There is something special about knowing where the plants and greenery you buy have come from, particularly when you can see the rows where they were grown and know the people who have spent years learning how to care for them. At Annekay Ventures in Bela Bela, Limpopo, growing is not simply about producing something to sell. It is part of a much longer story involving years of knowledge, a love for the land and a family that is now taking an established farm into an exciting new chapter.
Annekay Ventures is a family run farm specialising in greenery, pot plants, herbs, seeds and bulbs, with selected flowers also available freshly cut during their natural flowering season. Our customers include private buyers as well as florists, nurseries, wedding venues and other businesses looking for locally grown plants and greenery in Bela Bela and the wider Waterberg area. Although Annekay Ventures itself represents a new business venture for our family, the knowledge behind what we grow has been developing on this farm for almost two decades.
A Story That Started on the Farm in 2006
The story behind Annekay Ventures goes back to 2006, when JE began working on the farm under the guidance of Bert van der Velt from the Netherlands. Bert spent several years sharing his knowledge with JE and teaching him the practical skills involved in growing and caring for the greenery produced on the farm. It was knowledge gained through experience rather than simply learnt from a book, with every season bringing different conditions, challenges and lessons about what individual plants need in order to grow successfully.
JE has always had what people often describe as green fingers. Plant something and he seems to have an instinct for understanding what it needs to grow. That natural ability, combined with the knowledge and experience he gained while working alongside Bert, created a strong foundation that would eventually become an important part of Annekay Ventures. Over the years, JE continued to learn about the plants, their growing cycles and the day to day realities of working on the farm.
Sadly, Bert passed away two years ago, bringing an important chapter in the farm’s history to an end. An opportunity later arose for us to buy the farm back, allowing us to continue what had been established while beginning to shape the farm around our own ideas for the future. Annekay Ventures grew from that opportunity and from our desire to preserve the knowledge that had been passed down while creating a family business that could continue developing for years to come.
A New Chapter for Michelle and JE
Annekay Ventures also represents a significant change for Michelle after almost 20 years of working as an accountant. Accounting will remain part of her working life, but instead of spending all of her time focused on it, Michelle will now work part time as an accountant and spend the rest of her working time on the farm alongside JE. It gives her an opportunity to step outside the office environment, become more involved in the business and share in the process of growing something that belongs to their family.
Working side by side brings together two very different sets of skills. JE brings years of practical farming knowledge, an instinct for growing and the experience he has gained since first arriving on the farm in 2006. Michelle brings almost two decades of business and accounting experience while also learning more about the plants and the practical side of farm life. Together, they are building Annekay Ventures into something that combines the history of the farm with a new vision for what it can become.
There is also a much bigger purpose behind the business. Annekay Ventures is not simply about expanding the number of plants grown or finding new customers. Michelle and JE want to build something meaningful that their family can be proud of and, ultimately, something that can become a legacy for the next generation. That idea is reflected in the way the business is developing, with a focus on growing carefully, expanding the product range and building lasting relationships with the people and businesses they supply.
What We Grow at Annekay Ventures
Greenery is where the Annekay Ventures story began, and it remains an important part of what we grow today. As the business develops, however, we are expanding beyond greenery to offer a wider selection of pot plants, herbs, seeds and bulbs. Selected flowering plants may also be available as freshly cut flowers when they are naturally in bloom, giving florists, wedding venues and other customers access to seasonal products grown directly on our Bela Bela farm.
Growing is naturally influenced by the seasons, weather and the individual life cycle of each plant, so availability can change throughout the year. Rather than treating this as a limitation, we see it as part of buying directly from a working farm. Customers can contact us to find out what is currently growing, what is ready and what may become available during the coming weeks or months.
Farm Grown Greenery in Bela Bela
Greenery has been at the heart of the farm for many years and continues to form an important part of our product range. We grow several varieties that can be used by florists, wedding and event professionals, nurseries and private customers, with each plant providing its own shape, colour and texture. Our current greenery range includes Asparagus Virgatus, Asparagus Plumosus, Asparagus Meyeri, Asparagus Meyeri Ming, Aspidistra Elatior, Ruscus, Silver King, Pennygum and Chamaerops palms.
Some varieties offer delicate foliage that works beautifully in bouquets and floral arrangements, while others provide stronger shapes, volume and structure for larger displays. This variety gives florists and event professionals the flexibility to select greenery according to the style and scale of the arrangement they are creating. Our greenery has traditionally been supplied to the Multiflora Market in Johannesburg, and one of our goals for Annekay Ventures is to expand that customer base by working directly with more florists, nurseries, wedding venues and customers in Bela Bela, the Waterberg and beyond.
Pot Plants Grown on Our Bela Bela Farm
Expanding our pot plant selection is an exciting part of the next phase for Annekay Ventures. Our current range includes lavender, Crocosmia, Clivia, Arum lilies, Strelitzias, Spider lilies and a variety of roses, giving customers a mixture of flowering plants, distinctive foliage and familiar garden favourites. These plants are grown in pots so that they can continue growing long after they leave the farm, whether their new home is a garden, patio, nursery or another outdoor space.
Pot plants have a different appeal to freshly cut flowers because the customer gets to continue the growing journey. A lavender plant can continue producing its beautifully fragrant growth, a Strelitzia can develop into a striking feature plant, and a rose can reward its owner with new blooms season after season. We want our pot plant range to provide customers with the opportunity to take a living piece of the farm with them while also giving nurseries and other businesses access to plants grown locally in Limpopo.
Seeds and Bulbs for Growing Your Own
There is a particular satisfaction that comes from watching something develop from a seed or bulb into an established plant, which is why seeds and bulbs form another part of the growing Annekay Ventures range. Our Asparagus seeds come from the different varieties of asparagus greenery grown on the farm, including Asparagus Virgatus, Asparagus Plumosus, Asparagus Meyeri and Asparagus Meyeri Ming. This gives customers the opportunity to start their own growing journey using seeds from plants that form part of our established greenery range.
Crocosmia bulbs are also available for customers who would like to grow these attractive flowering plants themselves. Crocosmia develops graceful green foliage followed by vibrant seasonal flowers, making it a beautiful addition to suitable garden spaces. Our seeds and bulbs selection will continue to develop as the business grows, and customers are encouraged to contact us directly to find out what is currently available.
Fresh Potted Herbs From the Farm
Herbs bring another practical and enjoyable dimension to the plants we grow at Annekay Ventures. Our current herb selection includes basil, mint, thyme and origanum, all sold as potted plants that can continue growing after they leave the farm. Fresh herbs are particularly versatile because they can be grown in gardens, containers, patios and smaller spaces while providing ingredients that can be picked as they are needed in the kitchen.
Our potted herbs are suitable for private customers looking to start or expand a home herb garden as well as nurseries and other businesses interested in locally grown plants. Availability will naturally change according to growing cycles and demand, so customers looking for a particular herb can contact us to find out what we currently have ready.
Seasonal Flowers When Nature Says They Are Ready
Although Annekay Ventures does not operate primarily as a cut flower farm, selected flowering plants may be available as freshly cut flowers during their natural blooming season. Strelitzias are one example, with their distinctive flowers offering an eye catching option for floral arrangements, wedding displays and larger installations when they are in bloom. Other seasonal flowers may also become available depending on what is growing on the farm at the time.
This seasonal approach means our offering changes naturally throughout the year, giving customers the opportunity to work with what is actually flowering locally rather than expecting every variety to be available at all times. Florists, wedding venues, event professionals and private customers are welcome to contact us about seasonal cut flower availability, particularly if they are planning an event and would like to know what may be flowering around that time.
Supplying Florists, Nurseries and Wedding Venues
One of our goals for Annekay Ventures is to build strong relationships with businesses throughout Bela Bela, the Waterberg and surrounding areas. Florists regularly need quality foliage for bouquets, arrangements and installations, while nurseries need healthy plants that appeal to their customers. Wedding venues and event professionals may require greenery and seasonal flowers for ceremonies, reception tables, entrances and larger decorative installations.
Our location in Bela Bela also places us within the wider Waterberg region, where there are numerous lodges, hospitality businesses, wedding venues and event destinations. We would love to become a trusted local source for businesses in this market while continuing to supply customers further afield. Working directly with a grower also means customers can speak to us about what is currently available rather than relying on a fixed catalogue that does not reflect seasonal growing conditions.
If you are a florist, nursery, wedding venue, event professional or another business looking for greenery, plants or seasonal flowers, you are welcome to contact Annekay Ventures directly to discuss your requirements.
Private Customers Are Welcome Too
Annekay Ventures is not only for trade customers. Private customers are equally welcome to enquire about the plants, herbs, seeds, bulbs and seasonal products currently available from the farm. You might be looking for lavender for a sunny area, a Strelitzia to add impact to your garden, roses for a special spot, fresh herbs for the kitchen or simply something new to grow at home.
Our website is currently an enquiry based platform rather than an online shop, which allows us to confirm availability before you make a purchase. Simply send us a WhatsApp message or email with the products you are interested in and we can let you know what is currently available. Customers wishing to visit the farm should contact us beforehand so that a suitable time can be arranged.
Why Buying Locally Grown Plants Matters
Buying directly from a local grower creates a closer connection between the customer and the plants they take home. The greenery, herbs and pot plants available from Annekay Ventures have been grown and cared for on our Bela Bela farm rather than simply appearing on a retail shelf. Behind every established plant are months or sometimes years of watering, pruning, monitoring and responding to changing growing conditions.
That direct connection can also be valuable for our trade customers. Florists can speak to us about greenery and seasonal availability, nurseries can enquire about plants they may be interested in stocking, and wedding venues can discuss what might be available for upcoming events. Private customers can ask what is currently looking particularly good or what has recently become ready. As Annekay Ventures grows, maintaining that personal connection with our customers will remain an important part of how we want to do business.
Bees, Blooms and the Natural Growing Cycle
Plants are only one part of what makes a farm come alive. Sunlight, water, soil, insects and changing seasons all contribute to the growing process, and our bees are a wonderful example of how interconnected nature can be. As bees move between flowers collecting pollen and nectar, they can also transfer pollen between flowers, helping with the pollination process of many flowering plants.
Seeing the bees at work among the flowers is a reminder that successful growing involves much more than what we do ourselves. The natural environment is constantly working around us, and learning to recognise and respect those processes is part of life on the farm. Every new shoot, flower and visiting pollinator forms part of a much larger growing cycle that changes with the seasons.
Growing a Family Legacy in Bela Bela
Annekay Ventures may be a new business venture, but its roots reach back through years of experience on the farm. The knowledge JE began gaining under Bert’s guidance in 2006 continues to influence the work being done today, while Michelle’s decision to divide her working time between accounting and working alongside her husband on the farm marks the beginning of a new phase for both of them. Their different skills and experiences are now coming together as they develop the business and explore what Annekay Ventures can become.
The plans for the future include expanding the pot plant range, developing the seeds and bulbs offering and building relationships with more florists, nurseries, wedding venues and private customers. There is plenty of room for the business to grow, but the bigger vision is about more than simply increasing the number of products sold. Michelle and JE want to build something lasting, rooted in the farm’s history and shaped by their own family, creating a legacy that can continue growing for the next generation.
Looking for Plants and Greenery in Bela Bela?
If you are looking for farm grown greenery, pot plants, herbs, seeds, bulbs or seasonal flowers in Bela Bela, we would love to hear from you. Annekay Ventures supplies private customers as well as florists, nurseries, wedding venues and other businesses, with availability changing according to what is growing and in season on the farm.
Contact Annekay Ventures on WhatsApp or email us to enquire about current availability, discuss what you are looking for or arrange a visit to our Bela Bela farm.
