Cape Town: The Westridge Rose Garden of the City hosted its first mini rose pruning workshop and engaged 26 enthusiastic seniors from Mitchells Plains in horticultural activities.
The City of Cape Town marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts of the garden to engage the local community in horticultural activities. The workshop began with an informative presentation on the basics of rose pruning, covering essential techniques and the benefits of regular pruning to promote healthy and vibrant roses.
Presentations were followed and participants were guided through practical pruning exercises, allowing them to apply their newly acquired knowledge under the watchful eye of unexperienced gardeners.
As per the sources, a special highlight of the day was the presence of the Durbanville Rose Garden team. The Durbanville did not host their annual pruning workshop this year, they graciously offered their expertise to assist the Westridge Team.
The involvement of the team added an extra layer of excitement and learning for the participants. Durbanville Rose Garden is looking forward to resuming its own workshop next year, to strengthen the ties between the two beautiful green spaces.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Patricia Van der Ross said that the success of the workshop is a testament to the vibrant spirit of the Mitchells Plain community.
She declared that they are committed to support the initiative that enhances the public spaces and encourage the community engagement.
Ward Councillor – Ashley Potts was one of the people who actively participated in the practical session. He expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative and said that it is inspiring to see the seniors getting involved in such a hands-on way.
According to Potts, events like this beautify the community and bring people together in meaningful ways. The workshop left a lasting impression on the attendees.
A person named Marlene January was excited to prune roses for the first time and said, “I never knew how to care for roses before, but now I’m eager to get some for my garden and put my new skills to use.”
Another such participant Shariefa Toffar found the experience particularly in inspiring others, she said, “I wasn’t very confident in my gardening skills before but I learned so much. I even took some cuttings from the pruned roses and I’m going to try propagating them for the first time.”
The Westridge Rose Garden mini rose pruning workshop is just the beginning of many more community-centred events to come. The enthusiasm and joy displayed by the seniors indicate the positive impact as such initiatives have on local residents.