Two weeks ago my folks and I headed to the Cape Town Caste for the Cape Town Flower Show 2016! I know this seems like such a boring and stupid topic to talk about, plants?! Boo! But I like plants (even though I’m THE WORST at growing them) and wanted to support the show. I also find it funny how all of us millennials love “picture perfect” lush blogs, websites, instagrams and restaurants all SO often filled with plants to give it a personal touch, yet the thought of going to a flower show makes us feel 80 years old all of a sudden! So I just got over myself and decided to attend.
The Chelsea Flower Show is world famous and South Africans often participate in the show, so I couldn’t help, but have my hopes up slightly that the CTFS it might really be a lovely event to attend. My folks and I headed to town. Unfortunately, they decided to go over lunch time, which is always obviously the hottest and busiest time of day. So my Dad had to navigate the traffic with the odd expletive from time to time, because there was only 1 entrance in and out of the parking!
Once we’d gotten in we headed for the Castle. I love the Castle. It’s fun for me to explore old buildings and think about the lives the building affected, both those inside and outside.
The flower show had 3 main compartments, the forecourt with sales and the displays, the food court with live entertainment and bars and the upstairs quarter where you could find more educational stalls and smaller stands.
There were a number of displays on the forecourt, and no clear path. Which I think was a good thing otherwise people just move like cattle. The CTFS had put fake grass down to indicate walkways and to provide a more even surface because the castle’s ‘floor’ is super uneven and even I was starting to feel a little bit stiff by the end of the day.
Cape Town Flower Show Displays
I really don’t know much about plants and gardens so I think I’ll just let the pictures do the talking here 🙂
I really liked the curry animals that they included.
Food Court
When it became too hot for us, we moved to the food court to find something cold and tasty to drink as well as a little light lunch. It had a good sense of community, but my young professionals state of mind is like, “Let’s cut the chit chat and get serving the food and drinks a little quicker.” The food stall people, ERMEGHERD. It was like chat central up in there! Which I know is SO lovely, but some of us aren’t retired and have other places to go, LOL! Eventually I found a stall that was actually trying to make money and had a really nice quesadilla. The main bar staff were also rather efficient.
The Castle Walls
After hanging out in the shade for a little bit, we decided to explore the castle further. On our way in, my Mom had found a well which was pretty awesome. We also took a peek at the torture chamber 🙁 and found our way onto the castle walls. It was a beautiful, beautiful day in the Mother City and I knew I was getting roasted by the sun, but it was so worth it.
Upper Apartments
After exploring the roof we completed our turn around the castle via the apartments. Here a number of gardening type stalls were selling succulents, gardeny things as well as baked goods.
Cape Town Flower Show 2016
It was a really family orientated day with a lot of grannies visiting and young children. It’s the perfect way to spend some quality family time together, for a few hours. The Cape Town Castle is an awesome venue and I would definitely go again. Next time I won’t go at lunch time when it’s super busy. I think a little afternoon bubbly and stroll around would probably be far better suited.
Did you attend the show? What did you think of it?
PS LOVED this little tunnel that went around the back of the castle!
