Tribute to Tannie Tuin (24/07/1920 - 20/09/2007)

In 1986, soon after the Pringles bought Bergview Service Station, Mobil issued them an ultimatum! You have 2 weeks to convert the tatty little site into the newly launched Vacation Station image - a fuel station surrounded by beautiful gardens and a peaceful inviting atmosphere... And there began an amazing relationship between the now magnificently beautiful Complex and our beloved Jo, fondly known by all at the Complex as Tannie Tuin.

Jo, together with Lucy Mashinini who is here today, got started on her first garden, a row of standard Satchmos above the tanks! These very same Satchmos were moved by Jo at least 4 times and thanx [sic, regrettably] to her incredible greenfingers and her uncompromising standards of excellence which were implemented at the outset, they all survived!

Jo's amazing artistic talent and attention to detail as well as her untiring efforts to maintain the gardens in a condition of perfection at all times were soon appreciated by thousands of motorists who stopped especially to admire her works of true beauty. She could always be found amongst her precious roses and became personally known and endeared to many of the Complex patrons by her willingness to share her art & have a chat.

With the rapid expansion of the Complex in the '90s, Jo was continually being asked to move roses, cordylines, plants & trees. Within no time at all, a new bed would be in place to complement whatever Paddy's new project was and the remnants of the building exercise had vanished. It would be remiss of me at this stage not to mention that substantial internal discussions ALWAYS preceded a 'garden move' to discuss who and how the news would be broken to Tannie Tuin!!!

Jo's wealth of knowledge of plants and the harsh Harrismith climate together with her unparallelled passion for gardening and her determination for perfection was the inspiration behind what has become the well-renowned very beautiful gardens at Bergview during the many years she was with us. She will be sorely missed.

In our view, Jo's legacy can be equated to that of Sir Richard [sic!] Wren who designed the St Paul's cathedral in London. "Remember me not for who I was but for what you see around you."

[Transcriber's note: I have taken the liberty to correct spelling and punctuation errors. The exclamatory exuberance I left as in the tribute.]