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South Africa celebrates Arbor Week annually during the first week of September, and for the first time, visitors to Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West will have the opportunity to purchase and plant indigenous trees at the estate.

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The trees will be planted in the estate’s 54-hectare arboretum, which will contain at least 7 500 trees when completed in 2031.

Trees for sale include real yellowwood (Podocarpus Latifolius), water berry (Sysigium Cordatum), water pear (Syzgium Quineense), milkwood (Sideroxylon Inerme) and false olive (Buddleja Saligna). 

Arbor Week
(Left to right, at the arboretum) Vergelegen garden team member Girelle Farmer, horticulturist Courtney Abbott, Siyanda Mpebe, Buhle Mbuyazwe, Cheslin Cedrus, and senior horticulturist Richard Arm preparing for Arbor Week at Vergelegen.

The cost is R250 per tree and the offer is until Thursday, 7 September.

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‘We will provide the trees, spades and pre-dug holes and members of our garden team will be at the ready to lend a hand,’ said senior horticulturist Richard Arm. ‘We expect many people to mark the occasion with their families.’

‘Visitors can also purchase the trees and plant them in their own gardens or other locations. We’ll have a selection of trees in our car park for anyone who would prefer this option.’

Arbor Week
(Back, left to right, at the ancient Outeniqua yellowwood) Cheslin Cedrus, Siyanda Mpebe, Girelle Farmer. Front, Buhle Mbuyazwe, Michelle Soetsenberg, Machel Bok, Brent Plaatjies.

Arm said that the 323-year-old estate will also continue its tradition of offering visitors free seeds from its ancient Outeniqua yellowwood during Arbor Week. This venerable specimen of Afrocarpus Falcatus is estimated to be 150-400 years old. The team gathers about 500 packets of seeds every year and distributes these at the entrance gate.

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Arm said this task is made easier by resident fruit bats, which nibble at the seeds and help remove the skin that prohibits germination. The bats also tend to drop the seeds in certain areas of the garden, making collection easier.

To mark this first week of spring, the estate will also launch its new pink Cap Classique on Friday, 1 September in the wine tasting room and restaurants. Guests can book a meal at the bistro-style Stables restaurant, enjoy hearty French dishes at Café Fleur, and book guided tours of the nature reserve, cellar, gardens and homestead.

Details:

Also read: 

Celebrate National Arbor Week-Get digging and work those green thumbs

Picture: Supplied

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