Free State Branch Celebrates annually give the SANBI staff of the FS National Botanical Gardens by hosting a lunch in November to show our appreciation for their excellent work in keeping the Gardens in such a pristine state. Friday, 15 November, was again the big day this year. Pamela Bubb on our committee, but also attached to the legal firm Webbers, stook it upon her to make most of the food arangements with financial support of the firm. Webbers is also the sponsor for our Library Project at the main city library where we are establishing an indigenous garden over the past 3 years. Their support for our projects is of great value. Dr Ina Faber contributed the carrot salad for the lunch. The local BotSoc branch held this initiative at the Potting Shed, next to the SANBI Free State NBG Administration building.

To our pleasant surprise not expecting anything like it, at the end of the function Mr Lufuno Nenungwi, the Acting Garden Manager, got up and gave a speech in which he highlighted most of our branch’s contributions toward the Gardens and the Bloemfontein public in general. He went back in history as far as the 1990’s! Mr Nenungwi was very grateful for the long standing support from the branch to the Gardens and was especially grateful that the branch gave scientific researchers attached to the staff opportunities to share their research work with the broader public at the branch’s social events. He also mentioned the opportunity given to staff members to share their knowledge of plants, growning in the Gardens to the public during BotSoc’s “know-your-plants” afternoons which we frequently have at the Gardens. After the speech he presented the branch with a framed appreciation certificate from the SANBI’s Directorate National Botanical Gardens – and to quote from it – “as a token of appreciation of their outstanding efforts and contributions to the Free State National Botanical Garden on its various projects and events. Their dedication and hard work have made a significant impact and we are grateful for their support.” Now this surpassed our wildest dreams! We feel so humble and do not really have words to express our emotions. From our side – we are indeed grateful for all the opportunities presented in the past to render our support to SANBI’s work in the FS Garden, especially towards the important conservation aspect of it.

Contact the Free State Branch for more information and future activities – https://botanicalsociety.org.za/branches/free-state/

Kind regards, Deon Potgieter Free-State BotSoc Branch, Chairperson