Museum News

Our Garden of Remembrance

On Thursday, 7 May, a special garden party was held to plant two red roses and two Confetti bushes in the Museum garden in continuation of a tradition of remembering residents who have contributed to the Museum. On this occasion, names were written on stones and placed with different plants. Lydia Barella planted the Confetti bush for Helena Marincowitz who did so much for the Museum over a long period. Her loyalty never changed. The rose for Christie Jooste was planted by his grandson, Chris. Christie Jooste got permission for our pavement garden and was a true gardener, so a rose for him belongs here.

Victoria Raft planted a red rose for George who was invaluable in the Museum library. A Confetti bush was also planted for Pat Goudie who served on the Museum Control Board as well as a Polygala for Jonathan Rolfe. Des Bernstein was visiting her sister Eleanor Peters and placed a stone for daughter, Valma, at the Polygala planted a while ago. Valma spent long hours doing voluntary work with the clothes in the Museum. Francis Olivier placed a stone for Kosie Pienaar at a rose, planted for him some years ago by his widow, Alida Pienaar,

Ione Auerswald, who convened the function, told the many residents present: “This is your garden, as so many residents have contributed to it. The new lavenders have been sponsored by Mary Sandrock and the watsonias by Jean Rossouw. Life is like a garden; we grow up and are beautiful, and then grow old, just like the plants do. But life goes on; even though it changes, as does the garden.” Ione was sure that Fransie Pienaar, Frieda Haak, Jonathan Rolfe and Helena Maroncowitz would have been delighted to see everyone enjoying the lovely morning in the garden.

Reinwald Dedekind was thanked by the Museum’s Lydia Barella for looking after, planting and planning the pavement garden, as well as caring for the natural garden started by Pat Marincowitz next to the Tourism Office

The story of the memorial garden starts in 2000, when the Museum curator at the time, Lydia Barella, asked Ione, the then chairperson of the Prince Albert Garden Club, to reorganise the garden. Lydia’s only request was that they not remove the pink roses next to the furrow as Frieda Haak, a previous curator, had planted them. The Garden Club respected her wish and today the roses are flourishing.

Ione then called on Margie Arnold for help. Margie she suggested a Victorian garden to suit the style of the building and drew a plan for the renovation. They decided to plant white standard Iceberg roses on either side of the path, with Pat Arnold making supports for the roses. Residents were asked for cash donations to sponsor a rose and support. Cynthia Cory sponsored a bench and Ken Auerswald a bird bath. Lynette Smythe said sponsored a rose in memory of Flip van Niekerk. Dr.Jan van Heerden, Bodo and Gudrun Toelstede, Cynthia Cory and Hildegard Nagel were all enthusiastic and the Thursday Group offered a rose for Pat Dean and another bird bath. Val van der Riet planted a rose for Megan, Hester van Vuuren for Dirk, and Peggy Clow-Wilson for Hal. Hugh Forsythe was commissioned by the Control Board to construct an arbour and a bridge in keeping with the Victorian style of the garden. A planting day was organised to plant these roses and photos were published in Country Life magazine. Keith Goudie officiated at the ceremony.

Support for the garden continued; the Reinecke family sponsored a bench for Mirka, who was the local pharmacist and a bench was installed for Gerry Skakal. Lewis Tilney made a bird feeder, Jeanetta de Lange planted two roses for Theunie and Pat and Margie Arnold two roses for their mothers, Sheila Collins gave two roses and two standard Plumbagos which she grew herself, making them particularly special.

The Vroue Landbou Vereeniging donated a Brush Cherry and a standard Iceberg for two tree planting days in 2002 and 2003. When the Museum gardener, Frans Adolf, passed away the Museum planted a rose for him, which has been transplanted twice, as it did not do well in its original spot.

Recently, African daisies as well as various bulbs have been planted for the people of Prince Albert to enjoy.

Many people do not realise what a special place the Museum garden is - please come and visit the Museum and take time to stroll through the garden.

Ione Auerswald