Physical Address
Pearly Beach
Western Cape
7220
The Overberg village of Stanford came alive this spring as the second Stanford in Bloom Festival painted the streets, gardens, and green spaces in colour from 10–24 September 2025.
For two weeks, visitors from across South Africa and abroad explored the beauty of gardening and the biodiversity of fynbos through exhibitions, workshops, music, art, and a bustling market on the village green.
At the heart of it all was the Chelsea Flowers in Stanford, a recreation of Leon Kluge and Tristan Woudberg’s gold-winning design from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 in London.
“We were in Stanford, and the special full circle moment of the Chelsea Flower Show was to recreate it here,” explained Tristan Woudberg. “Not everyone can afford to be at Chelsea in London. This was our chance to bring the experience home for South Africans to enjoy.”
The Chelsea Flowers in Stanford display captured the essence of the Cape Floral Kingdom with towering mountains, rooibos-coloured waters, and masses of flowering plants.
“The water element in the display was constructed from a wooden base that we waterproofed, with a hidden submersible pump circulating waterfalls,” Woudberg shared. “Our expectation of ourselves is only excellence, and we would not accept anything less than a gold.”
Visitors learned how every bloom was carefully prepared and inspected, from farm to exhibition hall.
“If we can secure the proteas to pass customs and be accepted into England, then we’re almost 80% there,” Woudberg said. “The quality and diversity of South African flowers really speak for themselves.”
The festival opened on 10 September with a tribute to fynbos in springtime, attended by Cape Talk presenter John Maytham, Minister Anton Bredell, and acclaimed poet Siphokazi Jonas, who performed a moving poem inspired by the landscape and its people.
Festival organisers emphasised the importance of the event to Stanford’s economy and community spirit.
“I am amazed and appreciative of those who have worked to make Stanford in Bloom a reality,” said Jami Kastner, Chairperson of Stanford Tourism & Business.
Proceeds from the Chelsea Flowers in Stanford exhibition were donated to the Grootbos Foundation, supporting conservation and community development in Gansbaai and the wider Overberg.
“We had schoolchildren and farm workers visiting in the mornings, seeing the plants and learning about biodiversity,” Woudberg reflected. “It was wonderful to take the success of something that happened in London and bring it back to benefit communities here in South Africa.”
One of the strongest features of Stanford in Bloom 2025 was the breadth of speakers and the depth of the daily programme. Over the 16-day festival, the village hosted an impressive line-up of horticulturalists, conservationists, chefs, artists, writers, and musicians who came together to celebrate the Cape Floral Kingdom and its creative community.
The Grootbos Talks in Town series brought together world-class horticulturalists and conservation experts, including Chelsea designers Leon Kluge and Tristan Woudberg.
Daily workshops were hands-on and interactive, ranging from backyard alchemy soil creation with Mathilda Roos to fermentation adventures with Kari Doorduin and sourdough breadmaking with Inge Grové. At the Klein River Cheese Demo Kitchen, chefs and food artisans staged a mouth-watering series of demos: from waterblommetjie bredie with Leon Kluge and Mariana Esterhuizen, to buchu-infused tarts and lamb chops, ceremonial cacao rituals, and fynbos flavour tastings.
Over sixteen days, Stanford in Bloom offered something for everyone. The Village Green buzzed with more than eighty stalls at the Stanford in Bloom Market, where visitors browsed handmade gifts, local fashion, artisanal foods, and crafts. Nearby, the Leivoor Lounge provided a laid-back space to sample local wines, spirits, and craft beers from the Stanford Wine Route, adding a celebratory flavour to the festival atmosphere.
Music and performance were at the heart of the event, with lively shows by Koos Kombuis, Rocco de Villiers, Luna Paige Trio, and the Winelands Philharmonic Grand Garden Gala, drawing crowds to dance and sing along under the spring skies.
Families found plenty to enjoy too. Children delighted in a whimsical Scarecrow Walk, tended mini-gardens designed by local schools, got messy in craft afternoons, and gathered for a lively storytelling session with children’s author Emily House.
By the time the festival closed on 24 September, thousands of visitors had experienced Stanford’s creativity, biodiversity, and community spirit. The event reinforced the village’s reputation as a spring destination in the Overberg — where fynbos, food, art, and music come together in celebration.
Practical Information (for Next Year’s Visitors)
Contact: info@stanfordinbloom.co.za | www.stanfordinbloom.co.za
Where: Stanford, Overberg, Western Cape
When: September (dates for 2026 to be confirmed)
