Home tour: A serene estate surrounded by layered gardens in South Africa

When Stander and Ferreira purchased the property almost two decades ago, they were attracted in part by its location—nestled on the edge of Knysna Forest, a patch of wilderness located close to the coast and characterised by indigenous afromontane vegetation, which has also long been renowned as one of South Africa's loveliest places. The property featured an original woodcutter's adobe brickhouse as well as several other structures, including a pair of timber cottages.
'The buildings were neat and beautifully built with basic materials and minimal fittings,' they recall. 'Small pockets of garden with larger areas of lawn surrounded the buildings, and the rest of the 1.75 hectares of land was maintained with a tractor-mounted mower that kept the field low, promoting the growth of buffalo grass. Scattered with Australian blackwood and pine, it had a good number of water tanks for storage of rainwater, which is the only source of water. It was very liveable and basically a clean palette for our vision.'
Above Stander with Shinto, one of the three Maine Coon cats that reside at Highacre
Above Ferreira putting the finishing touches to the floral arrangements
Above This cottage living room features a vintage leather sofa
Above Built using partially salvaged materials, the conservatory was designed as the ideal environment for nurturing delicate potted plants and flowers
It is almost impossible to imagine Highacre as it once was. Today, its lush, layered gardens bear little resemblance to their former state. And initially at least, realising their vision was a challenge. Highacre is on the edge of an indigenous forest reserve, so 'initially, wildlife such as baboons, bushbuck, porcupines and bushpigs raided newly planted areas', they say. 'We had to fence off a section of the garden and in time, we managed to protect our territory with our family of dogs.' This wonderfully disparate pack—there are currently 12 canines in all, ranging in size and breed from a diminutive yet very assertive Jack Russell Terrier to gentle but incredibly speedy giant Boerwindhonde—roams the garden freely, forming an effective deterrent against baboons in particular.
Marauding wildlife was not the only challenge encountered. Heavy clay with a relatively thin layer of topsoil necessitated painstakingly labour-intensive and time-consuming preparation of the soil during each phase of the development of the garden. In several areas, too, 'we used permaculture practices to prepare areas for planting', say the owners.
Above The garden at Highacre faces the east and frames sunrises beautifully
Above Hannes Stander and Daniel 'DP' Ferreira with some of their beloved pet dogs,
Above Shinto, one of the three Maine Coon cats that reside at Highacre
Above Some of Ferreira's collection of vases,
furniture, glassware, cutlery and crockery lend a charming touch
With the absence of an existing irrigation system and rainwater as its sole source, water conservation remains an ongoing priority. 'Watering only when needed has ensured a garden that would be resilient over time,' they say. This area does usually get fairly good rainfall—although of course it can vary in a time of climate change—but the abundant feel of all of Highacre's various garden spaces is a result of careful soil preparation, ecologically sensitive planting and wise water planning.
Highacre now features multiple different spaces, each with its own distinct identity and atmosphere. Overall, the garden is a masterclass in beautifully textured, naturalistic planting, and incorporates a large pond and surrounding wetland, an area that at the height of summer overflows with the blooms of 19 different species of agapanthus, a restful round lawn surrounded by walled seating that defines its circle, an elegant gravelled walk enclosed by high hedges, a fragrant rose garden and an abundance of beautiful trees. All of the various spaces of the garden are linked via pathways that twine through the landscape, enabling visitors to meander at leisure and wherever they please.
In case you missed it: Inside Peninsula House: The transformation of a Penang art deco landmark
Above Exposed roof beams lend a barn-like feel to the conservatory
Above A corner featuring a ceramic prep sink from Koöperasie Stories
Above A steely blue wall acts as a calming backdrop to an assortment of curiosities
Above This botanical-themed table setting features vintage Villeroy & Boch fruit plates and Wedgwood majolica green glazed salad plates
In addition, there is the delightfully layered and rustic conservatory, which is both a variably semi- to fully enclosed greenhouse in which potted plants can be nurtured, and a wonderful space in which small events are hosted. Combining the conservatory with the beautiful garden pavilion—a fairly newly developed part of Highacre that straddles the boundary between the more intensely developed garden and the natural environment, and is accessible via an elongated pergola—makes for a truly special environment in which to celebrate a wedding or a birthday. Two charmingly appointed guest cottages provide overnight accommodation for visitors.
The creative owners might focus their attention in different realms, with Stander mainly working in landscape design and Ferreira taking the lead on events and floristry, but their mutual love of plants is clearly key to both their professional and personal lives. When asked what it is about working with plants that has always attracted them, they respond: 'Their presence as a life force in our environment—and how they can be grown, nurtured and shaped to fulfil a desired function in the garden.'
Above Interior walls are clad in salvaged terracotta roof tiles
Above An abundance of foliage in the garden
Above The delightfully layered and rustic conservatory, which is both a variably semi- to fully enclosed greenhouse
Stander's office and landscaping yard are located on the property, making Highacre a busy place on a daily bais, while Ferreira's studio in the nearby town of Knysna, where he keeps a collection of vases, furniture, glassware, cutlery and crockery for the events sude of their business, is also invariably a hive of activity. But the Highacre garden itself remains a focus. This is their home as well as a place for hosting events and guests, and they 'spend as much time as possible here to make sure that it is continually developed, kept in a beautiful state and nurtured sufficiently'.
Unique and special places—especially gardens—can't be brought into existence overnight. It has taken many years of effort and care to create Highacre; as Stander and Ferreira declare: 'We consider each space and project very carefully, regarding function and aesthetic before we manifest a space. Sometimes we contemplate for a long time, and when the installation happens, it draws from all those thoughts, discussions and dreams.' Their combined aesthetic skills, plus bucketloads of patience, dedication and hard work, have enabled the development of this unique and special place, which 'celebrates the botanical realm' in a way that is sure to inspire and invigorate those fortunate enough to visit it in person for many years to come.
Credits
Images: Warren Heath / Bureaux
Images: Sven Alberding / Bureaux

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

32 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Investors Rush to Pour Cash Into $7.4 Trillion US Money-Market Fund Industry

(Bloomberg) -- The rush of cash into the US money-market funds is showing few signs of slowing as it secured a record $7.4 trillion in assets. Bezos Wedding Draws Protests, Soul-Searching Over Tourism in Venice One Architect's Quest to Save Mumbai's Heritage From Disappearing NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25%, RPA Reports Investors have poured more than $320 billion into the funds so far this year, according to Crane Data LLC, making it one of the biggest benefactors of the Federal Reserve's current monetary policy. That's something of a surprise for those on Wall Street who'd gone into 2025 assuming officials would lower interest rates and sap the attractive returns offered by the industry. '$7 trillion can easily be $7.5 trillion in 2025,' said Deborah Cunningham, chief investment officer for global liquidity markets at Federated Hermes. 'Five-percent-plus rates were nirvana, four-percent-plus is still very good — and if we dip down into the high threes, that's quite acceptable as well.' The average simple seven-day yield is now 3.95% for government funds and 4.03% for prime, an 8 basis point spread, according to Bank of America Corp. It's a compelling backdrop as some 600 participants gather at the annual Crane's Money Fund Symposium, which kicks off Monday in Boston. Money funds have seen their coffers swell in recent years, notably in early 2020 for their haven appeal and again as the Fed's rate-hiking cycle boosted yields. Even as the Fed pivoted to cutting rates last year, assets continued to rise, with these funds typically slower to pass along the effects of lower rates when compared to banks. Households have been a key driver of the inflows. Since the Fed started raising rates in March 2022, total assets under management in US money funds have swelled by roughly $2.5 trillion, and retail investors have accounted for about 60% of that, Investment Company Institute data show. Data from ICI exclude firms' own internal money funds, unlike Crane Data, which tracks the money market industry. Inflows have continued even as the industry sees some investors embrace alternatives, such as ultra-short funds in the fixed income or equities, Cunningham said. Overall, though, it's a far cry from the exodus of cash from money-market funds that some on Wall Street had forecast. 'It's not surprising asset levels have held on and grown,' said Michael Bird, senior fund manager at Allspring Global Investments. 'Even if the Fed picks up its easing campaign this year, rates will still be relatively high.' The Fed last week laid out forecasts for two quarter-point rate cuts this year, aligning with market pricing. Although the risk that conflict in the Middle East drives up oil prices and causes a resurgence in inflation remains an uncertatinty, traders see a quarter-point reduction as likely in September and all but guaranteed by October. Given that interest-rate backdrop, money-market funds are trying to extend the weighted-average maturity — known as WAM — of their holdings as long as possible to capture elevated yields. Fund managers have also adjusted holdings to compensate for the effects of debt-ceiling drama. While Wall Street strategists largely expect the government to raise the debt limit as part of the reconciliation process by late of July or early August, some funds have put more cash toward repurchase agreements — loans collateralized by Treasuries or agency debt — as an alternative. Still, 'the expectation is when the debt ceiling gets resolved, there will be a significant increase in bill issuance, which helps yields,' Bird said. 'Uncertainty is helping our product.' Luxury Counterfeiters Keep Outsmarting the Makers of $10,000 Handbags Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.

South Wales Argus

32 minutes ago

• South Wales Argus

Home Secretary decides to proscribe Palestine Action after ‘disgraceful attack'

Yvette Cooper confirmed the move after Palestine Action vandalised two planes inside RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Friday. The incident is being investigated by counter-terror police. The ban under terror laws will make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, and will be punishable by up to 14 years in prison. A draft order will be laid in Parliament next Monday. Ms Cooper said in a written ministerial statement: 'The disgraceful attack on Brize Norton in the early hours of the morning on Friday 20 June is the latest in a long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action. 'The UK's defence enterprise is vital to the nation's national security and this Government will not tolerate those that put that security at risk.'

Local Italy

33 minutes ago

• Local Italy

Florence's Uffizi to clamp down on selfies after visitor damages 18th-century artwork

The man had been attempting to strike a pose in the style of the Grand Prince Ferdinando dei Medici, a 1712 painting by Anton Domenico Gabbiani, when he fell backwards into the canvas, Italian media reported. The damage was light and the artwork would be repaired and returned to the exhibition within days, the museum said in a statement. But the broader issue of clumsy tourists vandalising Italy's artistic heritage needed addressing, it added. 'The problem of visitors coming to museums to make memes or take selfies for social media is rampant,' said Uffizi director Simone Verde. 'We will put in place very strict limits, preventing behaviour that is not compatible with the spirit of our institutions and respect for cultural heritage.' As of Monday, Verde hadn't yet specified what kinds of restrictions the museum planned to impose. There have been numerous cases of reckless visitors causing damage to Italy's artworks in recent years. Last week, Verona's Palazzo Maffei launched a manhunt for a couple who broke an art piece by sitting on it and fleeing the scene. In 2023, a spate of incidents of vandalism at Rome's Colosseum prompted the site's director to blast visitors who were 'primarily interested in taking selfies.' 'The will of the tourist-vandal is to leave their own mark, because we are by now a society oriented towards ourselves,' said Alfonsina Russo. The number of people charged with 'defacement of cultural heritage' has seen a steady increase in Italy over the past few years, Il Messaggero newspaper reported at the time.