Corné Pretorius and André Beaurain

Corné’s enthusiasm for life is infectious. ‘Normal is just a setting on the dishwasher,’ says this horticulturalist who walked away from a successful corporate career to create his dream life in a small town in the Western Cape 21 years ago. Passionate about people, nature and living gently on the Earth, Corné is happy to say that he thinks he is finally accepted as a local in the Riebeek Valley.

As a child, André’s ambition was to know the Latin name for all the plants in the world. A firm believer that you must surround yourself with beauty in order to create beauty; he has done just that in the nursery in Riebeek Kasteel. His qualification in interior design is evident in “Die Boomhuis”, as is his awe of nature, which led him to do further studies in landscaping and garden design. The way he fuses the two disciplines speaks volumes about his talent and creativity. When talking about plants, his Latin is impressive, too.