The month of May celebrates the advent of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
We want to celebrate a pioneering South African couple who revere story telling inspired by historical links – in both hemispheres.
In the Cape Winelands, they first transformed their farm less than an hour from Cape Town, into what has become a much lauded venue – Babylonstoren.
In Somerset England, they then bought Hadspen House, home for two centuries to the Hobhouse family: activists, politicians and conservationists … because as Afrikaners they had long admired Emily Hobhouse, a courageous English woman who withstood considerable peer pressure to speak out against British atrocities during the Anglo-Boer War.
Here they redesigned the gardens, invigorated the 800-acre estate, and re-named it The Newt, after
rare amphibians found there ‘that also possess the incredible ability to regenerate, retaining their functional and structural properties.’
As their website says … ‘a perfect fit, and an apt analogy.
Since these South Africans have achieved the ultimate British societal breakthrough.
Their English estate, The Newt, is the official sponsor of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show.
Considered the greatest flower show on earth, Chelsea is a celebration of cutting-edge garden design and fabulous floral displays.
While their South African estate, Babylonstoren, is acknowledged as the only (RHS) Royal Horticultural Society Partner Garden in Africa.
And Babylonstoren Rosé was the official wine at the 2021 Spring CFS show. Cheers indeed!
So if you can’t make Chelsea in May, why not visit the Cape in October?
In the Southern Hemisphere this is the month when we celebrate the advent of Spring, and showcase The Cape Floral Kingdom and unique gems in our botanical treasure chest. See for yourself.
Credits: Home page picture: Hope on the Horizon – Help for Heroes display in 2014 sponsored by The Havisham Trust, awarded Best Show Garden – People’s Choice Award, courtesy Karen Roe
Top picture this page: The Place2Be Securing Tomorrow display in 2022, designed by Jamie Butterworth
Bottom picture: Dame Judi Densch and Chelsea pensioners in celebration at Chelsea Flower Show