This October, South Africa celebrates 10 years of Garden Day – a national movement reminding us of something research increasingly confirms: gardens are good for our health.
On Sunday, 12 October 2025, people across the country are encouraged to pause, step outside and enjoy gardens in their own way. From flower crowns to picnics, Garden Day has grown into a celebration of the physical and mental benefits of nature, with research showing that time outdoors can reduce stress, lift mood and boost immunity.
To mark this milestone, long-time ambassadors such as Gundula Deutschländer and Constance Stuurman, gardeners at Babylonstoren are sharing personal memories that show how gardens shape lives and communities.
Please see below the following content for your reference:
03 – Flower farmer Nziwe Dyirakumunda shows how the simple act of weeding or sitting among greenery helps calm the nervous system and restore balance.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Garden Day, celebrated on Sunday, 12 October 2025 – a joyful invitation to pause, step outside, and embrace the healing power of gardens.
While Garden Day has always been about flower crowns, gatherings, and green spaces, it also carries a deeper message: gardens are good for your health. Research shows that spending time in nature can lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce stress hormones, improve mood, and even boost immunity. Whether you’re potting plants on a balcony, strolling through a community garden, or digging your hands into the soil, the physical and mental benefits are endless.
Six ways gardens help us thrive
- Stress relief, naturally – The simple act of weeding, pruning or sitting among greenery helps calm the nervous system and restore balance.
- A natural workout – Gardening burns calories, strengthens muscles, and keeps us moving. Just 30 minutes of weeding can burn up to 150 calories, while digging and hedge trimming provide a full-body workout.
- Vitamin D boost – Time in the sun helps top up vitamin D, supporting bone health and immunity.
- Homegrown nourishment – From leafy greens to healing herbs, a garden is nature’s pharmacy and pantry combined.
- Mindful moments – Gardens encourage stillness, reflection, and gratitude, offering a break from the rush of daily life.
- Connection and community – Whether collaborating on a veggie patch, hosting a picnic, or sharing cuttings with neighbours, gardens remind us we are not alone.
Ten years of garden magicSince its launch in 2016, Garden Day has blossomed into a movement. It has inspired people across the country to celebrate gardens big and small – from sprawling lawns to potted windowsills. Over the past decade, trends like “plant parenting” have shown how caring for greenery brings peace, joy, and purpose into daily life.
Long-time Garden Day ambassadors Gundula Deutschländer and Constance Stuurman of Babylonstoren reflect on how gardens have shaped their lives. “When I was about six, I picked corn with my great-grandmother,” recalls Constance. “That moment with her, in the stillness, remains one of my best memories.” Gundula remembers childhood afternoons under a blooming silky oak tree: “The bees would buzz all day—it was magical.”
How to celebrate your health this Garden Day
On Sunday, 12 October 2025, put down your tools, make a flower crown and gather with friends, family, or even your houseplants. Your celebration could be:
A healthy picnic in the gardenA yoga session under the treesA fresh, farm-to-table lunch in your veggie patchA walk through a local open gardenOr simply an afternoon curled up in the shade with a book
Best wishes,Thembalethu and the Garden Day Team
Soweto Sunrise News
