Stanford village was celebrating, showing off the winning South African Exhibit
from this year's Chelsea Flower Show in London and had opened its doors to the public
After we had viewed the magnificent exhibit, we decided to have a cup of tea at the restaurant opposite
and to explore the market behind it
We were told that residents had made 50 Scarecrows that were distributed around this charming country town
about two hours' drive from Cape Town
John settled for a refresher - the Honey Blonde ale from Birkenhead Brewery in Stanford, Judi for a lager
Lynne settled for green tea with scones, cream and jam; sister Marcelle had a couple of reviving coffees
Someone had crafted this huge protea on the stoep
Marquees were set up on the village green for the market
Spring can be a bit unpredictable with the weather in the Overberg, so a safe option
Spring can be a bit unpredictable with the weather in the Overberg, so a safe option
You could buy plants and cut flowers in this one which was linked to the exhibit in the hall
Talking to Tristan Woudberg, who was one of the main members of the SA Chelsea team
He answered quite a lot of questions people had about the show and the plants - thank you!
We really liked the look of this plant with pea-like blue and purple flowers
and lots of proteas, ericas and other mixed bouquets to buy and take home
Lots of interesting stalls inside the craft market
Temptations galore!
Jewellery, clothing, pottery, candles on offer
Hand made silver items modelled by the lost wax technique
using real seeds and flowers which are then replaced with silver
Romuleas are indigenous star-like flowers; this one was growing wild outside a marquee in the market
At this time of year, our favourite place for lunch in Hermanus is Bientang's Cave, a restaurant above the rocks
and below the promenade, which specialises in sea food
And it is in Walker Bay where the Southern Right whales come to calve during the late winter months,
before heading south with their new babies. You can spot them from the restaurant, breaching in the bay
Our very nice waitress who promised to send us her name....
The perfect local wine to drink with sea food - Bouchard Finlayson's Blanc de Mer,
crisp and delicious, complex and layered fruit, with minerality and length
It's an unusual blend of 65% Riesling, 19% Viognier, 16% Chardonnay
Cormorants and Black Oyster Catchers nesting on the nearby rocks
We all ordered the same dish, the Seafood curry which comes with a poppadum, rice, a tomato and onion raita
and is full of mussels, prawns, calamari and fish in a delicious mild curry sauce
Getting stuck in to this great dish. They do have another version without curry
A seagull on the watch above our table
and a whale comes up for air in the bay, watched by the cormorants; there were several in this pod
Our ubiquitous Hartlaub's gulls. They always look a bit quizzical and surprised!
Looking across the bay to the nearby Voëlklip suburb
Fast asleep Black Oystercatchers, balancing on one leg
An African rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), also called rock rabbit or dassie,
on a rock just off the coastal path in Hermanus
The hyrax is about the size of a small cat and its closest relative is the African Elephant!
Who knew that they climbed trees?
Nibbling on the foliage
Still with a winter coat on. This was one of several we saw grazing on the lawn near Fick's Pool
On our way back to our friends' cottage, our accommodation in the Hemel en Aarde,
we dropped in to show our friend Judi, Bouchard Finlayson's winery
This is their barrel cellar, where you can enjoy a wine tasting
From the Hermanus Brewery - Old Harbour beer being photographed in the cellar at Bouchard Finlayson
We are very good at making good ales and beers
and we also called in at Newton Johnson to say "hello" to winemaker Gordon Newton Johnson
and to show Judi the fabulous views of the valley and the sea from his excellent wine estate
Then it was off to light a fire and settle down for the evening in our kind friends' cottage at de Werf
The view from Newton Johnson, down the valley to Walker Bay
All the stories we have produced since 2012 can be opened from the archive list near the top of the column on the right of this page
