The Eastern Cape town of Bedford, which lies on the border of the Karoo, and historic frontier country, provides visitors with a memorable rural lifestyle experience, in the from of the annual Bedford Garden Festival. For gardening enthusiasts, the event is a definite highlight on the events calendar, hosted in the beautiful town of Bedford, surrounded by an awe inspiring backdrop of rolling golden grasslands, indigenous bush and the well-forested Kagga Mountains. The small town is rich in settler history, and is also well-noted for its beautiful gardens into which much time and care are invested. The area is known amongst garden fraternities for its fine roses, some of which grow nowhere else, yet flourish in many gardens throughout the town.

Each year a number of private gardens in Bedford and the surrounding district are made available for public viewing over the duration of the festival, and festival goers are provide with the excellent opportunity to view the unique landscaping and majestic scenery of the extensive farmlands and town gardens of the region. As visitors make their way to the farm gardens they will witness the pristine landscape of the surrounding area, which has made Bedford a popular haven for artists and retired folk, and also serves as a brilliant destination for hunting, bird watching, tree-spotting, mountain biking and hiking.

Since the Bedford Garden Festival's first year in 2003, it has grown and a number of added features over the years include displays of wide herbaceous borders, a wide and impressive variety of roses, gardening information on water features, planning of formal gardens, selection of plants, herbs and numerous other topics and displays. For those interested in Heritage Roses the festival should not be missed. As an added bonus for keen gardeners, Bedford is famous for its affordable plants of which many are propagated in the local gardens.

A large and tempting choice of restaurant and food establishments in Bedford provide food and refreshment to hungry and thirsty visitors during the Garden Festival. The Village Farmstall is well known, "For the biggest Kudu and egg burgers in the area", and serves delicious breakfasts and light meals, as well as offering an enticing selection of gifts, home-bakes, jams and preserves. The farmstall is also famous Special Festival Picnic Baskets. Visitors are provided empty baskets, and are allowed to fill them with an inviting assortment which includes baked goods and breads, pies; cheeses; pickles; decadent brownies ;ginger beer and pineapple. Other popular establishments include The Butcher Bird, The Bedford Club and the Eaglehout Restaurant and Tea Garden.

The 2008 Bedford Garden Festival left a lasting impression on South Africa's gardening guru, Keith Kirsten, who rated Bedford's gardens as amongst the best in the country, and many visitors leave the quaint little town commenting on the friendliness and hospitality of the local folk. 2009 sees the Bedford Garden Festival being staged between the 23rd and 25th October. To avoid disappointment festival goers are encouraged to book in advance for accommodation, as many have been known to book as far ahead of time as a year. Interested parties will find the festival programme and more at http://www.bedford-gardens.co.za