How does my GARDEN GROW?

Find garden inspiration from your travels around the world.

- BY KEITH BAIN

ALPINE ROCK

Whether you're inspired by time spent on distant slopes or simply wish to create a low-maintenance outdoor space, an alpine-inspired garden is a fabulous way of incorporating drought-resistant plants as well as minimising reliance on thirsty things like a lawn. They're also great for smaller spaces, are low-maintenance and hardy. What you will have noticed when hiking is that, at altitude, plant life is quite different - almost alien. It can be quite dry up there, so alpine plants are usually hardy and slow-growing. Indigenous alpine vegetation includes fynbos - plants within their very own biome that evolved over millions of years to withstand tough conditions. Meant to mimic high-altitude environments, an alpine garden is essentially a rock garden with pebbles or gravel instead of lawn (ensure that you have good drainage and use free-draining, peat-free soil). It also has rocks or boulders to add texture and dimension. Grow your drought-resistant alpine plants (fynbos shrubs and restios, aka Cape reeds, are an excellent choice) around the base of the rocks, in cracks and fissures, and spaces between boulders. Aim to keep it fairly rugged and natural, rather than working with flower beds; you're referencing wild landscapes, so don't be afraid to plant fairly randomly, letting nature determine what will flourish and where patches of growth will occur. While generally low-maintenance, your biggest job will be ensuring the gravel areas remain free of weeds.

JAPANESE SOLITUDE