BabylonSTORIES
BabylonSTORIES invites you into the heart of Babylonstoren through the voices of the makers who shape the farm. From the garden and cellar to our kitchens, workshops and wild open spaces, each episode reveals the people, passions and expertise behind this extraordinary place. Filmed in the environments our team calls home, BabylonSTORIES offers intimate conversations and vivid glimpses into daily life on the farm, a chance to see, hear and feel Babylonstoren in a fresh, compelling way.
BabylonSTORIES
Dr Ernst van Jaarsveld - Master botanist & Succulent expert
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In this third instalment of BabylonSTORIES, we share a conversation with Dr Ernst van Jaarsveld, renowned horticulturalist, succulent guru and eternal gardener. Ernst spent 42 years at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town, where he planted and curated the Botanical Society Conservatory before joining Babylonstoren on his retirement in 2015.
Today we visit him in the Succulent House to discuss the unique beauty of this resilient corner of the farm. Under his guidance and expertise, the Succulent House is home to almost 3500 species that reflect the incredible diversity found in South Africa. He imparts some of his vast knowledge about gardening and plants, along with his gardening philosophy, which have inspired a generation of gardening enthusiasts.