It's Garden Day... put on your crown and share a celebration of your garden

Making Our Green Spaces Bloom

This year marks the 10th annual Garden Day on Sunday, October 12 – the perfect excuse to make flower crowns, greet your loved ones with a cheerful “Happy Garden Day,” and gather your friends and family for a garden get-together.

Looking back over the past decade, our gardening journeys have continually evolved – shaped by shifting lifestyles, fresh ideas, and a growing appreciation for the many ways green spaces enrich our lives.

Few understand this magic more deeply than SA MasterChef winner Seth Shezi and award-winning comedian, screenwriter and radio presenter Angel Campey. Originally from Durban and official Friends of Garden Day, these passionate plant parents have long advocated for connecting people with green spaces. Not only do they continue to champion the celebration of gardens today but they also share personal memories that capture the magic of growing up with plants.

Memories that shape our love of green spaces

To mark the 10th Garden Day, we’re looking back at how gardening has evolved – and the trends shaping it today. Seth and Angel, who have supported the Garden Day movement over the past decade, share the early memories that sparked their own love of green spaces.

“My earliest memory is my grandmother’s garden in rural KwaZulu-Natal,” says Seth. “It was less a curated landscape, more a sensory overgrowth. I remember brushing past elephant bush on my way to pick marigolds for her repurposed Coca Cola bottle vases. That garden taught me that nature doesn’t need to be tamed to be beautiful; it just needs reverence.”

Angel remembers her first garden magic in Durban: “I was obsessed with the idea of fairies. My mother encouraged that whimsy, pretending to see fairies in the mulberry tree and showing me ‘fairy circles’ in the clover. Our gardener also told me that if I pulled weeds and put them on the pavers, they would turn into fairy flowers. That way, I was always out there hunting them!”

10 trends defining gardening now

Plant Parents: Millennials and Gen Z treat plants as “green pets” for wellness, mindfulness and social connection. “Seed swops, cutting swops, surplus veggie swops are definitely a regular way of sharing and caring,” says plant parent Shruthi Nair.

Food from the Garden: From herb pots to veggie beds, garden-to-table continues to boom – especially among younger gardeners. Growing your own food is both a passion and a sustainability statement.

Gardens for Health: Medicinal and healing plants are making a strong comeback, reflecting a deeper connection between people and nature. From traditional herbs to indigenous plants with therapeutic properties, these gardens support both physical and mental wellbeing. “Healing gardens play a valuable role in mental health as well as physical illness,” says Seth.

Community Roots: Urban food gardens are transforming pavements, rooftops, and other unconventional spaces into productive green areas, bringing fresh food closer to local communities. Beyond growing vegetables and herbs, these gardens foster connection, skill-building, and entrepreneurship. “Farming can help improve food security and create jobs,” says Siyabonga Ndlangamandla of Makers Valley.

Green Cities: Nature is reshaping urban design — from sponge cities that absorb floodwater to rooftop gardens that cool concrete jungles.

Tech + AI in the Garden: Soil sensors, irrigation apps and AI are making gardening smarter. “The real promise lies in blending ancient wisdom with modern tools,” says Babylonstoren’s head gardener Alex Bosman.

Micro Gardens: No garden? No problem. Balconies, walls and windowsills are now mini jungles.

Spaces to Gather: Gardens are no longer just for plants — firepits, pergolas and patios make them social hubs.

Sustainable Gardening: Eco-conscious gardeners are composting, planting for pollinators, and turning gardens into biodiversity hotspots. “Together, millions of gardens act as green corridors,” says Bosman.

Cultural Connections: Gardening is also spiritual. Dr Anesu Mbizvo uses smudge sticks of sage and imphepho, saying: “Supporting indigenous knowledge is vital to conservation and to healing our relationship with the earth.”

Ready, Steady … grow!

Your Garden Day celebration can be anything you dream up — whether it's a decadent garden tea, a healthy picnic, or simply kicking back with a book in the shade of a tree. Whatever you choose, just don’t forget your flower crown.

To help you prepare, we’ve created a range of easy-to-use resources — from posters and customisable invitations to step-by-step guides for crafting your own flower crown. It couldn’t be easier to host your own celebration.

You can also download our special WhatsApp profile graphic to show your Garden Day spirit and spread the cheer before the big day. Simply visit www.gardenday.co.za and click on the Toolkit tab.

We’d love to see how you celebrate. Share your garden party pics with us on social media using #GardenDaySA or send them via WhatsApp to 074 288 1487.

For exciting Garden Day news, events, and promotions, follow @GardenDaySA on social media.

So, mark your calendar for tomorrow, and join everyone in celebrating the joy of gardens and green spaces with your very own garden gathering.