Vineyard Hotel's New Garden Walks Set to Welcome in Spring
Cape Town, South Africa - August 2, 2010 - THE iconic Vineyard Hotel & Spa has literally opened its garden gates, so the general public can also enjoy the establishment's renowned gardens. Starting this spring, monthly garden walks will be organised - followed by a delicious Morning or Afternoon Tea in the hotel's lounge and patio.
Group Environmental Manager for the Vineyard Hotel & Spa, d'Ouwe Werf and the Townhouse Hotel & Conference Centre, Chris van Zyl, has been hosting garden walks on request for the Vineyard's guests and local garden clubs since 2002. “Now we'd like to make this a more formal arrangement,” he says, “with garden walks offered to anyone interested, once or even twice a month. The walks will be advertised in the media, so that guests and the interested public can come and enjoy our indigenous gardens.”
Chris says many people don't realise the hotel gardens and facilities - with the exception of the pool and gym - are open for the public to experience. “Anyone is welcome to walk in, go for a stroll in the garden and enjoy a cup of coffee or even a sundowner at the bar.”
On the planned garden walks, guests will spend approximately 90 minutes enthralled by the spectacular gardens designed and laid out by renowned landscape architect, Ann Sutton. Historical information will also be shared, since the property has been an estate since 1799 - and was once home to Lady Anne Barnard. However, the emphasis of the walks remains botanical, and medicinal plants will also be pointed out. Birds and insects will be discussed when seen, and interesting geological formations - that resemble fossilised water ripples - will also be discussed.
“The Vineyard Hotel's garden has a wide variety of indigenous trees, as well as other special species that don't usually occur in this part of Africa,” says Chris, “but because we have a micro climate, there are even some tropical tree species flourishing here such as the African flame tree, which doesn't generally grow in Cape Town.”
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