The magic of Hogsback gardens

As a visitor you will be amazed at the diversity of exotic and indigenous plant species that grow in this mystical mountain hideaway – like the united nations of the plant kingdom ! The high rainfall, cold winters and highly fertile soil make Hogsback a gardeners’ paradise. Visitors from Europe, USA, Canada and South Africa will all find plant species that they are familiar with. Shrubs  such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, Hydrangeas, Vibernum ; trees such as Dogwoods, Maples, Walnut, Copper Beech, Magnolia, Chestnut, Hazelnut, Ornamental Cherry and Crab Apple. All these mixed with a huge array of indigenous trees, bulbs, annuals and perennials. 

Roses also grow well and there are some beautiful rose gardens in Hogsback. 
One of the gardens “Mistlea “ is featured in the book “Veld, Vlei and Rose Gardens”  ( ISBN 9780981431574) together with 40 other rose gardens in SA,  published by Otterley Press in 2011 to coincide with the World Rose Convention to be held in SA in October 2012. Read the review.

Each garden that you visit will have its own unique charm and mystique imprinted on it by the first gardener and cared for by the gardeners who followed. Experienced gardeners from all over the world have been entranced by the diversity of species and the unique nature of the Hogsback gardens.

GARDEN CLUB OUTING FEEDBACK

Dear Garden Club Members/Non Members

A very interesting morning was spent at the Siyabonga School in the Valley. The Head Master Mthunzi is really geared up and enthusiastic about the School. After many a letter and phone calls over 4 years, he finally got sponsors to renovate the school. We were amazed to see what the condition of the school was before the renovations.

The Department of Agricultural is assisting in getting a vegetable garden going. They have ploughed 95x8 metres of ground already and supplied compos etc.

The Garden Club’s aim is to donate fruit trees and seedlings. We also want to plant trees for shade as there are hardly any trees. Jane will contact a citrus farmer to donate orange trees.

What the garden club needs from you, is to donate money to enable us to buy trees that will grow in that area. We also want to buy more seedlings for the veggie garden. A work party, together with the children and parents will be held as soon as the Department got the ground ready for planting. The garden is well looked after and all the plants donated have been planted. For any donations, please contact Ansie on 082 800 8731, or a direct EFT will be appreciated.

We all had tea and eats together and a “before” slide show of the school was presented by Mr Mthunzi.