Weeks ago, a Facebook post from the admin of a small community group in Schoenmakerskop caught our eye…
Eastern Cape, South Africa (08 November 2025) – Every Sunday, without fail, someone had been placing a fresh bunch of flowers along the cliff-top of a gully west of Schoenies village. Some days it was arum lilies, other days yellow roses. Always neatly arranged and left in the exact same spot, overlooking the waves.
Curious locals started wondering who the mystery florist was and why they chose that spot.
Recently, that mystery came to light, and it’s such a beautiful story.
Tegan van Eck commented to say the flowers are placed there by her dad, Lennard, in honour of her late mom, Mandy, who passed away from cancer just over two years ago.
“This is my Dad, he goes to put flowers from mom’s garden every Sunday for my mom. Mom passed away 2 years ago at the young age of 53,” shared Tegan.
When we spoke to her, she explained that the spot in Schoenies was her mom’s happy place. On Sundays, the family would visit there and spend time watching the waves together.
“That was mom’s happy place. Mom loved the beach. That was her heaven on earth,” she said.
So Lennard has kept that tradition alive. Every week, he picks lilies and roses from Mandy’s garden – the one he still lovingly tends – arranges them into a small posy, and takes them to his wife’s favourite place.
“He’s left flowers since mom passed away. He will be late for an event just so he can put flowers up for mom,” Tegan says.
Mandy and Lennard met before high school. They started dating at 16 and married in 1991. For 32 years, they stayed that way. Faithful, gentle with each other, and completely in love.
“They were such a power couple. Always showed love to one another. My mom’s hand was always on Dad’s lap whenever we drove in the car. Looking back, it was my favourite thing to see them love each other,” says Tegan.
In 2019, Mandy was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She fought bravely until her passing in June two years ago. She left behind Lennard and their three children.
Lennard keeps his beautiful Mandy’s memory alive in the most special way.
It shows that true love doesn’t fade, and it doesn’t end. It finds new ways to bloom. And every Sunday, on a beach in Schoenmakerskop, you’ll find Mandy’s memorial as a reminder of that.
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