Rondevlei resident celebrates her garden

Rondevlei resident Tanya April celebrated Garden Day this week in her garden, saying that nature offers both peace and pride.

Tanya, 41, said she celebrated the day on Friday, October 17, with her family. Gardening runs in her family.

“My late grandpa used to plant our yard full of vegetables, and my parents love gardening too. I think it’s in our genes,” she said.

For her, Garden Day is about more than just plants; it’s a source of happiness, healing, and stress relief. “Whenever I feel anxious, I work in my garden. It’s my sanctuary and a place where I meditate on the word of God,” Tanya said.

Balancing full-time work with her postgraduate studies at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) can be overwhelming, but her garden offers a calming escape.

“Garden Day is a time to celebrate my hard work and enjoy nature,” she said.

Her garden is filled with annual and perennial flowers, vegetables, and succulents. She keeps her grass green and neatly cut, but her favourite part is planting new seeds.

“Watching them germinate, grow, and blossom is such a magnificent, proud feeling - a true reward for your hard work,” she said.