Glorious afternoons lazing in a hammock among the trees.
Glorious afternoons lazing in a hammock among the trees.
The swimming pool as nature intended. The natural rock pool below the main house is one of Mouse and Richard’s favourite picnic spots. Comments Mouse, ‘It’s now used as our swimming pool on hot summer days, and we spend as many evenings as we can relaxing out there, sitting around the open fire surrounded by our collection of African potjies planted with aloes.’
The deck is cantilevered over gigantic rocks, and is the Poyntons’ best-loved place for celebrating the beautiful outdoors.
Where there are unavoidable intersections of house and tree, the owners have integrated them into the building by cutting holes in the deck to allow the tree trunks to grow through.
Exploring the surroundings on a variety of enticing walks can work up quite an appetite. Richard, renowned for his mouthwatering and innovative fresh-from-the-garden dishes, presents a fine selection of food on the deck overlooking the river.
Living in South Africa, the Poyntons make the most of the outdoors, and that includes relaxing in their open-air jacuzzi, sipping wine and enjoying the mountain vista.
A pathway en route to the vegetable and herb gardens.
‘Our lifestyle revolves largely around food,’ Richard laughs. ‘We started the herb garden outside what was going to be the kitchen door before we even laid the first foundation for the house.’ Mouse and Richard designed their formal vegetable garden with raised beds, making it easy to plant and weed. ‘We are working our way to self-sufficiency and have a hydroponic garden, hothouse and chicken-run under construction to keep the fruit and vegetables away from the curious and light-fingered baboon troop that live on the mountain opposite the house.’
‘The rocks created natural pockets for the planting of the herbs, and the winding paving stones encourage us to meander through while picking what is required – fresh for the evening meal.’
What artist could fail to be inspired in this studio?
An iconic image of the perfect environment for a child to play and dream.
Tucked deep into KwaZulu-Natal’s Drakensberg, surrounded by the Giant’s Castle Nature Reserve and situated alongside the Little Mooi River, the soaring mountains rise majestically from the bottom of this garden. Mouse and Richard Poynton’s home was designed and built by them to complement this site.
The house is surrounded by trees such as black stinkwood (Ocotea bullata) and yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus), as well as different grasses. Waterfalls rush past, adding to the unique ambience of this rocky, natural garden experience. The invading wattle were the only trees removed to make way for the owners’ new home, which was meticulously planned to avoid felling any trees native to the region, and to gain access to the river below.
‘The indigenous Drakensberg flora growing around us evokes a feeling of the East, as the predominant local species are unusual grasses and a unique species of miniature bamboo, which is endemic to the area,’ says Mouse. ‘Back in the 1970s we used to be potters, and we have retained an affinity for the proportions and characteristic shapes of Japanese style.’
Much of their life is spent outdoors – entertaining family and friends on the deck by the river, painting under the shade of the trees, or relaxing in an open-air jacuzzi. The garden adjoins the famous herb garden that supplies both home and the Poyntons’ wonderful Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse, where guests enjoy the pleasures of Richard’s remarkable fare.
Champagne, chilled by the Little Mooi River.
‘All the trees, except the occasional wattle, were left where they grew and the architecture of our house was meticulously planned to accommodate them, so not one was cut down.’