Brief history Soekershof In 1910 Marthinus Malherbe (born in Wellington, 1885), at the time living in Simonstown/Fishoek started, by means of correspondence, exchanging seeds of South African succulent plants with those from the Americas. He was an amateur botanist who discovered many new plants in the ‘veld’ Best known are: Nananthus (Aloinopsis) malherbei named after him and the Haworthia comptoniana, now Haworthia emelyae var comptoniana. In archives in the UK and USA there is a plethora of info about Malherbe as ‘the cactus pioneer of South Africa’ The prickly pear was introduced in South Africa in 1732. German people already started to introduce cacti in Namibia at the end of the ninetheenth century. That’s how Malherbe got acquainted with these succulent plants but, keen as he was on his money, decided to source seeds himself. That’s how virtually every cactus was introduced in South Africa. The Cape Peninsula however was not the right environment for the majority of these plants so he decided to move more land inwards. This is where the story gets complicated for Malherbe moved from one place to another (from Montagu to Barrydale and back, etc.) before in 1936 he bought the farm Goedemoed next to Bon Courage wine cellar and started as a professional nurseryman on a small scale. In the meantime, in 1924 he financed a family relative for the acquisition of our farm, and -visionary or nothe planted a garden with cacti behind the tatched cottage including cacti sourced from his first seedlings from 1910. In 1943 Soekershof changed ownership but the garden remained. In 1954 Malherbe sold Goedemoed and bought the farm next doors and named it SHEILA, an abbreviation of the names of the children of his first marriage. When his second marriage resulted in a newborn baby the M of Marsha was added thus the name became SHEILAM. In 1965 he sold SHEILAM to the present owning family who moved in a few years later (1967). In the previous year, 1964 (according to deed office), he had the chance of a lifetime to buy his old ‘love’. He builds in the following year a new house and in 1965, also, he created the new garden (80 yrs old at the time) for his pension. In 1971 this garden was voted as ‘Best succulent garden in the Southern Hemisphere’ by the Royal British Horticultural Society. In 1976 Malherbe passed away and his wife Molly Darling survived him for 18 yrs. She was always looking for things and when acquiring the farm in 1964 he already named it Soekershof (Seekers Garden). Since his dead the gardens were neglected for 24 years. When we bought it in January 2000 (moved in 10 april 2000) we had just the idea to clean the mess, restore the houses and than travel for a few years. Fate had different plans with us. The discovery of his memorial tablet in the weed overgrown garden and with that the rich history of this farm, etc. etc. made us decide to restore this garden to its old glory. With expertise from abroad (Holland, Germany and USA) we took all weeds and diseased plants out. Than we started to make soil mixtures with similar characteristics as the
soils in the different native (endemic) areas of the different plants. With thanks to support from nurseries in amongst others Gauteng, Durbanville and especially Graaff Reinet we were able to extend the collection to around 1500 different registered species within a few years. At the moment (with global seeds exchange) Soekershof houses an outdoor collection of more than 2500 different species/subspecies/cultivars/etc.; therefore recognized as the largest outdoor collection of its kind on the African continent. In recent years we have been (sideways) involved in research projects of diverse universities; best known one is the one about cultivation of the Aloe polyphilla (Lesotho aloe) by the Berkeley University (San Francisco, USA). It seems difficult to grow these aloes in the open outside its own native area. With a simple and proved solution of Paul Licht of this university we succeeded in that and that result was published. By the way: the Aloe polyphilla is regarded as endangered specie here in South Africa; in the Bay area of San Francisco it is regarded as an invader!!! Maze; The idea for a maze was shaped after 1.5 years (it’s all in the name: Soekershof). Due to a lack of knowledge about mazes we created a truly original one that also turned out to be the largest permanent hedge-maze in the world. There is no central point but diverse resting areas with visualized local folklore (South Africans love stories!!!) as orientating beacons. Visitors are thus invited to walk from one story to the other but as in life there are also a few things one has to search for. That’s where the quest comes in and ‘solving the quandaries of life’ visitors can earn a handcrafted memento. At the entrance of the maze there is a classical labyrinth of cacti (Echinocactus grussoni, originating from Mexico also named Golden Barrel cactus of Mother’s in law cushion –skoonma-se-kussing) Nursery; ‘Our Little Nursery’. We did not intend to start nursery activities; just propagating for our own gardens but visitors insisted to buy plants as a living memory of their experience. This activity is nowadays growing and we are involved in several private landscaping projects (from small gardens to surfaces of >1000 sqm) in the Eastern and Western Cape). We guide these customers from the first set up with focal points to a ‘filling up of the gaps in between’ during the years after. In our view we don’t believe in instant gardens; a garden has to grown under your own fingers. All plants are homegrown (no trade) and organically cultivated. Shop Shop is only accessible for garden visitors. In the shop you will find unique wire art, made on the spot. Wood work and our own Soekershof Signature Earthworks Jewelry (made of earth from our premises). All made by people from local communities.
In general: Soekershof is not a place for a quick visit. It’s 10 hectare large and to undergo it all in rural slow pace takes a few
hours (average prepared visitor stays 4 to 6 hrs and bring his/hers own picnic). It’s NOT a place for a ‘quick look for free’ either. Every visitor gets an introduction (total experience, see website) in order to understand the concept. People who chose for the option of an interactive garden exploration (1-1.5 hrs) can walk free around after that. Both options are R 60.00 pp (R 40.00 >12 yrs, R 0.00 for non walking children). For disabled people we have a special program but recommended is than to book in advance. (with pre-paid bookings we can agree on a different commencing time).