to mountain views. From scones and coffee to gin tastings and guided talks. From the quiet gardens where nothing is hurried to the farms where everything grows.
This is where the Eastern Cape shows up for itself. This is where visitors travel from across the country to walk through private gardens and remember why beauty matters.
Book accommodation now. Bring someone you love.
The gates open soon.
For even information, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za. Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzu #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
...
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น - ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
Bedford is famous for her roses, and thereโs a reason they perform so beautifully every spring. The work happens in winter.
July is the month to walk into your rose garden with a sharp pair of secateurs and a clear head. Cut back to an outward-facing bud. Remove the dead, the diseased, and the dramatically crossing branches. Take roughly a third off the height of your bush - more if itโs been a runaway year.
๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฟ๐๐น๐ฒ๐:
โช Clean your blades between bushes. Disease travels faster than gossip.
โช Feed the soil after you prune, not before. Compost, bone meal, a generous mulch.
โช Talk to your roses if you must. Nobody is watching.
Do this now, and by late October your garden will be ready to show off. Which, conveniently, is exactly when ours opens to visitors.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za. Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น - ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
Bedford is famous for her roses, and thereโs a reason they perform so beautifully every spring. The work happens in winter.
July is the month to walk into your rose garden with a sharp pair of secateurs and a clear head. Cut back to an outward-facing bud. Remove the dead, the diseased, and the dramatically crossing branches. Take roughly a third off the height of your bush - more if itโs been a runaway year.
๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฟ๐๐น๐ฒ๐:
โช Clean your blades between bushes. Disease travels faster than gossip.
โช Feed the soil after you prune, not before. Compost, bone meal, a generous mulch.
โช Talk to your roses if you must. Nobody is watching.
Do this now, and by late October your garden will be ready to show off. Which, conveniently, is exactly when ours opens to visitors.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za. Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
...
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ - ๐ก๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป
๐๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฟ, ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ.
Nellieโs Garden sits ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ป, and it is impossible to walk through without noticing the care. Every bed has been thoughtfully planted. Every border flows into the next. Colour is deliberate, not accidental. The garden reads as a conversation between someone who knows plants and someone who respects space.
What makes Nellieโs Garden different is not just what grows there, but what you can take with you. ๐๐ป ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ - the chance to recreate something you have fallen in love with, to bring a piece of Bedford back to your own garden. Visitors rarely leave empty-handed.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐บ๐๐๐-๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ป ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ. Semi-formal, approachable, and full of ideas you can actually steal.
๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป at the 2026 event - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the gate.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za. Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ - ๐ก๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป
๐๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฟ, ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ.
Nellieโs Garden sits ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ป, and it is impossible to walk through without noticing the care. Every bed has been thoughtfully planted. Every border flows into the next. Colour is deliberate, not accidental. The garden reads as a conversation between someone who knows plants and someone who respects space.
What makes Nellieโs Garden different is not just what grows there, but what you can take with you. ๐๐ป ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ - the chance to recreate something you have fallen in love with, to bring a piece of Bedford back to your own garden. Visitors rarely leave empty-handed.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐บ๐๐๐-๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ป ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ. Semi-formal, approachable, and full of ideas you can actually steal.
๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป at the 2026 event - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the gate.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za. Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
...
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐
๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐. ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ผ๐.
Every weed you ignore in July is a problem in October. This is especially true in the Eastern Cape, where winter weeds germinate in the cooler months and establish deep roots before spring arrives.
Here is why timing matters.
Winter weeds - chickweed, wild oats, shepherdโs purse - are easier to pull when soil is moist from rain. Their roots come out cleanly. In spring, once they have set seed, you are fighting a losing battle. One plant can produce thousands of seeds.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ.
Our winter rains soften the soil. Use this to your advantage. Walk your beds now. Pull weeds by hand if the soil is damp - the roots come out intact, which means they wonโt regrow. For larger patches, remove the top 5cm of soil and replace it with fresh compost.
๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฝ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
The cardinal rule: remove weeds before they flower and set seed. Once you see a flower head, that weed has already decided its future.
Do this now, and spring will be quieter. Your beds will be cleaner. Your roses will have less competition for water and nutrients. Which is, incidentally, how the gardens at Bedford start their season so beautifully.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป,, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za. Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐
๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐. ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ผ๐.
Every weed you ignore in July is a problem in October. This is especially true in the Eastern Cape, where winter weeds germinate in the cooler months and establish deep roots before spring arrives.
Here is why timing matters.
Winter weeds - chickweed, wild oats, shepherdโs purse - are easier to pull when soil is moist from rain. Their roots come out cleanly. In spring, once they have set seed, you are fighting a losing battle. One plant can produce thousands of seeds.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ.
Our winter rains soften the soil. Use this to your advantage. Walk your beds now. Pull weeds by hand if the soil is damp - the roots come out intact, which means they wonโt regrow. For larger patches, remove the top 5cm of soil and replace it with fresh compost.
๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฝ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
The cardinal rule: remove weeds before they flower and set seed. Once you see a flower head, that weed has already decided its future.
Do this now, and spring will be quieter. Your beds will be cleaner. Your roses will have less competition for water and nutrients. Which is, incidentally, how the gardens at Bedford start their season so beautifully.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป,, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za. Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
...
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ - ๐๐ผ๐ธ๐๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐น
๐ค๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐น๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ.
Kokskraal is one of the newest gardens to open its gates to visitors. Liza Troskie is not an experienced gardener in the traditional sense - she is learning as she goes, discovering things through trial and paying attention. What she brings instead is an artistโs eye. Colour, texture, the way light falls across a bed, the emotional resonance of a space - these are her languages, and they have ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ณ๐๐น๐น๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป.
The physical space took work. Anderson, Toyce and Thembinkosi shaped the bones of it - the paths, the beds, the borders - bringing skill and humour to every corner. What emerged is an English-country style garden with sweeping lawns, quiet corners and the kind of gentle landscape that invites you to slow down.
๐๐ผ๐ธ๐๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ. That incompleteness is part of its charm. A garden that is still learning is a garden that feels alive.
Visit Kokskraal at the 2026 event - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the gate.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ - ๐๐ผ๐ธ๐๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐น
๐ค๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐น๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ.
Kokskraal is one of the newest gardens to open its gates to visitors. Liza Troskie is not an experienced gardener in the traditional sense - she is learning as she goes, discovering things through trial and paying attention. What she brings instead is an artistโs eye. Colour, texture, the way light falls across a bed, the emotional resonance of a space - these are her languages, and they have ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ณ๐๐น๐น๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป.
The physical space took work. Anderson, Toyce and Thembinkosi shaped the bones of it - the paths, the beds, the borders - bringing skill and humour to every corner. What emerged is an English-country style garden with sweeping lawns, quiet corners and the kind of gentle landscape that invites you to slow down.
๐๐ผ๐ธ๐๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ. That incompleteness is part of its charm. A garden that is still learning is a garden that feels alive.
Visit Kokskraal at the 2026 event - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the gate.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
...
๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป - ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐
๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ ๐๐ฝ ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐น๐. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
The 2026 Bedford Country Gardens event runs over two long weekends - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. Every year, visitors from across South Africa and beyond book accommodation months in advance. Every year, the popular places sell out.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
If you are planning to visit, book now. Do not wait. The longer you leave it, the fewer options remain.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐, contact Barbara Church on 083 354 8841 or visit www.bedford.co.za.
The village has everything from guest farms to intimate lodges to self-catering cottages. All of it books quickly. All of it is worth it. But only if you book early.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐๐น๐น ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป - ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐
๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ ๐๐ฝ ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐น๐. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
The 2026 Bedford Country Gardens event runs over two long weekends - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. Every year, visitors from across South Africa and beyond book accommodation months in advance. Every year, the popular places sell out.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
If you are planning to visit, book now. Do not wait. The longer you leave it, the fewer options remain.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐, contact Barbara Church on 083 354 8841 or visit www.bedford.co.za.
The village has everything from guest farms to intimate lodges to self-catering cottages. All of it books quickly. All of it is worth it. But only if you book early.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐๐น๐น ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
...
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐
๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐.
Winter is lean season for birds. Insects disappear. Flowering plants fade. Food becomes scarce. This is the exact moment when providing for them matters most - not because you are being soft, but because birds work hard for your garden. They control insects, scatter seeds, aerate soil. In winter, they earn their keep even when the garden looks bare.
Here is what you can do right now.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
A bird feeder filled with wild bird seed will attract sunbirds, canaries, and seed-eating species when offered food. A simple bird bath or shallow dish of fresh water (changed daily) is essential. Birds need water for drinking and bathing, especially in winter when natural water sources freeze or dry up.
๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ.
Aloe ferox and aloe marlothii flower in winter and early spring, offering tall spikes of red or orange flowers that attract sunbirds and sugarbirds when little else is available. Plant them now, and they will be working for you through the coldest months.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
Dense shrubs and trees offer protection from frosty nights and wind. Leave rough areas unmulched - mulch with leaves and garden clippings to create an insect pantry for robins and thrushes foraging beneath.
Do this through winter, and by October your garden will be visited by more birds than you thought possible. Which is, conveniently, exactly what you see when you visit Bedfordโs gardens in bloom.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐
๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐.
Winter is lean season for birds. Insects disappear. Flowering plants fade. Food becomes scarce. This is the exact moment when providing for them matters most - not because you are being soft, but because birds work hard for your garden. They control insects, scatter seeds, aerate soil. In winter, they earn their keep even when the garden looks bare.
Here is what you can do right now.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
A bird feeder filled with wild bird seed will attract sunbirds, canaries, and seed-eating species when offered food. A simple bird bath or shallow dish of fresh water (changed daily) is essential. Birds need water for drinking and bathing, especially in winter when natural water sources freeze or dry up.
๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ.
Aloe ferox and aloe marlothii flower in winter and early spring, offering tall spikes of red or orange flowers that attract sunbirds and sugarbirds when little else is available. Plant them now, and they will be working for you through the coldest months.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
Dense shrubs and trees offer protection from frosty nights and wind. Leave rough areas unmulched - mulch with leaves and garden clippings to create an insect pantry for robins and thrushes foraging beneath.
Do this through winter, and by October your garden will be visited by more birds than you thought possible. Which is, conveniently, exactly what you see when you visit Bedfordโs gardens in bloom.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
...
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ โ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐บ
The SA Rosarium exists because one woman spent decades asking a simple question:ย ๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ?
๐๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป spent years tracing heritage roses across the Cape and beyond, discovering forgotten varieties growing beside old farmhouses, churches and gravestones. She realised these living pieces of history were quietly disappearing, with no dedicated place preserving the original plants from which so many South African garden roses descended.
Inspired by Dr Faganโs lifeโs work, a group of passionate rose enthusiasts ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐บ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ to safeguard these remarkable heritage roses for future generations. Today, the garden serves as a living collection of the original roses that have shaped gardens across South Africa for centuries.
During the ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น, visitors are invited to stroll through the beautiful rose beds, chat with the gardeners, enjoy coffee and homemade treats at the Rose Cafรฉ, and experience the fragrance of old roses in full bloom.
Old rose plants propagated from the collection will also be ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น, giving visitors the opportunity to take home a piece of South Africaโs horticultural heritage. Proceeds from plant sales and festival visitors help support the ongoing care and preservation of this unique garden.
For anyone who loves gardening, history and heritage roses, the SA Rosarium is a special destination.
๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐บ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ โ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐บ
The SA Rosarium exists because one woman spent decades asking a simple question:ย ๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ?
๐๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป spent years tracing heritage roses across the Cape and beyond, discovering forgotten varieties growing beside old farmhouses, churches and gravestones. She realised these living pieces of history were quietly disappearing, with no dedicated place preserving the original plants from which so many South African garden roses descended.
Inspired by Dr Faganโs lifeโs work, a group of passionate rose enthusiasts ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐บ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ to safeguard these remarkable heritage roses for future generations. Today, the garden serves as a living collection of the original roses that have shaped gardens across South Africa for centuries.
During the ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น, visitors are invited to stroll through the beautiful rose beds, chat with the gardeners, enjoy coffee and homemade treats at the Rose Cafรฉ, and experience the fragrance of old roses in full bloom.
Old rose plants propagated from the collection will also be ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น, giving visitors the opportunity to take home a piece of South Africaโs horticultural heritage. Proceeds from plant sales and festival visitors help support the ongoing care and preservation of this unique garden.
For anyone who loves gardening, history and heritage roses, the SA Rosarium is a special destination.
๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐บ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the
...
๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ต ๐ข๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฏ, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐.
Before the gardens open to the public, before the first visitor steps through the first gate, we are gathering at the Duke of Bedford to celebrate 23 years of something quietly extraordinary. An evening of champagne, canapรฉs, and the good company of the people who have made this event what it is.
๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ:
Tuesday, 29 October 2026 | 17:30 at the Duke of Bedford
@dukeofbedfordsa
๐ง๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐: R120 per person (includes champagne and canapรฉs)
RSVP via WhatsApp to Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816.
Come and celebrate the launch of the 23rd edition of the Bedford Country Gardens. Two weekends of open gardens, four distinct routes, approximately 16 remarkable spaces, and the start of what promises to be the finest event yet.
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ. ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฃ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za.
Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ต ๐ข๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฏ, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐.
Before the gardens open to the public, before the first visitor steps through the first gate, we are gathering at the Duke of Bedford to celebrate 23 years of something quietly extraordinary. An evening of champagne, canapรฉs, and the good company of the people who have made this event what it is.
๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ:
Tuesday, 29 October 2026 | 17:30 at the Duke of Bedford
@dukeofbedfordsa
๐ง๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐: R120 per person (includes champagne and canapรฉs)
RSVP via WhatsApp to Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816.
Come and celebrate the launch of the 23rd edition of the Bedford Country Gardens. Two weekends of open gardens, four distinct routes, approximately 16 remarkable spaces, and the start of what promises to be the finest event yet.
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ. ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฃ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za.
Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
...
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐
๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
Right now, in winter, your garden is quiet. The bees have retreated. The butterflies are elsewhere. But the work you do in the next few weeks will determine whether they return in October, when Bedfordโs gardens start their grand display.
Pollinators - ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐, ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐, ๐๐๐ป๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ - are not optional. Bees need nectar for carbohydrates and pollen for protein. Without them, your flowers will not set seed. Your fruit trees will not fruit. Your spring garden will be half-empty.
The good news: attracting them costs almost nothing and requires no special skill.
๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป.
Indigenous plants like agapanthus, aloe, Cape honeysuckle, wild dagga and plumbago provide both nectar and pollen and have evolved alongside local pollinators. Plant flowers in groups to make it easier for bees to find them. A cluster of three or five plants of the same species is far more visible than a single scattered specimen.
๐๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
In the Eastern Cape, aloe ferox and aloe marlothii bloom in winter and early spring, offering tall spikes of red or orange flowers that attract bees and sugarbirds. These are not spring bloomers - they are winter bloomers - which means they bridge the gap when little else is flowering.ย
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฟ.
A beeโs favourite colours are yellow and blue, while sunbirds favour red and orange. Butterflies are attracted to almost everything. Plant a mix and you cover all the bases.
Do this now, and by the time October arrives your garden will be ready. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐
๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
Right now, in winter, your garden is quiet. The bees have retreated. The butterflies are elsewhere. But the work you do in the next few weeks will determine whether they return in October, when Bedfordโs gardens start their grand display.
Pollinators - ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐, ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐, ๐๐๐ป๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ - are not optional. Bees need nectar for carbohydrates and pollen for protein. Without them, your flowers will not set seed. Your fruit trees will not fruit. Your spring garden will be half-empty.
The good news: attracting them costs almost nothing and requires no special skill.
๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป.
Indigenous plants like agapanthus, aloe, Cape honeysuckle, wild dagga and plumbago provide both nectar and pollen and have evolved alongside local pollinators. Plant flowers in groups to make it easier for bees to find them. A cluster of three or five plants of the same species is far more visible than a single scattered specimen.
๐๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
In the Eastern Cape, aloe ferox and aloe marlothii bloom in winter and early spring, offering tall spikes of red or orange flowers that attract bees and sugarbirds. These are not spring bloomers - they are winter bloomers - which means they bridge the gap when little else is flowering.ย
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฟ.
A beeโs favourite colours are yellow and blue, while sunbirds favour red and orange. Butterflies are attracted to almost everything. Plant a mix and you cover all the bases.
Do this now, and by the time October arrives your garden will be ready. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ
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๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ - ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ผ๐ฟ
๐๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐, ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น-๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐.
Glen Gregor sits quietly in the Cowie Valley, surrounded by farmland that has been worked the same way for generations. The garden itself is unpretentious - Shirley Ainslie tends it with an eye for structure and a respect for simplicity. No excess. No fuss. Just thoughtful maintenance and the kind of practical gardening that knows what it wants to do.
Beneath the surface runs family history. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐, the layers of farming heritage that define this part of the Eastern Cape - all of it tells a story.
Visit Glen Gregor at the 2026 event - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the gate.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za. Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ - ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ผ๐ฟ
๐๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐, ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น-๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐.
Glen Gregor sits quietly in the Cowie Valley, surrounded by farmland that has been worked the same way for generations. The garden itself is unpretentious - Shirley Ainslie tends it with an eye for structure and a respect for simplicity. No excess. No fuss. Just thoughtful maintenance and the kind of practical gardening that knows what it wants to do.
Beneath the surface runs family history. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐, the layers of farming heritage that define this part of the Eastern Cape - all of it tells a story.
Visit Glen Gregor at the 2026 event - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the gate.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 orย hello@bedford.co.za. Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
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๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ?
We have plastered Bedford and beyond with posters. Roads, shops, community noticeboards, the lot. If you live in or pass through the village, chances are you have walked past one.
๐ช๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ธ๐ป๐ผ๐: have you spotted our posters? Drop a comment and tell us where you saw them. Better yet - tag a friend and tell them to look out for it. Every post, every corner, every reminder helps spread the word.
The ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ event is happening over two long weekends:
โช 30 October โ 1 November
โช 6 โ 8 November
Approximately 16 private gardens. Four distinct routes: Town, Mountain, Cowie Valley and Heading West.
Open daily from 08:00 to 17:00. Entry is R30 per garden, payable in cash at the gate.
Routes wind through heritage gardens, farm gardens, water-wise landscapes and spaces tended for decades. Guided talks, plant sales, rose tastings, gin tastings, scones, coffee and the kind of slow travel that reminds you why you love this region in the first place.
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ป๐ผ๐. ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or emailย hello@bedford.co.za.
Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ?
We have plastered Bedford and beyond with posters. Roads, shops, community noticeboards, the lot. If you live in or pass through the village, chances are you have walked past one.
๐ช๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ธ๐ป๐ผ๐: have you spotted our posters? Drop a comment and tell us where you saw them. Better yet - tag a friend and tell them to look out for it. Every post, every corner, every reminder helps spread the word.
The ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ event is happening over two long weekends:
โช 30 October โ 1 November
โช 6 โ 8 November
Approximately 16 private gardens. Four distinct routes: Town, Mountain, Cowie Valley and Heading West.
Open daily from 08:00 to 17:00. Entry is R30 per garden, payable in cash at the gate.
Routes wind through heritage gardens, farm gardens, water-wise landscapes and spaces tended for decades. Guided talks, plant sales, rose tastings, gin tastings, scones, coffee and the kind of slow travel that reminds you why you love this region in the first place.
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ป๐ผ๐. ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or emailย hello@bedford.co.za.
Visitย www.bedford.co.za.
Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa
#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa
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