Vergelegen's spectacular camellia weekend

Numerous flower fans enjoyed the beauty of Vergelegen Wine Estate's internationally acclaimed camellia collection during the Somerset West estate's annual Camellia Weekend on 31 July and 1 August.

Vergelegen is home to more than 1,000 camellia shrubs and is recognised as Africa's only International Camellia Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society. There are only two such gardens in the Southern Hemisphere, and 39 in the world.

Guided walks through the collection

With the magnificent Japonica camellias now at their seasonal peak, visitors from Somerset West, Cape Town and further afield took part in guided walks led by Vergelegen horticulturist and gardens manager Richard Arm.

"We were delighted to welcome visitors to experience the blooms at their finest," said Arm. "The response reflects the enduring appeal of our internationally recognised collection."

The camellias will continue to flower throughout the winter, with visitors enjoying the display until the end of September.

Conditions supporting the camellias

Arm attributes the health of the Vergelegen camellias to the acidic soil, shade from surrounding trees, and plentiful water from the farm dams.

The camellias are mainly located at the end of the Great Lawn, and near the banks of the Lourens River.

Two ancient camellia trees in the Octagonal Garden, one with red blooms and the other with pink flowers, are believed to be the oldest on the estate. These date back to the 1920s when Sir Lionel Phillips and Lady Florence Phillips owned the property.

Vergelegen is open to the public daily and visitors can enjoy viewing the camellias at their leisure. They can also book for a guided Heritage and Garden Tour, R140 per person, departing from the Wine Tasting Room at 09h30 daily.