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Good Morning, locals

It’s officially garden season, and the next two weeks are the best time of year to see what grows behind the Winelands’ walls.

It starts this Sunday, 18 October, with Garden Day. Babylonstoren, Boschendal and the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden are all opening up with flower crowns, food-garden workshops and guided walks. Then on Friday 23 October, Garden Town Stellenbosch begins: ten days, more than 15 private gardens that are rarely open to the public, a free flower parade and a market at the Town Hall. Every rand from the private garden tickets goes to the Animal Welfare Society Stellenbosch, which turns 70 this year. We’ve put the best of both in one place below.

Away from the gardens, there’s a puppy adoption weekend in Paarl, a vote for one of our own winemakers, and a look at why Stellenbosch’s independent shops are leaving town.

One honest weather note: Sunday looks wet and cool, so pack a raincoat. The gardens won't mind, and neither should you. 😉

Brain teaser: On a farm dam outside Paarl, a patch of waterlilies doubles in size every single day. On day 30, the lilies cover the whole dam. On which day was the dam exactly half covered? (Answer at the bottom)

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Two dates for the diary. This Sunday is Garden Day, and next Friday Garden Town Stellenbosch opens its gates for ten days. Here’s how to do both properly.

Garden Day: Make Your Own Flower Crown
📅 Thu 15 Oct | 11:00-13:00 📍 Farm Shop, Babylonstoren, Simondium
Get ahead of Sunday: Babylonstoren’s flower team teaches you to weave a crown from the farm’s fynbos. Coffee and snacks included. 🎟 R750pp | Info here

Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden: Garden Day Opening
📅 Sun 18 Oct | 08:30-16:00 📍 Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden, Stellenbosch
Giant bronzes, guided tours and a flower-crown station under the blooming Dombeyas.
🎟 R280, pensioners and students R160, pre-booking required | Here

Garden Day at Babylonstoren: Edible Treasures
📅 Sun 18 Oct | 09:00-15:00 📍 Babylonstoren, Simondium
Edible flower crowns, live music and tastings through the kitchen garden, plus games in the Clivia House. 🎟 Standard entry R190, under-18s free | Tickets here

Boschendal Garden Day
📅 Sun 18 Oct | 10:00-14:00 📍 The Werf Food Garden, Boschendal, Groot Drakenstein
Five hands-on stations, from compost and mushrooms to seed saving, ending with flowers and Cap Classique. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. 🎟 R600, under-12s R50 | Book here

Garden Town Stellenbosch 2026
📅 Fri 23 Oct - Sun 1 Nov 📍 Across Stellenbosch
Ten days, 15+ private gardens rarely open to the public, 10+ public gardens and 40+ workshops, talks and tours. In town: a free Grand Flower Parade (Tue 27 Oct), a Street Soirée on Drostdy Street (Wed 28 Oct) and a free Garden Show & Market at the Town Hall (23-31 Oct). All private garden profits go to the Animal Welfare Society Stellenbosch, 70 this year. 🎟 Full programme & map | Book tickets

Flower Painting Workshop with Lauren Shantall
📅 Thu 15 Oct | 14:00-17:00 📍 The Gallery at Avondale, Avondale Wine Estate, Paarl
Three unhurried hours of petals and colour during the Blooms & Berge exhibition. Bring a friend. 🎟 R650pp | Book via DM to @thegalleryatavondale

Plaston: DNS-kind
📅 Until Sat 17 Oct | 19:30 nightly, plus Sat matinee 15:30 📍 The Playhouse Theatre, Somerset West
P.G. du Plessis’s 1974 classic about a “test-tube” child, which feels newly timely in the age of AI. Selling fast. In Afrikaans. 🎟 R120-R140 | Info

Bird Life Watercolour Workshop with Claudia Faber
📅 Fri 16 Oct | 09:00-14:00 📍 La Motte Ateljee, La Motte Wine Estate, Franschhoek
Paint birds in watercolour with Claudia Faber. No experience needed, all materials included. Limited spaces. 🎟 R1,150pp | Book here

Laudo Liebenberg Live at Heuer Pianos
📅 Fri 16 Oct | 18:00-20:00 📍 Heuer Pianos, 144 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch
One of Afrikaans music’s standout songwriters, up close in a Dorp Street piano showroom. Early finish, dinner after. 🎟 R400 | Grab tickets

Still Into Style: Thrift & Swap
📅 Fri 16 Oct | 18:00-20:00 📍 CoCreate Hub, 7 Victoria Street, Stellenbosch
Thrift finds and a clothing swap. Bring up to five good items. RSVP early.
🎟 R20 with RSVP, R40 at the door | RSVP via the link in @into_style_’s bio

A Christmas Festival
📅 Fri 23 & Sat 24 Oct | 19:30-22:00 📍 Lourensford Wine Cellar, Somerset West
Yes, it’s October, but this orchestral carols night has sold out three years running. Bring a food item for the Christmas drive. No wheelchair access. 🎟 From R235 | Details here

The Galileo Open Air Cinema: Notting Hill
📅 Sat 24 Oct | Doors 17:00, film 19:30 📍 Glenelly Estate, Stellenbosch
Picnic on the lawns, sunset over the Simonsberg, then Hugh Grant. Bring food, not alcohol (there’s a bar), and a warm jacket. 🎟 Book here

Wine Walk at Muratie
📅 Sat 17 Oct | 09:00-12:00, walk starts 09:30 📍 Dirtopia Trail Centre, Muratie Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
A mimosa, a 3.5km forest climb, then four wines at a lookout facing Table Mountain. Pack a rain jacket. 🎟 R245, under-18s R100 | WhatsApp 078 343 3572 or E-mail

Pilates & Breakfast at Du Vin
📅 Sun 18 Oct | 09:00 sharp 📍 Du Vin at Kanu Wine Farm, Stellenbosch
Pilates on the lawns, then breakfast among the vines. Beginners welcome, bring a mat. Check with Du Vin if it’s raining. 🎟 R250pp incl. breakfast | E-mail to book

Blaauwklippen Summer Run Series
📅 Wed 21 Oct | 17:45 📍 Blaauwklippen Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
A free 2.5km, 4km or 8km vineyard run, then a cold one at The Farmhouse. Pram-friendly, weather-dependent. 🎟 Free, registration essential | 021 880 0133

An Evening with Kruger Family Wines
📅 Fri 16 Oct | 18:00 📍 96 Winery Road Restaurant, Winery Road, Helderberg
Five courses, from oysters to Karoo lamb, each with two of Johan Kruger’s wines. 🎟 R850pp | Call 021 842 2020

Babylonstoren x Horrell & Horrell: Garden Day Dinner
📅 Sun 18 Oct | 17:30-22:00 📍 Babylonstoren, Simondium
Sunset aperitifs in the garden, then a fire-cooked sharing feast from the farm. One night only. (Psst: see the deal below for a free seat.) 🎟 R2,950pp | More here

France vs South Africa Blind Tasting
📅 Fri 23 Oct | 18:00-19:30 📍 Bertha Wine Bar, 43 Church Street, Stellenbosch
Six wines, three grapes, labels hidden. Can you spot France from home? Wear something French, even if it’s just the attitude. 🎟 From R550 | Book here

Stellenbosch’s centre is getting pricier. Rising rents are pushing independent shops out of Stellenbosch Central, SMF News reports. The problem is too little space, not too little demand, so mostly bigger chains can keep up. If your favourite shop has moved, follow it.

And the student squeeze isn’t easing. Stellenbosch University houses about 7,500 of its 30,000+ students, and the shortage now looks permanent. Same story, other side of the coin.

Vote for Carmen Stevens. The Somerset West winemaker, South Africa’s first winemaker of colour, is up for two Good Hope FM Warrior Women Awards. SMS “WWA26”, her name and surname, and your ID number to 37766 (R1.50). Voting closes Mon 26 Oct.

Give smarter in Paarl. New PayPoint terminals let you donate by cash or card straight to two accredited Paarl shelters. Find them at Kikka Bernina and Roodeberg Pharmacy on Main Road, Hi Brew! in Denneburg, ReSkin Aesthetics in Frater Square and Spin Café in Lemoenkloof.

Your new best friend might be in Paarl this weekend. Parelberg Shopping Centre and Absolute Pets are hosting an Adopt-a-Pup Weekend on Sat 17 & Sun 18 Oct, with dogs looking for forever homes. Fair warning: you may not leave empty-handed. More here

Pools, yes. Berg River, no. Drakenstein’s five pools are open daily 10:00-19:00 with lifeguards. Swimming in the Berg River is discouraged, and the banks will be patrolled.

Garden Day is made for small hands. Babylonstoren lets under-18s in free on Sunday, and Boschendal’s food-garden stations are R50 for under-12s (see Garden Season, above).

LEO SKY Social Club Grand Opening
📅 Sun 18 Oct | 12:00-16:00 📍 LEO SKY Farm, Simondium
A new poolside restaurant opens with pizza, a DJ, a play area and mini donkeys. Grown-ups get 10% off and a welcome glass of bubbles. 🎟 Bookings essential | Book here

Perdeberg Family Festival
📅 Sat 31 Oct | 10:00-16:00 📍 Perdeberg Wines, Vryguns Farm, Windmeul, Paarl
One for the diary: jumping castle, bumper rides, face painting and live music, while parents relax with a glass. Cashless. 🎟 Adults R199 (incl. tasting glass and 10 coupons), designated drivers R125, kids R85 | Book here

🌿 A Gourmand Garden Stay at Babylonstoren

Stay 16-17 or 17-18 October and each room gets a free seat at a Vlok & Horrell dinner (Friday’s fire supper or Sunday’s Garden Day feast)

Insider tip: Sunday’s the wet one anyway. A night on the farm and dinner by the fire is the right answer. Make memories here

24° today and a mostly sunny 26° on Friday, the warmest of the week. Then the weekend turns. Saturday brings showers and 20°, and Sunday is cool and wet, with a 71% chance of rain, a top of just 15° and a chilly 8° start. Monday clears to a crisp, sunny 19°, Tuesday is mild and cloudy at 23°, and rain returns on Wednesday.

☀️ Best days: Thurs + Fri, and Mon + Tue. For Garden Day, pack the raincoat and go anyway. Wet gardens smell better.

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Good neighbours (and a home on the water)

Every week we show you a house. This week, we’re also showing you the people who sell them, and what they get up to when they’re not.

The Peter Venter Estates team has been quietly busy around Somerset West. They had a stretch of road near Belaire cleaned up, and put potted plants in another local park. Their agents turn up for beach and river clean-ups, the unglamorous early-morning kind. And for Pink October, their offices are running a pink drive collecting sanitary products for women and girls who go without.

None of it sells a house. All of it makes the neighbourhood a better place to come home to.

🌸 Want to help? Drop off sanitary products this Friday 16 Oct at the security office at Stellenbosch Square

🏡 This week’s home: dam-front living in Boskloof Eco Estate

Fitting, then, that this week’s pick sits in an eco estate. Right on Boskloof’s private dam, with its own jetty and sea views from the balcony, this four-bedroom Somerset West home is built for slow sunsets. Solar, batteries and a borehole keep it running quietly, and a downstairs flatlet makes room for guests or rental income. Take a peek

Worth a listen: Is your coffee good for you?

World-famous barista James Hoffmann and gut-health scientist Professor Tim Spector sit down on the ZOE podcast to talk about what’s really in your cup: whether decaf still counts, why freshly brewed beats instant, and how your brewing method changes it all.

🎧 Listen here

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🌟 Answer to riddle: 29

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