The gardens at La Motte are the legacy of generations of gardeners and farmers who have cared for the land and its trees. Over time, their work has created a magical sense of place and a gentle microclimate that is fed by water from the mountains, even during the Wineland’s hot summer months. Plants like Hydrangeas, Agapanthus and Plectranthus have formed abundant stands under the shelter of the old oak trees and fill the gardens with flowers from early summer until late autumn every year.

In 2022, we worked closely with Malherbe Rust Architects and Tanya de Villiers from CNDV Africa to revitalise these old gardens as a destination for locals and visitors alike.

Plantings and interventions were done carefully to honour the legacy. Working with the existing trees and shrubs, we cleared larger planting beds around the historical buildings, giving these space to breathe. The beds are now home to bulbous plants which flower throughout the year, adding another layer to this to the magical sense of a bygone era.