Gardening
What is there about gardening that appeals to everyone? Part of the pleasure lies in appreciating the beauty of the lay-out with its background of foliage and green lawn and its interesting features such as ponds and winding pathways. Nothing can equal the joy of the amateur who has built his own garden and knows that every tree and flower is there by his own planting. There is also nothing more irritating for the amateur than to find later that had he known where to place his plants and how to care for them they might have thrived and been a greater success. “It’s easy when you know how” is a phrase often heard. “Know-how” is important in the enjoyment of gardening and in the interest of the garden.
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THE HANTAM NATIONAL
BOTANICAL GARDEN
Explore Wild Secrets under Endless Skies South Africa boasts an amazing diversity of indigenous plants. It is the purpose of SANBI’s Conservation Gardens & Tourism Division to manage this network of nine National Botanical Gardens (NBG’s) in South Africa and to raise environmental awareness about conservation of our national treasures. Text & Images Hantam National Botanical Gardens
We as South Africans should do everything we can to assist in conserving our flora so that our children can one day enjoy the same magnificent flora that we do. In the following editions of Ray we will showcase spectacular Botanical Gardens, with the Hantam NBG our focus for this issue. Being the first National Botanical Garden in the Northern Cape, and the 9th in South Africa, it is regarded as one of the world’s most special botanical treasures. It lies just outside Niewoudtville, on the Bokkeveld Plateau. The pleasures of the Hantam National Botanical Garden are like expensive champagne, to be enjoyed slowly, taking in the delights of each sip and always leaving you wanting more... The farm Glenlyon forms the core of the new Hantam National Botanical Garden. In 1883 the Farm Katlaagte (later Glenlyon) was purchased by James MacGregor, who came out from Scotland with his family in 1840. He eventually established himself at Citrusdal and married Lenie van Wyk. One of his sons, Joseph MacGregor moved to Nieuwoudtville and started to farm on Groenrivier. He married Elizabeth Moyle, eventually known to everybody in the district as “Mumsie.” Joseph became very ill and with his wife was compelled to move to Cape Town. Managers were appointed to look after the farm. After his death in 1922 his wife sadly realized that the farm was on the road to bankruptcy. Gordon, the eldest child, was compelled to terminate his studies at Oxford University to save the sinking ship in 1925. In 1928 Gordon married Helen Lyon and they moved to Nieuwoudtville. In 1929 the Glenlyon homestead was built, having been designed by John Lyon, Helen’s father, who had qualified as an architect in Scotland. Incidentally, John Lyon also designed the beautiful school building in Nieuwoudtville. Glenlyon was named by Gordon to honour his wife, Helen Lyon, and his own Scottish origins. In 1961 Neil, son of Gordon and Helen decided to cease wheat cropping on Glenlyon.