Garden Day is intended to establish a strong gardening movement and love for gardening amongst South Africans.
A beautiful, bright, colourful, fragrant garden that you have created is so rewarding and an absolute pleasure to enjoy,' says Stodels.
Celebrate the arrival of summer by getting outdoors and into your garden. Kick off your shoes, feel the grass between your toes and join fellow South Africans for the inaugural Garden Day.
Garden Centres throughout the Western Cape are introducing Garden Day, on Sunday, October 9 , to encourage you to sit back, relax and enjoy the garden you have created.
Nick Stodel, MD of Stodels Nursery, whose father Rob introduced Arbor Day many years ago, has been mulling over the idea of introducing the international concept of a Garden Day in South Africa for a number of years and is delighted that this initiative has finally come about.
'Garden Day is not connected with any company or individual,' he says, ' It is merely a day when newbies or veteran gardeners down tools and sit back and enjoy their surroundings.
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We want South Africans to appreciate and celebrate the rewards of one of life's simplest but most profound pleasures - gardening.' And there is expert opinion to back this up.
According to Professor Paul Dolan, a UK economist and behavioural scientist, gardeners and florists are the happiest of all professions - nearly twice as happy as people in more prestigious and better paid jobs.
Traditionally Stodels celebrates 'In Full Bloom' at the beginning of October when it is all about the planting of colourful plants that will bring brightness and scent into the garden and this ties in well with the Garden Day initiative.
Garden day can be celebrated on any patio, balcony, backyard or green space. If you don't have a space, head to your local nursery or botanical gardens.
You can visit your local garden centre to get inspired by the vibrant colour and new growth. But once you have downed your spade, kick back, relax and appreciate your garden with family and friends.
Suggestions include:
- Hosting a tea party on the lawn
- Reading a book under a tree
- Hosting a plant club instead of a book club and asking guests to bring an interesting plant and swop among the group - you will be introduced to new plants and perhaps add something different to your garden
- Invite friends for a braai and use herbs from the garden to flavour the meat
- Meditate, practice yoga or Tai Chi
- Get your kids involved in gardening - allocate a patch and plant some veggies
- Set up an easel and paint
Visit Garden Day for more information or engage on social media platforms below:
Facebook GardendaySA
Instagram @gardendaysa
Twitter #GardenDaySA