Set out over six acres in the heart of the Constantia winelands is Water Oak Farm with Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Constantia Uitsig estates neigbouring the property.
360 degree views of the Constantiaberg, Table Mountain, False Bay and the Steenberg provide the setting for this “Kirstenbosch inspired” garden.
It is a real gardener’s paradise which has evolved with it’s passionate owners; the Floquet’s; and the assistance of greencube since 2008.It is an ever evolving labour of love and inspiration.
An annual open garden for SARDA is held at Water Oak Farm every October attracting hundreds of visitors and a host of local and international garden clubs visit this verdant gem throughout the year.
A variety of themes and planting schemes flow seamlessly throughout and the joy of discovery is what makes visiting Water Oak Farm such a delight.
greencube has restructured most elements of Water Oak farm apart from the mature Tree specimens and main lawn areas over the years since 2008…
Large ornamental ponds greet you as you arrive and they are filled with Nymphae sp ( Water lilies ), Waterblommetjies ( a cape culinary delight ) and Pontadeira. Marginal planting burst from the banks including Wachendorphia thyrsiflora, Zantedeschia aethiopica ( arum ), Berula and Gunnera perpensa ( river pumkin ). Weaver birds nest in the Salix on the island and Egyptian geese raise their goslings here every year. Occasionally visiting herons battle it out with the large koi carp too and Guinea Fowl often make their nests nearby.
Ahead of you lies a perfect avenue of Quercus nigra ( Water Oak ) which flank the driveway leading to the homestead.
North of the driveway sculpted Escallonia, Rhagoda hastata ( salt bush ) and Westringia rise like granite boulders framing a rambling lawn that meanders down to the ponds at the foot of the property. These monolithic forms are placed within beds filled with drifts of Salvia leucantha, Agapanthus hybrids , pale yellow Hemerochallis and Pelargonium collections as well as a host other flowering perennials and ground covers.
The meadow garden complete with meandering pathway’s and secluded seating areas is set below a canopy of aged Olives with a backdrop of ancient Cupressus cyperus ‘stricta’ specimens.
Here a multitude of ornamental grasses such as Stipa tennuissima, Stipa gigantica, Miscanthus gracimillus and Merxmeurella cincta provide the framework and texture for the seasonal flashes of annual colour.
These include gorgeous deep purple Poppies, Cornflowers and cosmos as well as perennials such as Salvia, Verbena and Rudbeckia to mention a few.
A traditional Werf Muur surrounds a lawn close to the home. Here an unusual and exceptional swimming pool is positioned and surrounded with a wonderful planting detail set within gum sleepers. This provides a rather contemporary element which melts quite naturally into the garden.
The swimming pool appears rather more like a natural pond and is perfectly inviting. A traditional perennial garden runs along the Southern end of this terrace and one is guided through it along a pathway which immerses you in it’s detail drawing on the classic perennial border’s of English country gardens.
Grape vines of the world famous Vin de Constance flow from the surrounding Klein Constantia vineyards into the garden providing a seamless link to the surrounds.
A rose garden filled with the most beautifully fragrant collection of picking and climbing roses is set out in an enclosed area along the North facing wing of the home. A narrow pathway draws you through this passage of fragrance and colour flanked by a dry stone wall and a collection of flowering perennials.
Pencil cypress’s guard the rose garden and frame a series of views of the landscape beyond.
The Western garden or “Wild side” garden is a perfectly level lawn framed with a neat Rhus crenata hedge.This garden overlooks a meadow and dam below where the Water Oak bees produce honey and the forest which stretches up the mountain slopes towards Elephants Eye.
The devastating mountain fires got terrible close to the property in 2015 and the fire was smouldering for weeks in the trees nearby.
Below this lawn a rustic pathway leads you through the Klein Constantia bush vines and Water Oak Farm planting to a raised kitchen garden.
The latest addition, “The Hot garden“ was created over the winter of 2015 by greencube. Here a collection of Aloes, Euphorbia’s, Ferro cacti and succulents have been combined to create a dramatic collection of drought tolerant specimens. It is a wonderful collection drawn from inspiration across the globe and when the aloes and cotyledon’s are in flower the sunbird and sugarbird visitors are a delight. Vibrant colours and architectural form make this a wonderful discovery as one tours the garden.
Hundreds of plant species are represented in this garden with the bulk of them being indigenous to South Africa and more specifically Cape Town. View full plant list.
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