Branch out on Garden Day this Sunday

South Africans are called upon to down tools and invite neighbours, friends and family around to celebrate the third annual Garden Day on Sunday, 21 October.

A group of enthusiastic gardeners came up with the concept to unite South Africans by creating a day where everyone can enjoy and celebrate their gardens together.

Decide how you want to celebrate your garden space and then download the free Garden Day digital and printable invitation from the Garden Day website (www.gardenday.co.za) and send out it to everyone.

Ideas of what you can do

In the lead-up to Garden Day get connected to Candide, a free community gardening app set to inspire, educate and cultivate green fingers in the country.

Articles and tips from master gardeners and knowledgeable home gardeners on the app can help you with Garden Day celebration ideas.

Invite your family and friends for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Use fresh ingredients from your garden to make the food.

Use fresh flowers and greenery from your garden to make flower crowns for everyone.

Host a plant swop by asking guests to bring rare and interesting plants to swop with each other.

Have a picnic on the lawn or a braai under the trees.

Set your children off on a bug hunt to see how many different insects they can find in the garden.

Collect them in a container so that you and the children can inspect them with a magnifying glass.

Return them to the wild when you have finished.

Try outdoor yoga or meditation in your garden.

Plants instead of pills

Studies have shown that gardening can also make a significant contribution to our health and well-being, not just as a way to get some physical exercise, but also to improve our mental health.

Doctors in London have already started to prescribe gardening time to assist patients with mental health troubles.

Social seeds

Gardening does not only lift up your mood, it is also a great way of connecting with people and reducing loneliness.

So if you’ve been admiring your neighbour’s garden from afar, intrigued by their rambling roses or eager to learn more about their striking succulents, Garden Day is the perfect time for you to branch out and cultivate relationships with those around you.

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