After the recent Open Gardens Weekends, we’re delighted to invite you to an Open House Sunday lunch, offering a wonderful opportunity to explore the entire house and garden at a leisurely pace. To enhance the experience, I will be performing short music sessions in the studio, on the veranda, and out in the garden between 12:30 and 3:00 pm. Guests are welcome to enjoy a relaxed lunch, comfortably seated in the studio, on the sunny veranda, nestled on a sofa, or out on the terraces surrounded by nature. Convenient and secure parking is also available for all attendees.

Sunday 27 August
Casa Mexicana - 35 Montgomery Drive, Athlone 
Open 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm 
Entry : R350

CASA MEXICANA - 35 MONTGOMERY DRIVE, ATHLONE PIETERMARITZBURG
Key points in this garden:

  • Barry Lovegrove meticulously designed and lovingly built the garden of his home over a period of 28 years. As the author of the acclaimed book 'The Living Deserts of Southern Africa,' he had a particular affinity for succulents and aloes, which reflects his interest in deserts. The garden features indigenous plants, carefully chosen to thrive in the local environment, complemented by a few exotics; mature trees and large shrubs that were retained from the original garden. A select group of vibrant exotic potted plants adds a burst of colour.

  • For the house, Barry drew inspiration from the distinctive ‘faux’ Spanish architectural features of the house, including adobe-textured walls and traditional Córdoba roof tiles. This combination was a particularly fashionable choice in suburban areas during the 1950s evoking a ‘continental’ experience. After discovering a pivotal book (Casa Mexicana) that played a major role in the design choices of the house, the final result is a stylish Mexican design that thoughtfully blends rich cultural influences with practical features specifically suited to the local climate. This harmonious combination creates a space that is both visually appealing and comfortable throughout the year.

  • The Mexican adage ‘hecho al mano’ or 'made by hand’ served as a profound source of inspiration for Barry. He aimed to impart his own unique stamp on every project he undertook, whether it involved intricate tile work, detailed woodworking, metal crafting, paving designs, architectural elements, oil painting or pottery creations. This philosophy of craftsmanship and personal touch was deeply central to his artistic vision, embodying a commitment to authentic living and genuine self-expression.

  • Look out for Barry's work in his hand-made and painted tiles decorating the pool area, the striking gargoyle fountain (depicting the iconic Mexican split-lipped bat god), the metal pot stands, the elegantly forged ironwork on the entrance door, and the beautiful wrought-iron gates. His distinctive terracotta orchid pots prominently display his personal logo. Several of his original paintings, visible in the house interior, along with the meticulously detailed pebble paths, each stone laid individually over the course of 20 years, and the extensive, robust woodwork in the kitchen, all stand as remarkable testaments to his unique artistic vision and exceptional craftsmanship.

  • The trees, carefully planted in the first few years of occupation, grew quickly and robustly, transforming much of the garden from an area of direct sunlight into a beautifully shaded woodland garden. This significant change in the environment inspired a new interest, the cultivation of unique indigenous genus of Plectranthus. Today, a large and diverse collection of this remarkable group thrives within the garden, reflecting a dedicated focus and passion for native flora.

  • Having lived in a number of countries and major cities around the world, Barry greatly relished the unique privilege of owning and having access to a substantial and beautifully expansive piece of land. He endeavoured to maximise every inch of it, carefully creating and thoughtfully manipulating the space from one end to the other. This dedication is clearly visible in the detailed red ochre boundary walls and a thoughtfully designed pottery studio and kitchen garden on the street side. Additionally, the property features an elegant orchid house, a charming garden studio with hand-carved wooden columns and painted ceiling panels, an amphitheatre ‘concert stage’, and numerous distinct ‘rooms’ along with creatively paved terraces, all seamlessly blending artistic vision with functional design.

  • Sadly, Barry passed away in March 2022, and since then, the garden and home have been lovingly cared for and managed by his long-term partner, the pianist Christopher Duigan.

  • For the best and most immersive views in the lower garden, we recommend sitting on the benches located at the extremities of the paved terraces as well as at the far end point of the lower circle. From these vantage points, you can fully enjoy the view looking back across the entire expanse of the beautiful terraces.

  • The garden serves as a remarkable example of thoughtfully working with the rich tapestry of indigenous planting, combining both formal and informal elements. It also beautifully showcases the possibility that creative work and dedicated effort, sustained over 28 years, can result in a truly unique, organic, and deeply personal living environment.

  • Indigenous planting features a rich array of textures and a diverse palette of green shades. Instead of focusing on the large, attention-grabbing blooms typical of exotic plants, it invites you to appreciate the subtle and endless variations in leaf shapes, surfaces, and tones. This approach celebrates the natural beauty and complexity found within our local vegetation, offering a more nuanced and enduring visual experience.

Christopher playing music in the garden at a recent Open Gardens event - May 2025.

Barry Lovegrove (1956-2022) with Wendy-Pops

Open Gardens images and Video May 2025 Images: Spadework

Casa Mexicana - The beginning

c 1997.

c. 1999

c 2002

The Gardener April 2024