Flowers. Creativity. And second chances. These are the things that shape Linda van der Walt’s world. As a designer, creative consultant, and community advocate, she’s proof that even in challenging seasons, life has a way of blooming beautifully.
Walking through LVG’s greenhouses and a sense of calm washes over you. Rows of roses, orchids, and greenery stretch out as far as the eye can see, each plant in a different stage of life. For Linda van der Walt, Creative Consultant and New Product Developer at LVG Plants, it’s a daily reminder of why she loves what she does.
“You step inside, and it feels like the world slows down. It’s like walking inside a living artwork. I always pause, breathe it in, and then look closer …the new buds forming, the colours shifting, the little signs of growth. It’s magical.”
A perfect fit
Linda’s story with LVG began more than a decade ago when she styled the interiors of their offices. At the time, she couldn’t have known how deeply their paths would intertwine. Years later, during a season when life felt like it was collapsing, LVG reached out with an invitation to step in as an independent creative consultant.
It was, as Linda puts it, “a perfect fit”. LVG, a proudly family-owned plant grower now celebrating an extraordinary four decades in business, isn’t small by any means. With greenhouses stretching across 110 000 square metres – we’re talking about a massive operation … literally a small city of flowers under glass or about the size of 22 rugby fields filled with flowers – right here in the heart of the West, and with a reputation as a leading wholesale supplier to all major retailers, they are a cornerstone of South Africa’s plant industry.
Yet behind the scale and success, Linda found something far more precious. “That’s the balance I love,” she explains. “We work with some of the biggest names in retail, but decisions are still made with passion and quality in mind. There’s warmth and loyalty in the way things are run, and that makes even the big wins feel personal.”
More than just plants
Step closer into LVG’s world, and you’ll discover more than beauty. From roses, orchids, and zantedesias to cyclamens, begonias, poinsettias, and anthuriums, the greenhouses are alive with colour and diversity. But for Linda, the plants are more than products.
“For me, flowering plants are a necessity and not a luxury. What would life be without them?” she asks.
Bringing her creative background into LVG’s fold, Linda began curating displays and installations that treated plants as experiences, not just items. “I wanted people to feel something when they saw them,” she says. That vision has taken LVG into new creative spaces – from large-scale trade shows to curated installations at Kamers Makers and Decorex.
The work also inspired Linda to start her own venture, LND Creative Studio, where she designs floral backdrops and installations for retail spaces, events, funerals and weddings. “It’s about transforming spaces into experiences,” she explains, “and using creativity as a bridge between people.”
Flowers and second chances
Perhaps what makes Linda’s journey with LVG so powerful is how deeply it echoes her own story of renewal. “When I surrendered, when I thought I was in my winter season, I found the sun again through flowers,” she reflects.
It’s a lesson that threads through her work, especially in Together We Bloom, LVG’s non-profit initiative. Born out of the difficult post-Covid period, it carries a simple mission … to use flowers as vehicles for hope.
“Flowers connect people. They give you something to nurture, something to be proud of. Even the act of receiving a plant can change your day.”
She recalls giving Pretoria FM plants to hand out at an old-age home in collaboration with them. “The photos and stories that came afterwards really touched me – seeing how their faces lit up as they held something beautiful in their hands, something to care for. Moments like that remind me exactly why we do this.”
Her hope for the future is to expand the project’s reach. “More schools, more hospitals, more communities touched by flowers. And I’d love to collaborate with other creatives to use flowers as tools for education and healing.”
Seasons of growth
Linda’s life today is a tapestry of creativity. Alongside her LVG role and LND Creative Studio, she designs bold, organic jewellery pieces under Fabrikate Studio, dreams of publishing her first poetry collection, and continues to build bridges between beauty and meaning.
But she’s also learned to trust the seasons. “You are allowed to fall. You are allowed to rise again. And when you do, you’ll see that life has even more beauty waiting for you.”
For Linda, the words “bloom where you’re planted” are deeply personal. “It means finding growth and beauty even in the toughest circumstances. Life isn’t always about perfect conditions – it’s about learning to flourish with what you have, where you are.”
If she had to pick a plant to represent herself? “Definitely the white Peace Lily,” she smiles. “Elegant but strong, it thrives in calm environments and always finds a way to bounce back. That’s me.”
From flowers to jewellery, installations to poetry, Linda’s life is a testament to creativity, resilience, and hope. She reminds us that even when life feels like winter, there’s always a season waiting to bloom … if we pause, breathe, and let ourselves grow.
Bloom at home
Fave flower? Orchids – every single one feels unique, and the more you look, the more detail you discover.
How to keep them happy? Don’t overwater; once a week is usually more than enough. Keep them in bright, indirect light. When they’ve finished flowering, trim back the stem and be patient … they’ll surprise you.
Three easy indoor plants for beginners? Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum), Snake Plant (Sansevieria) and potted roses.
Instant mood-lifters? Orchids, Anthuriums and Zantedeschias (known as Arum Lilies or Calla Lilies).
One mistake people make when trying to keep houseplants alive? Overloving them! Too much water, too much fussing. Sometimes plants just need a little space to thrive.
Details: lvgplant.co.za, linvdwalt@gmail.com or follow @lvgplants, @ together.we.bloom and lnd_creative_studio on Facebook and Insta.
Text & main image: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. Flower images: DESIREE HARTSLIEF PHOTOGRAPHY.
