𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 - 𝗘𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗼𝗻

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻. 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲.

Eildon came to Taryn seven years ago, inheritance and mystery in equal measure. She knew little about gardening. The garden knew everything. 𝗜𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, filled with history and shape, and very clearly had opinions about what it wanted to become.

Instead of fighting it, Taryn listened. She learned. Three years ago, Sikelela joined her, and the garden shifted. What had been careful stewardship became a true collaboration - two people walking the beds daily, 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗹, learning together what the seasons required.

The result is difficult to describe in a single post. It is a gathering place, full of colour and fragrance. 𝗔 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿. A space that works - nothing is accidental, nothing is pretentious, everything serves the life that happens within it.

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗘𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the gate.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 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 ...

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.

In the Eastern Cape, frost sneaks up on cloudless, windless nights between May and August. The danger happens quietly - cell sap in your plants freezes, expands, and ruptures the cell walls. The plant does not stand a chance. By morning, frost-tender growth is blackened. Leaves turn translucent. The damage is done.

But you can stop it. The Eastern Cape gardener has simple, cost-free weapons.

𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

A thick blanket of compost, bark chips, straw or dried leaves spread around vulnerable plants creates insulation at soil level. Aim for 5 to 7 cm. Keep it clear of plant stems - touching bark causes rot. This matters most for recently planted trees and shrubs, which have not yet settled their root systems.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲.

On the night a hard frost is forecast, drape old bedsheets, blankets or hessian loosely over tender plants. Let the fabric reach all the way to the ground and secure it with bricks or stakes. The point is to trap ground heat as it radiates upwards, not to smother the plant. Remove the cover on warm days - it does more harm than good if left on.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

North-facing walls are warmer. Frost settles in low-lying areas. Raised beds stay a few degrees warmer than ground-level beds. If you have potted tender plants - basil, citrus, camellias - move them under a sheltered patio or garage on the night frost arrives. They can come back outside when temperatures lift.

𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱:

▪ Do not water plants late in the day or overnight. Water on foliage will freeze and accelerate frost damage.
▪ Do not prune in winter. New growth is frost-tender. Leave the pruning unti ...

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 - 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘁

𝗔 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁.

Fairholt began with a quiet question - what can grow well here without asking too much? Since 2019, Lucy and Oggie have been answering it. The garden’s formal area sits on the footprint of an abandoned tennis court, slowly transformed through trial, error and patience into a 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 that suits the climate rather than fighting it.

𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 - a hardy local fodder plant with deep roots in this landscape - frame the design and offer shelter to the indigenous planting inside. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗰, 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘀, 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗲𝘀, 𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, with roses tucked in for seasonal charm. Delicate 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 run along the front of the house. The herb and vegetable beds have evolved into a working nursery, and 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲.

𝗔 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 keeps everything ticking over, but the real lesson here is restraint. Fairholt proves that a beautiful garden does not require buckets of water or buckets of time - 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲.

Find Fairholt on the Mountain R ...

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 - 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗻

𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆-𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵.

Alison Brown’s garden at Glen Avon has the kind of unhurried elegance that cannot be designed in a single season. It has grown in slowly, 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟬-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗶𝘃𝘆, with sweeping lawns running out to herbaceous borders done in the proper English style. The trees are old. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲. Every plant feels as though it earned its spot.

𝗔𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁. Behind her is Obet, whose hands are in the garden almost as often as hers, and Farmer Brown - her husband of 52 years and self-appointed Chief of Lawn Mowing. The team works. The garden shows it.

𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, Glen Avon offers more than the garden alone. Visitors can tour the historic Mill and settle in for a tasting of 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝗻 - which is exactly as delightful as it sounds.

𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗕𝗲𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.

Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa

#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzu #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa ...

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆

𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿.

𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲 - the ones that drop their leaves in autumn and stand bare through winter - are doing something very important right now. They are sleeping. And contrary to what you might think, this is the 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. With no leaves to support, every nutrient you give them goes straight into root development and the buds that will become next season’s fruit.

In the Eastern Cape, the deciduous fruit trees that benefit most from a good winter feed include:

▪ Apples and pears
▪ Plums, peaches, nectarines and apricots
▪ Quinces
▪ Figs
▪ Persimmons

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴:

▪ Wait until the tree has dropped all its leaves. That is your green light.

▪ Apply your compost in a wide ring around the tree, following the drip line. The drip line is roughly where the outermost branches end. That is where the feeder roots live - not at the trunk.

▪ Spread a generous 3 to 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost. Add a handful of bone meal if you have it - it is rich in phosphorus, which feeds root growth.

▪ Top the whole ring with a layer of mulch to lock in moisture and keep the soil temperature steady through frosty nights.

▪ Keep the area right against the trunk clear. Compost piled against bark causes rot.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁. 𝗡𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀, 𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝘅. Just compost in the right place at the right time. Come October, your trees will reward you with blossom worth photographing - the kind that fills Bedford’s gardens every spring.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲 ...

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 - 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁

𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Belmont has been growing into itself for over fifty years, and you can feel every one of them the moment you arrive. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱-𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 - the kind that only comes from decades of decisions made one season at a time. Roses, established shrubs and gentle drifts of colour weave together across the beds, edged with river stones and the occasional unexpected find from elsewhere on the farm.

The setting does much of the heavy lifting. 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁, and the drive in through the surrounding countryside is part of the pleasure. Mature trees offer generous shade. The lawn is the kind you end up sitting on for longer than you planned.

What makes Belmont quietly remarkable is that 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆. Hot water comes courtesy of a donkey boiler. Solar and wind handle the rest, and a Lister engine fills in the gaps. The garden is part of a larger story - one of self-sufficiency, attention, and a real attachment to place.

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the gate.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.

Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa

#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzu #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa ...

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 - 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗸

𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗹𝗮’𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀.

Barbara and Mike Church returned to the Cowie Valley fifteen years ago and have been opening 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗸’𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 to visitors for fourteen of them. That kind of consistency is rare, and it shows. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 of a place that has been loved for a long time - beds that self-seed in unexpected places, surprises tucked into corners, and the steady rhythm of a team that knows exactly what it is doing.

Mbhuti keeps the engine running. He sows, plants, weeds and turns the rich compost that quietly makes everything else possible. Phumla, meanwhile, is the reason a fair number of visitors arrive hungry on purpose. Her scones - served warm with Hogsback berry jam and fresh cream - have a reputation that travels.

Find 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗸 on the Cowie Valley Route this October and November.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 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 ...

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆

𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁.

Most people think winter is when gardens go to sleep. The truth is far more interesting. Beneath the surface, your soil is having one of its most important moments of the year - and the gardener who shows up with compost in June is the one whose garden quietly outperforms everyone else’s in October.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝘆, 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲.

Compost is essentially decomposed organic matter - kitchen scraps, garden clippings, leaves and manure that have broken down into a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material. When you dig it into your soil or layer it on top, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻:

▪ 𝗦𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀. Sandy soils hold moisture better. Clay soils loosen and drain. Compacted beds soften and breathe.

▪ 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀. The bacteria, fungi and earthworms that do the real work of feeding plants come alive in compost-rich soil.

▪ 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲. Cold months are the perfect runway for this - by the time spring growth begins, your soil is ready.

𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀:

▪ Spread a 3 to 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost over your beds. Lightly fork it in, or leave it on top as a slow-release blanket.

▪ Pay extra attention to your roses, fruit trees and perennial beds. They are the long-term performers.

▪ Build or feed your compost heap now. A larger pile retains heat better through winter and keeps the microbes working even on frosty mornings.

You will not see fireworks in June. You will see them in October. Which is, conveniently, when the gates open at Bedford.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za.

Visit www.bedford.co.za.

Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa

#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzu #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa ...

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 - 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼̈𝗺

𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿.

Maasström is the kind of garden that makes you stop, tilt your head, and look again. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 - confident plant groupings, striking textures, water features, garden art used with real purpose.

It is also a garden that takes its setting seriously. Every design choice nods to the landscape it sits in. Nothing feels imported. Everything feels considered.

𝗔 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲, and a beautiful argument for what happens when design and nature decide to collaborate.

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼̈𝗺 at the 2026 event - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the gate.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 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 ...

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 - 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝘀𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝟯𝟱𝟬 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝟵𝟱 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻.

Liesl Brown is the heart of The Orchards. You will find her in the garden most days, sleeves up, hands in the soil, attention fully on whichever bed is asking for it. She is the kind of gardener who knows every plant by name and remembers exactly where each one came from.

Her love affair with roses is impossible to miss - 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝟯𝟱𝟬 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝟵𝟱 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, threaded through clipped hedges, generous herbaceous borders and cheerful pockets of colour that shift with the seasons. It is a garden that mirrors the woman who tends it: bright, busy, full of life and quietly excellent at making people feel welcome.

In 2016, she brought Bongo onto the team and took him on a tour of the open Bedford gardens so he could see what was possible. He has been alongside her ever since, the warm welcome at the gate, while Liesl carries on doing what she does best - 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀.

Come and see the garden she has built.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 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 ...

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆

𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴.

𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 sounds fancier than it is. Put simply, it is the act of covering the soil around your plants with a thick layer of organic material - anything from compost and bark chips to dry leaves, straw, grass clippings or shredded prunings. That is it. No magic, no special equipment, just a 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻.

So why bother, especially heading into winter? 𝗔 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:

▪ Keeps the soil warm. Roots are protected from frosty nights and cold snaps.
▪ Holds in moisture. You water less, which matters in Karoo and Eastern Cape gardens.
▪ Smothers weeds. Fewer weeds means less work for you come spring.
▪ Feeds the soil as it breaks down. Free fertiliser, slowly released over the cold months.

𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁:

▪ Aim for a layer roughly 5 to 8 cm thick. Thinner and it will not do the job.
▪ Keep mulch a few centimetres away from plant stems and tree trunks. Touching the stem can cause rot.
▪ Water the soil before you mulch. You are locking moisture in, so make sure there is some to lock.

Do this now, and by the time spring arrives your soil will be richer, your plants healthier, and your garden ready to put on a proper show. Which is, incidentally, the exact kind of garden we love to open at Bedford.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.

Social Media Sponsored by @isuzusa

#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzu #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa ...