Cape Town - The first week in August is the height of the camellia flowering season.
Indulge in a little romance this August by joining a two hour tour of the camellia forest at Vergelegen Estate, Somerset West. Vergelegen boasts the only International Camellia Garden of Excellence in Africa.
“It is the prime time to view these magnificent pink, red and white blooms,” said Vergelegen horticulturist Richard Arm, who will lead the tours.
“We have over 1 000 camellia bushes at the estate, some of which are extremely rare.”
There are only 39 such International Camellia Gardens of Excellence in the world, and Vergelegen has approximately 550 cultivars, from as far afield as France, Japan, America and, of course, South Africa. The estate received this accolade in 2010 from the International Camellia Society, a non-profit society founded in 1962.
Why are camellias so special? As queens of the shady garden, camellias thrive in local gardens, provided that a few simple rules are followed:
* Plant camellias in well-drained soil which is rich in humus.
* Keep their root zones cool through the heat of summer with a thick layer of mulch in the form of leaf mould, pine needles or pine bark.
* Water them regularly during the flowering season (especially during dry weeks) to dramatically reduce the incidence of bud drop.
* Dappled shade from mature trees is ideal for most, though some are more sun tolerant than others. Too much shade reduces bud formation, whilst excessive heat and sunshine scorches fine surface roots and flower buds.
What should you look out for in the camellia gardens at Vergelegen? They can be viewed in three main areas: at the bottom of the Great Lawn; near Camphors, the estate’s signature restaurant; and below an expanse of yellowwoods accessed by a swing bridge over the Lourens River.
Camellias were introduced to Vergelegen in two stages. The Barlow camellia plantings consist of classic, pre-1940s camellia japonica cultivars, most of which are now large, mature shrubs up to five metres high.
The second part of the collection was established from 1995 onwards with donations to the estate.
Propagation of the camellias was started for the first time at Vergelegen to ensure plentiful supplies for the farm and for the industry, so that more gardeners can be encouraged to grow these beautiful shrubs.
Vergelegen has 18 diverse gardens in total, planted on 10 hectares of the 315-year-old estate, within a cultural heritage area spanning 60 hectares.
In recent years, horticultural additions have included the East Garden, which features some 14 000 agapanthus, a maze, walkways, water features and an innovative children’s adventure playground; the herb and vegetable garden has been enlarged and replanted; and an oak arboretum established.
Apart from these latest additions, several firm favourites continue to attract 100 000 visitors to the estate annually:
* Big Five camphors: In front of the homestead is the great lawn with five enormous camphor trees, proclaimed national monuments in 1942.
* Old English oak: Vergelegen is the home of a hollow Old English Oak which is about 300 years old and is believed to be the oldest living oak in Africa.
* A giant Outeniqua yellowwood has been estimated to be anything from 150-400 years old.
* White mulberry: Vergelegen boasts an old specimen of white mulberry (Morus alba) that is the only surviving relic of Van der Stel’s attempt to start a silk industry at the Cape in about 1700.
* Garden enthusiasts have the opportunity to book for a guided tour of the camellia garden next weekend.
The tours will depart from the estate’s Stables restaurant at 09.00 and 14.30 on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August. Each tour lasts one-and-a-half hours and accommodates a maximum of 30 people, so booking is essential (021 847 2156).
The cost is R100 a person and includes entrance to the estate, tea/coffee and a selection of cakes at the Stables restaurant.
To book for a camellia tour, call 021 847 2156 or [email protected]
Find out more about the estate on www.vergelegen.co.za or [email protected].
Weekend Argus