Chelsea Flower Show Stanford South Africa

A favorite thing about South Africa is its exotic floral kingdom. Endemic South African fynbos is unique, and if you look deep into the intricate design of the fragrant flowers, they’re highly complex and mesmerizing. Rare wild orchids and other unusual flowers only grow in South Africa, and some of the most elusive species are found in isolated areas of the beautiful Western Cape.

Stanford Chelsea Flower Show

I was excited to see the Stanford Chelsea Flower Show, presented directly from the London RHS Chelsea Show. Stanford is a short 30-minute drive from Hermanus, and the show features a “stunning 100-square-meter (1,076 sq. ft.) exhibit with some of the rarest and most charismatic plants in the Cape Floral Region.” The South African exhibit won a gold medal at the prestigious London flower show. 

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“The Cape Floristic Region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 90 000 square kilometers (34,749 sq. miles) in the shape of a smile from Port Elizabeth in the southeast to the top of the Vanrhynsdorp plateau in the southwest Matzikamma and Gifberg Mountains.”  South African Fynbos

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Art Exhibition Illustrations

In addition to the award winning floral display, Chelsea Flowers includes an “art exhibition with 120 beautifully painted illustrations and vignettes from the Grootbos Florilegium ”. I thought the delicate illustrations were almost as beautiful as the floral display itself.

New Apt. Between Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay

In October, I’m moving to an apartment in Clovelly located between Fish Hoek  and Kalk Bay . It’s nestled along a mountain slope above the coast, with incredible views of False Bay.

There are several hiking trails in the area, and I plan to get as much exercise as possible while enjoying the beach and spectacular views. Cape Town is a 30-minute drive away, so I’ll also be visiting friends and exploring favorite neighborhoods, galleries, and restaurants there.

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“The most incredible aspect of the Cape Floristic Region is that it’s the most abundant area in the world for flora, compared to any other area of ​​equivalent size. The region is home to around 20% of Africa’s plants and flowers, however, it isn’t even close to 1% of the size of the continent.”   unfoundnafrica.com

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The False Bay coast is a continuous collection of seaside villages and hamlets. Their narrow avenues are lined with quirky and quaint shops, hotels, restaurants, pubs, and lookout spots. During whale season – June to December – whales enter the False Bay to calve.”   South African Fynbos

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More later…