Meandering palettes
The Gardener|April 2020
As befits one of the oldest homes in Westcliff, the gracious 3-acre (1.2ha) gardens echo the era of the early 1900’s with their flower-filled borders, dovecote and rolling lawns. But that only tells half the story.
Alice Spenser-Higgs
Meandering palettes

The soft colour of Westcliffrock makes its presence felt throughout the garden, culminating in a cliff-edged koppie that creates the context for graceful ornamental grasses, sculptural aloes and pockets of succulents.

Blending the past and the present, dreamy greenness with sun-baked reality, has been a work of artistry, stonemasonry and hard labour by mother and son landscaping team Liz and Tim Steyn. Today’s perfection is the culmination of almost nine years of work and, of course, it is always a work in progress.

When Liz and Tim were commissioned, the property consisted of many large trees past their prime, visible rocky outcrops and a house set well back from the view with a single expanse of lawn to the cliff-edge.

The brief

The clients wanted a garden to match the style of the house, originally designed by Sir Herbert Baker as stables for the main house. Besides lots of colour and interest, they wanted the garden to have a sense of design without being too formal. The husband made an interesting request: to be able to stroll through the garden with business associates, having experienced similar meetings overseas that were conducted while walking through beautiful gardens. The pathways needed to vary in length, to accommodate varying levels of fitness!

Getting started

Liz and Tim didn’t rush into the project but spent a long time on the design. “I thought and thought about it,” admits Liz, “Tim and I would toss ideas around and out of that came creative solutions.”

Breaking down the property into manageable sections, they designed a series of interlinking gardens (each with their own character). Next was the structural work: levelling, drainage, irrigation, lighting and hardscaping using local stone.

Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av The Gardener.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av The Gardener.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE GARDENERSe alt
FIRE AND Feathers!
The Gardener

FIRE AND Feathers!

On a dreary winter's day, a screen of fiery and feathery leaves puts up a fight against dullness!

time-read
2 mins  |
July/August 2024
GET THE ladies in!
The Gardener

GET THE ladies in!

At this time of year, early-flowering shrubs vie with each other to get the most attention. We say: Trust those with female names for frills and butterflies. They go the extra mile to flower their hearts out.

time-read
1 min  |
July/August 2024
Vegetable Soups and dumplings
The Gardener

Vegetable Soups and dumplings

Vegetables make the most delicious soups and classic combinations are always a winner.

time-read
4 mins  |
July/August 2024
Yummy sweet potatoes for your good health
The Gardener

Yummy sweet potatoes for your good health

Boiled, baked or braaied, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are a delicious and healthy winter comfort food. Just a dollop of butter, a little seasoning and you are good to go.

time-read
3 mins  |
July/August 2024
Pretty and functional
The Gardener

Pretty and functional

If cooking is your main thing, you would probably be more interested in the culinary value of the three herbs and some of their varieties we are describing.

time-read
5 mins  |
July/August 2024
Dried Seedheads & Pods
The Gardener

Dried Seedheads & Pods

Autumn and winter are the best times to see what flowers produce the best seedheads that can be left on the plants to feed the birds and bugs and for harvesting for dried arrangements.

time-read
4 mins  |
July/August 2024
SO MANY FACES and so many choices...
The Gardener

SO MANY FACES and so many choices...

Whoever associated a Cotyledon orbiculata (pig's ear) with the ear of a pig obviously did not know about all the varieties and cultivars this species in the genus Cotyledon has.

time-read
3 mins  |
July/August 2024
COLOURFUL Cold Weather WINNERS!
The Gardener

COLOURFUL Cold Weather WINNERS!

If it comes to a vote, these dependable shrubs will be the top candidates for prime performance in winter and in other seasons...

time-read
5 mins  |
July/August 2024
What makes a garden sustainable?
The Gardener

What makes a garden sustainable?

It is interesting to note that the United Nations defines sustainable development as: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

time-read
4 mins  |
July/August 2024
Nurturing NATURE-The Story of Kraal Garden's Transformation
The Gardener

Nurturing NATURE-The Story of Kraal Garden's Transformation

Nestled within Prince Albert's rustic embrace lies a gem that is a testament to the transformative power of human vision and nature's bounty.

time-read
4 mins  |
July/August 2024