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.