A Day in the Life: Cavalli’s Horticulturist

Garden Week in the Stellenbosch Winelands

“Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking in a garden to know it.”

– Rumi

With the beginning of new month and the annual celebration of “Garden Week” fast approaching we take the opportunity to spend a day with one of Cavalli’s greatest assets. Arnold van der Vyver, our treasured Horticulturist, has tended to the gardens at Cavalli Estate for the last 8 years and knows the grounds and the fauna and flora, that call it their home, better than anyone.

 “Driving up towards the restaurant building, I roll down my window and take in the morning breeze and the smell of Fynbos .I am surrounded by yellow, orange and red pincushions.

 The richness of warm colours is joyful with Coleonema confetti bush. Osteospermums open their happy faces towards the morning sun followed by the sweet scent of Salvia Mexican sage – what a delight!

 My thoughts get interrupted by the beautiful song of sugar birds, chattering away. It is hatching time, and we have seen multiple hatchlings of blue cranes, plovers, doves, sugar birds and red robin on the estate.

The blue crane couple have made their home permanently in one of the paddocks at the back of the estate and once a year, all their children come back to visit, and the lawn has around 25 blue cranes visiting.”

Arnold’s super power is keeping up with the seasons and his keen understanding of the heritage of the land and what will prosper – and where.

He shares with us some insights to use at home for the upcoming spring month:

• It’s a good time to plant basil, tomatoes and coriander
• Plant low growing plants at the front – and higher growing plants farther back. ( Agapanthus in front ,then Salvia and in back pincushions )
• Fynbos does not like any disturbances. Don’t fork around them, also avoid planting them in clay.
• If the leaves fall in the flower bed leave them keep soil moist. They will break down after a while.
• Lemon trees like Epsom salt, TALBORNE 5;1;5, and compost as mulch, however, do not fork it in.
• Try to use organic fertilizer as chemical fertilizer burns and destroys microorganisms. Talborne, guano pellets and chicken pellets is best.

All who have visited Cavalli Estate can agree that from the very moment you enter the estate, the beauty of our gardens are really something to behold.

We encourage you to visit the estate this October and enjoy the bountiful nature the spring brings – we look forward to welcoming you.