The garden has always been a very important and special part of the property. During 1995 Mrs Alison Just (neé De Villiers) wrote a mini autobiography on her memories of the garden. Today the general manager of Zomerlust Gastehuis uses this document as a guideline to cultivate a modern version of the old garden, with the emphasis on indigenous gardening. The Japonica and the two Prides of India were already established trees when photographs were taken in 1927. Mrs Turrie de Villiers planted the Liquid Amber about 75 years ago.

The Garden And The Stable (Die Stal): The first garden terrace stretched down to the new water element and the second one from there to Die Stal. The first terrace is now paved to serve as al fresco restaurant area.

Die Stal (ca 1850), is a Tudor-style building, which formerly stabled three cows and two horses. The upper level was used for fodder and a loft for the racing pigeons of Jacob Isaac (Abraham Pieter’s son) who represented the Worcester constituency in Parliament. Whilst visiting his constituency he sent home messages by pigeon post. A photograph of him feeding his pigeons in his later years can be seen on the Agterstoep.

Room 11 (Mellow Wood) used to be the garage. Room 12 (Huguenac) was the original cowshed and part of the crib was retained. In the small portal, paving stones from the original stable floor are visible. For the new rooms on top, Room 13 (Richelieu) and Room 14 (KWV), old rafters were used but new ceilings were added. Outside, on the eastern side, the walled compost hole can still be seen.

Swimming Pool Area: This was the sunken garden on the second terrace. The original hen house was converted to a summerhouse. The wall and pergola today form an integral part of the swimming pool terrace. The conversion from hen- to summerhouse was a gift from Smuts de Villiers to his youngest daughter, Anna, on her 11th birthday. The structure is therefore about 65 years old.

The Round Swimming Pool: A smaller reservoir preceded the present one. Both served as swimming pool and reservoir for irrigating the lawn and roses in the lower garden. Today the reservoir is used for irrigation with water extracted from a well lower down.

The Rose Garden: East of the swimming pool pergola, opposite the reservoir, was a rose garden on two levels, with paving in between. The paving is the original but the trees have since grown too big and the area is no longer suitable for roses.

Pond With Bench: This was also a gift from Smuts to his wife, Turrie. She loved to start her day further down, at Rozenfontein, with a prayer and bible reading. So he built this special place for her. The Coral Tree was a gift from a family member from the Eastern Cape and the Magnolia, from Kew Gardens, was also a gift from a family member from England. A photograph showing Turrie and friends from America on the bench at the pond can be seen in the reception area.

Rozenfontein: According to old deeds of transfer Rozenfontein, a natural spring in the center of historic Paarl, served as a watering hole for livestock. Servitude of about 1,7m wide was registered on the northern side of ZOMERLUST GASTEHUIS in order to allow access from Main Street to Rozenfontein.

Mrs Turrie de Villiers created a water grotto feature from this natural well. The matching bench and table of sandstone served as favourite spot for quiet moments.