Gardens benefiting from streams or ponds fringed by well selected vegetation hold special allure. This water lily covered pond in its rustic setting near the entrance of the Caledon Wildflower Garden serves as an example.

Botanical gardens often have skilfully manicured sections juxtaposed to natural vegetation that show what is (or was) the appearance of the countryside before development. This small-town wildflower garden has that too. The interface between the two components at best have charming half-garden half-veld transition areas where minimal enhancement by plants endemic to the region enriches the mix for the benefit of the visitor.

Gardens do not improve on nature, but express the creative human experience of nature, enhance the living environment of people, create opportunities for pollinators and refuge for the few remaining plants of threatened plant species.