Montagu Herb Festival

We visited the quaint town of Monatgu in the Western Cape over the Heritage day weekend in September this year. Montagu is situated in the Breede River Valley at the foot of the majestic Langeberg mountains and surrounded by beautiful fynbos vegetation, lush vineyards and fruit orchards. It is known for its location on the famous Route 62 and for the numerous outdoor activities on offer including hiking, rock climbing and mountain biking. Interestingly Montagu boasts the most number of national monuments in one street than any other town in the country and the town has a rich cultural and architectural history.

 While the main aim of our visit was to have a relaxing getaway (i.e. fun-filled girls weekend) in a beautiful part of the country, we discovered much to our delight, that it serendipitously coincided with the annual Montagu Herb Festival or Kruiefees.

Exploring Montagu

Doing the Scavenger Hike by Bike!

The Herb Festival is in it’s 4th year of existence and is organised by the Montagu Museum which has a long standing history of documenting knowledge about medicinal plants. Since I love all things botanical this was an event I was so excited to experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The festival included: exhibitions, cooking demos, workshops, plant discovery walks and enlightening talks on medicinal herbs, mushrooms, and healing traditions.

The Fynbos Healing Plant Discovery Walk was on Sunday morning

I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the local flora on the Fynbos walk with Liana Muller from Fijn Botanicals. She shared on the medicinal and healing properties of the plants in the area that she uses to create Botanical perfumes, creams and other skin products.

Liana Jansen from Fijn Botanicals sharing her knowledge about the Fynbos plants she uses in her products

We also enjoyed the Herb Walk in the Montagu Nature Garden with curator Hugo de Wet and Patti van Dyk. The Nature Garden is an indigenous wildflower reserve with plants of the Klein Karoo and contains numerous walking trails which offer lovely views of the town below as you make your way up the hill.   

Hiking through the Montagu Nature Garden

Montagu Nature Garden

The exhibition at the Montagu Museum consisted of companies that make use of botanical products and included the following: Canna Gold, Chivas Oils, Dagga Farmacy, Earthwell Pet Products, Eporia, Fell Flora, Fijn Botanicals, Folio Books, Gentle Rain Traditional Healing, Greyton Candles, Grow Folk, Indikaap, Karoo Mantis, Khoe Cure, Montagu Museum Herbs, Shop@Yamu Botanicals and Therapeutic Naturals.

See image of Herb Festival Program for 2024:

 I had just walked through fynbos for a few hours - studying and learning about the medicinal plants of this region - so when I saw dried plants in jars on the table of Khoe Cure I wanted to try them out for myself. I bought their Herbal Tonic which contains the following plants: Sutherlandia frutescens, Artemesia afra, Dicoma capensis, Lobostemon fruticosus, Agathosma, Aucalyptus globulus, Bulbine natalensis, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Tulbaghia violacea, Chrysocoma ciliata, Cissampelos, Clychrrhiza glabra and Cannabis. The tonic has a strong garlic taste from the Tulbaghia violacea, which makes it a bit hard to swallow, but Megan suggested I mix it with tonic water and that has definitely helped.

While there are certainly many beautiful accommodation options in the area I highly recommend the self-catering cottage we stayed in called Exhale Cottage. The cottage is well equipped and in the most breathtakingly beautiful location. The hosts were incredibly gracious and generous and went out of their way to make our stay unforgettable. Here are some pics of our accommodation:

We had a really memorable weekend!

Montagu's Herb Festival is a must-visit for anyone who is interested in medicinal plants or who just wants to enjoy the beautiful scenery and relaxed atmosphere of this charming town.

Some reference links: 

https://montagumuseum.co.za/

https://www.sahistory.org.za/place/montagu-route-62

https://www.south-africa-info.co.za/country/town/227/montagu

Bosjes

Bosjes is a truly amazing farm with immense beauty and we spent a lovely morning exploring the gardens and being inspired by the diversity and beauty of the South African landscape.

Bosjes is a privately owned family farm situated in the Breedekloof Valley and surrounded by the picturesque Waaihoek and Slanghoek mountains. It produces olives, wine, grapes, peaches and proteas. The farm has several attractions including Bosjes kombuis, a contemporary restaurant with deli, tea garden and children’s play area as well as luxury accommodation and a Spa.

The chapel sits on the main axis of the gardens

The Chapel

The chapel is the focal point of the farm and is a dramatic yet serene icon. The white organic shape of the curving roof floats like a dove with its curving wings merging with the blue flowing hills in the far distance. There is an inscription in the pathway leading to the entrance of the chapel that reads “How precious, O God, is Your constant love! We find protection under the shadow of Your wings” from Psalm 36:7.

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The Gardens

The layout and landscape was designed by award winning landscape architecture firms and truly creates an experience of feeling part of the landscape. Every view and pause area throughout the gardens has been carefully considered and the journey through the beautiful fynbos brings one close to nature, feeling immersed in the landscape. The site has been designed so that views of the surrounding mountains are always part of the experience. You are constantly aware of, and in connection with, the immediate and greater landscape of the valley.

A meandering walk up a small mound leads you to a look out point and seating area where you can appreciate the length of the site as well as the surrounding views. A water feature where you can walk through two banks of cascading water allows for an immersive and poetic experience of ‘walking through water’ or spiritual baptism.

Water Feature

The gardens consist of a predominantly locally indigenous and endemic plant palette although several plants have been included for their Biblical reference and these have sign boards providing  the verse in the Bible where they are mentioned.

Plants with a Biblical reference are sign posted with relevant scripture

There are several garden rooms to explore so make sure you allow enough time to fully enjoy this farm!

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The Botha’s Halte Primary School

The Bosjes Trust was conceived by the owners as a tool for social investment. It was established with a vision to create employment and secure a future for the children of the valley. One of the projects, together with the Department of Education, includes the redevelopment of an adjoining school that one can see when entering at the main gate. (https://bosjes.co.za/care/)

We had a wonderful time exploring the gardens and appreciating the beauty of a well designed landscape and our South African culture, heritage and fauna.

See Bosjes Website for more information: https://bosjes.co.za/gardens/

Note that no outside food or pets are allowed onto the grounds.

Harold Porter Botanical Garden

Harold Porter Botanical Gardens is located within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and its flora constitutes the Cape Floral Kingdom – one of only six floristic regions in the world – comprising approximately 8800 species, of which 70% are endemic. Fynbos, a part of his floral kingdom, is characterized by shrubby plants such as proteas, ericas, buchus, legumes, bruias, daisies, bulbous plants and reedlike restios in place of grasses. (SANBI pamphlet purchased at Harold Porter Botanical Gardens) I was so excited to spend a morning exploring and photographing fynbos!

The gardens sit at the foot of the 900m high sandstone peaks of the Kogelberg Mountains

I drove over the scenic Franschoek Pass to Betty’s Bay to visit this small botanical gardens I had heard so much about. Since joining the Botanical Society I have been curious to see what this little garden looks like.

A beautiful dark pond with blue water lilies, reflecting the mountains behind it, welcomed me as I entered the garden. I quickly realised that I couldn’t take enough photos of the stunning fynbos plants on display here. Every colour and texture you can imagine! There were lots of Erica varieties in flower which the sunbirds were loving too.

So much texture. What a beautiful display of indigenous plants!

We spotted a tortoise enjoying a stroll in the garden!

Unfortunately the walk to Disa Waterfall was closed for renovations. There are also various other more strenuous hikes you can take into the mountains and I can imagine the views from up there must be wonderful.

I looked at their indigenous plant nursery but had to hold myself back from buying any plants.. trekking them all the way back to JHB isn't always a great idea. After a quick visit to Stony Point to view the breeding Penguin colony and a stop in at John the Potter, a beautiful ceramic studio, we headed back over the pass to Franschoek.

Lots of Penguins!

Harold Porter Botanical Garden:

Garden Hours (According to Pamphlet purchased at Gardens)

Opening Time: 365 days a year from 08h00

Closing Times: No entry after 16h30 on weekdays and 17h00 on weekends and public holidays. Visitors already in the garden may stay until 18h00 in winter (April to October) and 19h00 in summer (November to March)

Special Late Closing Times: Entry until 19h00 during the simmer festive season (as advertised). The garden will close at 21h00.

Concerts: Opening and Closing times will be as advertised including on our website.

Contact Details: Clarence Drive (R44) Betty’s Bay. Tel 028 272 9311. Email Harold.Porter.NBG@sanbi.org.za. Website: www.sanbi.org.z