Inside a Wildly Romantic Garden on South Africa's Garden Route
The early morning sun over the garden, with its abundance of birdsong, makes it a magical place to wake up to,’ say landscape designer Hannes Stander and floral artist Daniel ‘DP’ Ferreira. Over the past 17 years, Hannes and DP have been hard at work at Highacre, their beautiful property on South Africa’s Garden Route, creating a harmonious haven that is their ‘home, retreat and playground’ and venue for intimate gatherings and guest stays.
DP, who has a degree in fine art, and Hannes, who studied landscape architecture, purchased the property almost two decades ago. They were attracted by its location on the edge of Knysna Forest, an indigenous afromontane wilderness area a stone’s throw from the coast: an area long renowned as one of South Africa’s loveliest places. The property boasted an original woodcutter’s house constructed from old adobe bricks and two timber cottages. ‘The buildings were beautifully built with basic materials fittings,’ say Hannes and DP. ‘Scattered with Australian blackwood and pine, there were small pockets of garden with larger areas of lawn surrounding the dwellings.
With rain water being the only available source of water there were water tanks in situ. ‘It was a liveable and clean palette for our vision.’ Fringed by forest reserve, establishing a garden was not without its challenges.
Wildlife such as baboons, bushbuck, porcupines and bushpigs raided newly planted areas. ‘We had to fence off a section of the garden and in time managed to protect the new planting with our family of dogs.’ This wonderfully disparate pack, there are currently 12 of them, ranging in size and breed from a diminutive Jack Russell terrier, to a gentle, but speedy, giant Boerwindhond.
Marauding wildlife was not the only difficulty. Heavy clay soil and minimal topsoil necessitated labour-intensive soil preparation, and permaculture practices were used to prepare areas for final planting. Water too is an ongoing challenge. With only rainwater to rely on, there is no irrigation, and watering happens only when needed. The surprisingly verdant feel of Highacre’s various garden rooms are testament to what can be achieved with an ecologically sensitive approach and water-wise planting.
Unrecognizable from the property they moved onto, the garden today is a masterclass in layered, naturalistic planting, water features and wetland. In the summer, it is abundant with blooms in a myriad shades of blue with 19 different agapanthus cultivars, a few favourites being Agapanthus ‘Blue Ice’, A. ‘Double Diamond’, A. Summer Gold and Agapanthus inapertus ‘Deepest Blue’.
The various garden rooms are linked by pathways that lead one between a circular lawn wrapped in low-walled seating, between magnificently tall hedges and beneath fragrant roses and mature trees. There is the delightful conservatory and garden pavilion - a much loved entertaining space brimming with potted plants. Cleverly positioned in an area that straddles garden and natural environment, it is accessed via a long pergola making for an impossibly romantic setting- one home to many a long lazy lunch and wedding celebration.
Their creative paths may diverge, yet they are united by an instinctive understanding of plants and a shared commitment to creating spaces that feel both generous and alive. Whether in their own home or for a client, what emerges are spaces that linger long after the moment has passed.
Credits
Text: Robyn Alexander
Photographs: Warren Heath
Production: Sven Alberding