Spring: A Season of Growth, Reflection, and Conservation

There’s never a quiet season at Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden (SUBG), but spring marks the peak of our conservation fieldwork. October, as summer approaches, is especially vibrant. In South Africa, it has become known as Garden Month, with National Garden Day and Stellenbosch’s Garden Town both taking place during this time.  At SUBG, we celebrate the season with a series of special events.

One highlight is our annual Rare Plant Market, founded by Dr Donovan Kirkwood a few years ago. Over the years, it’s drawn crowds eager to discover unique plants from a wide range of vendors, including specialists in indoor plants, succulents, bonsai, and carnivorous species. This year, SUBG partnered with Market in the Garden to expand the event, adding stalls featuring plant-themed goods like shelving, pots, and tools.  With perfect weather and enthusiastic visitors, it was a memorable weekend. Traditionally held in October, the market may soon become a bi-annual event due to growing interest.

Our Botanical Art and Photography exhibition, now in its third year, opened in September and runs through January 2026. The gallery received specialist upgrades to showcase artists’ work better and accommodate our expanding permanent collection. This initiative supports botanical art in South Africa and encourages appreciation for local flora through creative expression. For more, see art curator Karen Stewart’s feature.

October’s fieldwork took us to Darling, where we observed five flowering species of “winecups,” most of which are threatened with extinction. This effort is part of a broader conservation project to collect and preserve these species and study their pollination biology.

During Woordfees, botanist and friend of SUBG, Rupert Koopman, led an insightful tour on the value of indigenous plants, innovative gardening techniques, and the importance of seasonal awareness in cultivating native flora.

This month has also been one of reflection and loss for the SUBG team, following the tragic passing of Dr Donovan Kirkwood in late September. We’re deeply grateful for the support from our community during this time.