The first ever Garden Day will be celebrated by all South Africans on Sunday, 9 October.
Garden Day is intended to bring everybody together to appreciate one of life’s most profound pleasures. Everybody can enjoy this day in your own back garden, on a friend’s farm or on your balcony overlooking your own planted paradise.
It does not matter what size your garden is, even if it is a small pot plant. This day is a celebration of all the hard work you have done in your garden over the year. Spending time in your garden is in actual fact very healthy for you. It combats stress, depression and can even lower the risk of a stroke or dementia.
Also, gardening can help you recuperate faster from an illness. Amazingly, it also calms down prisoners in jail. For a lot of people, being in a garden also lifts them spiritually. Children are also invited to join in on the celebration.
So, if you want to escape this Sunday … your garden is the place!
Garden Day: Q&A/Fact Sheet
1. What is Garden Day?
Most of the year we plant, water, weed and mulch – work, in other words. Garden Day is the day to reap the rewards of your labour. Toss down that spade, invite family and friends around, kick back and appreciate the varied reasons why making a garden is so worthwhile!
2. When does Garden Day take place?
This year Garden Day is taking place on Sunday 9 October – and then again next year and the next year and the next year on the second Sunday of October.
3. Why are we celebrating Garden Day?
Garden Day is intended to bring South Africans together to appreciate and celebrate the rewards of one of life’s simplest but most profound pleasures – gardening.
By celebrating Garden Day we aim to establish a strong gardening movement and love for gardening amongst South Africans and to encourage a younger audience to take up and appreciate the rewards of gardening.
Another reason why we are celebrating Garden Day is because gardening is also scientifically proven to have positive effects on our health, both mentally and physically. According to Professor Paul Dolan, a UK economist and behavioural scientist, gardeners and florists are the happiest of all the professions … much happier than people in more prestigious and better paid jobs.
4. What must I do on Garden Day?
In the lead up to Garden Day visit your nearest nursery or Garden Centre and get inspired! Visit the Life is a Garden website www.lifeisagarden.co.za to locate your nearest Garden Centre or nursery.
Once you’ve prepared your garden, toss down that spade, kick back and appreciate your garden with family and friends that you’ve invited around to celebrate with you! Host a tea party on the lawn, invite friends round for a bring-‘n-braai or practice yoga or Tai Chi on the lawn (see point six below for more ideas on what to do on Gardening Day). If you don’t have your own garden or planted paradise, visit someone who does and enjoy it with them.
5. Where can I find tips and information on how to prepare my garden for Garden Day?
Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran gardener, in the lead-up to Garden Day, get connected to a library of gardening information, suggestions and direct access to gardening experts. Download the app Gardening with Bablyonstoren on your mobile phone from the Garden Day website www.gardenday.co.za. It’s free.
6. What activities can I do on Garden Day?
There are many activities that one can do on Garden Day, here are some ideas …
• Instead of book club, have plant club, ask guests to bring a rare and interesting plant. You then swap it with one of the other guests.
• Invite friends for a bring-‘n-braai, use herbs from the garden to flavor their meat.
• Host a tea party on the lawn.
• Read a book.
• Practice yoga or Tai Chi.
• Have a garden scavenger hunt.
• Visit a Garden Centre and enjoy the surroundings.
• Meditate.
• Host an outdoor dinner party where every dish has an ingredient from your garden in it.
• Make seed bombs with the kids.
• Set up an easel and paint.
• Play games in the garden … croquet, boule, volleyball, chess … fly a kite.
For more ideas and Garden Day inspiration, visit www.gardenday.co.za and follow us on social media.
7. Who can take part in Garden Day?
Anyone and everyone can take part in Garden Day. South Africans of all stripes are joined by their common love of gardens and that’s why we’re celebrating our first ever Garden Day. Garden Day is intended to bring us together.
8. Where should I celebrate Garden Day?
In any garden, patio, balcony, backyard or green space – you don’t need a fancy garden to participate. If you don’t have a suitable space or know of someone that does, head to your local nursery, Garden Centre or local botanical and community gardens.
9. How much does it cost to take part in Garden Day?
Absolutely nothing. Simply enjoy your garden with family and friends.
10. Do I need to make a booking for Garden Day?
No, you don’t need to make any bookings but invitations for friends and family are a good idea: talk to them, call them, email them, and create your own facebook event page
11. What else is essential for Garden Day?
A sense of fun, community and hospitality.
12. They say that gardening is good for your health, is this true?
Yes. Anyone from a gardening guru to a budding bloomer can benefit from the calming effects of mulching, potting, pruning or weeding.
Gardening reconnects us to nature and awakens our senses. It creates in us feelings of peace and wellness and is scientifically proven to have positive effects on our health, both mentally and physically.
According to Professor Paul Dolan, a UK economist and behavioural scientist, gardeners and florists are the happiest of all the professions … happier than people in more prestigious and better paid jobs.
Visit www.gardenday.co.za for a full list of gardening health benefits.
13. Is Garden Day active on social media?
Yes, you can follow us and share with us on the following platforms:
Twitter: @gardendaysa
• Instagram: /gardendaysa
• Twitter & Instagram hashtags:#GardenDaySA #TuindagSA
• Facebook: /garden-day-sa
• YouTube: Garden Day SA
14. In addition to doing something in my garden on Garden Day, how else can I get involved?
• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and like and share our posts.
• Take part in our social media activities.
• Participate in our great retail offers, which can be found on www.gardenday.co.za
• Share pictures of your garden and what inspires you in your garden on our Garden Day Gallery (insert web address) and via social media.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Roodepoort Record, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
