Every place has its "prime time". And, for the little West Coast town of Darling, it's the first week of September.
Locals reckon that after good rains they can hear the flowers growing underground and, with the extraordinary, one-of-a-kind Voorkamerfest taking place from September 4-6, a short getaway to these parts could be just about the best way to kick-start your spring celebrations. Darling is only an hour from Cape Town, so you could squeeze everything into a day trip.
Give yourself time to immerse yourself in it all and spend at least one night either in Darling or neighbouring Yzerfontein.
And here are two great recommendations for the area. If these are full, there are plenty of others to choose from at www.greenwoodguides.com
Darling Lodge
Mathe Hettasch and Suzie Venter
See: www.darlinglodge.co.za
Mathe, who describes herself as "a European" (she says she has lived in too many places to hail from just one country), came here by chance in 2004 and fell in love with the house.
The main house, with oak floors originally laid in 1832, is flooded with life and colour by an abundance of flowers brought down from Mathe's protea farm in nearby Hopefield.
All the bedrooms are rich in light and colour, too, with inviting canopies hanging over the beds and crisp, white linens lying on top of them.
Each room is named after a different local artist, whose work adorns the walls and is for sale.
I would, personally, opt for Nicolas Maritz, with its deep Victorian clawfoot bath. But it was the garden that finally stole the laurels with its ancient pepper trees and fountain spraying water over blossoming roses and a mass of lavender.
Sadly, I wasn't staying the night, for I could think of nothing better than sitting under a tree with a glass of wine from one of the five nearby vineyards and digging into a good book, or simply watching the industrious weaver birds, among others, as they built their nests.
And, missing Mathe's breakfast extravaganza was also a matter of deep regret!
A Darling Lodge indeed.
Six rooms: two queens, one with en-suite bath, one with en-suite bath and separate shower, one king with en-suite shower, two twin/doubles, one with en-suite shower and one with en-suite bath.
Price: R350-R400 pp sharing. Singles on request.
Meals: full breakfast included. Supper on request.
Harbour View B&B
Marlene and Koot de Kock
8 Arum Crescent, Yzerfontein
Call: 022 451 2615
E-mail: info@harbourviewbb. co.za
See: www.harbourviewbb.co.za
Protruding out on a fynbos-covered promontory, the sea seems to fill every window at Harbour View.
The north-facing aspect means an influx of sunlight that brightens the fresh blues or oatmeal hues in each bedroom. "You can whale-watch from any bed in the house," Marlene tells me proudly.
There's an active fishing harbour alongside the property and, personally, I'd be content just gazing out all day at the boats. Most mornings start with patches of mist from the ocean, and this is the perfect time to place the day's first footprints on the 25km stretch of beach that runs by outside.
Breakfast is a different event every day, the table decoration as changeable as the seascape it looks out on.
I wondered if the ever-growing collection of wooden cats, a fad started and continued by guests, would ever make a table-top debut. "We grow crayfish in the garden," Marlene nodded.
I followed her gaze. The "lawn" at Harbour View is blue and white-crested and, if you want to pick some crayfish you just take your fishing net down to the pier. Crayfish permits are available at the local post office.
The West Coast National Park is just 15 minutes away. Wind-and kitesurfing available.
Seven rooms: two suites with own lounge area, kitchenette and en-suite shower, one luxury/honeymoon suite with en-suite shower and bath, four doubles, all with en-suite shower and shared lounge and kitchenette facility.
Price: R395-R515 pp sharing for standard rooms. R475-R620 sharing for suites. Luxury suite R595-R750 sharing. Singles R300-R400.
Meals: full breakfast. Kitchenette facilities in rooms for limited self-catering. Meals by prior arrangement.