Floral Wealth of Darling
Darling is aptly known as the 'Flower of the West Coast' because the surrounding farmlands are transformed into a kaleidoscope of colours when the spring flowers burst into bloom.
The floral wealth of Darling lies mainly in its bulbous flowers, with species like chinkerinchee, ixias and heliophila. The best flower season is usually between August and mid-October.
The town is famous for its wildflower show (in the third week of September) which has been held since 1917. During the flower season, several flower reserves on local farms are open to the public, among them Oudepost, Waylands, Slangkop and Contreberg.
A Fashionable Village
Once little more than a dot on the map (except during the spring flower season), Darling has become a fashionable country retirement dorp (village). It is also home to several artists, including satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys who has converted the Darling Station into a mini-theatre and restaurant called Evita se Perron.
Founded on the farm Langfontein in 1853, the town's name honours British Governor Charles Henry Darling. A section of the Darling Museum depicts the region's butter-making industry and has a fascinating collection of wooden butter-washing machines, old butter churns and farming implements.
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