Darling Wild Flower Show

• Review
• Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Darling is a little town about an hours drive from Cape Town and is well-known for it's annual flower show. The town itself dates back to 1682 and today some of the original homesteads and farms can be seen.

The original ideal of the Flower Show was to show the natrual wealth of Darling to the world and in doing so this year they are celebrating the 91st Darling Wild Flower Show. The farmers and residents of Darling are very passionate about the conservation of their natural botanical assets.

Visitors come from all over the world to see the flowers which include a wide range of rare flowers and orchids. There are also several activities that can be enjoyed while visiting Darling such as tractor rides through the fields, wine tasting, theatre productions etc.

The Wild Flower Show usually happens during the 3 weekend of September. But like with everything in Cape Town it is important to keep an eye on the weather. The flowers are at their best when there is sunlight so it is always advisable to call the Darling tourism office just to check the weather as it differs from that of Cape Town.

The carpets of wild flowers can be seen on a several farms along the main road that runs through Darling. The entrance is free however there are little donation boxes at the entrances where you can contribute if you feel the need to.

There are 3 things to remember:

1. If you suffer from hay fever take your antihistamines or you will not smell the flowers

2. Do not forget your hat and sunscreen or you will get sunburned

3. Do not pick anything even if it looks like a weed.