Page 24 - Landscape-Issue155

FEATURE

DARLING IN BLOOM

Each spring, the town of Darling on the Cape West Coast comes alive with colour
and purpose as the Darling Wildflower Show takes place. This year, from 19 to
21 September 2025, the event returned to the familiar grounds of the Darling
Wildflower Society for what has become a celebration of flora, place and people.

he Darling Wildflower Show has
its roots in the early 1900s. While
Tan informal flower show was first
recorded in 1905 by resident Mrs Albertyn,
it was in 1915 that the seeds of the society
were sown by pastor’s wife Suzanne Malan
and Frederick Duckitt of Waylands Farm,
who believed the wildflowers of the area
deserved a public stage. The first official
show took place in September 1917 as a
simple flower arranging competition. Over
the decades, it evolved from floral displays
to rich landscaped exhibits representing
local habitats, and attracted visitors from
across South Africa and beyond.
Initially a humble display, the show has
grown into a full-fledged wildflower festival
and now features landscaped exhibits
showcasing the region’s Renosterveld, Sand Ixia maculata (foreground) and Ornithogalum thyrsoidea
Fynbos, and Strandveld habitats. There are
also detailed species tables, guided walks,
craft and gourmet markets, tractor rides, Under the new chairmanship of Deon van Throughout the weekend, free expert
vintage displays and a strong family friendly Eeden, a leading restoration ecologist, the talks made the event educational as well as
educational component. Darling Wildflower Society took bold steps beautiful. From pre-booked guided walks,
This year’s theme “Restoration • to broaden participation and strengthen clear signage, interactive exhibits and a
Conservation • Education” captured the youth and community engagement. His dedicated “Kids & Young Conservationists
show’s evolution from a local flower fair leadership and presentation on ecological Zone,” 2025’s show represented a fresh
to a platform for raising awareness of restoration emphasised the practical and energetic chapter for this well-known
endangered vegetation types, involving importance of protecting and rehabilitating institution.
volunteers in conservation projects and South Africa’s natural heritage, setting the
instilling the value of environmental tone for the entire show. Community and collaboration at
stewardship from a young age. The involvement of Vula Environmental its core
Services was significant as they acted as a Beyond its organisers, the show’s
2025 Stood Out partner in set-up and logistics (land-side success rests on a remarkable network
There are a number of reasons this year’s operations, landscaping, propagation and of contributors. The West Coast branch
show can rightly be called a standout. restoration education) but also in shaping of the Botanical Society of South Africa,
the educational and conservation local schools, and a dedicated group of
components of the event. Their volunteers once again joined forces with
contribution helped anchor the Vula Environmental Services and specialist
“restoration” pillar of the year’s theme nurseries to bring the exhibition to life.
and strengthened ties between theory A standout addition this year was the
and practice. Wild’dARTlings programme, an inspiring
The speaker line-up this year reflected youth initiative running for four months
that same commitment to relevance ahead of the event. Under the guidance
and accessibility. Rupert Koopman, of committee member Grizelda Hibbert,
botanist and conservation leader, led participating learners helped to build
guided walks and story telling sessions displays, make pots, and grow plants that
that brought the region’s flora to life for they proudly sold at the show. The initiative
visitors of all ages and Jacobus Retief, proved how meaningful mentorship and
a protected-area manager, shared creativity can cultivate environmental
insights into reserve management and awareness among the next generation.
the vital role of protected landscapes in In the days leading up to the exhibition,
building resilience. Jannie Groenewald, teams of volunteers collected and prepared
restoration ecologist, gave engaging, the floral material with the utmost care.
hands-on demonstrations on Each bloom was ethically harvested
propagation and habitat restoration under permits from CapeNature, then
Deon van Eeden (left), restoration ecologist and methods suitable for volunteers and transported and tubed two days before
chairman of the Darling Wildflower Society small nurseries. opening, a testament to the dedication and

22 Landscape SA • Issue 155 2025 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za