The delightful thing about design is that the moment you relegate a purpose to a space, the rest falls into place.
There always seems to be one troublesome area in a garden, and in the case of this beautiful Georgian-style home it used to be the area behind the house. The home is set back on the property, with a long strip of garden behind it that had no immediate purpose, and which had possibly been used by the previous owners as their utility area.
It’s not uncommon for an area that is not visible to remain neglected, and yet with a bit of thought the space can be turned into something quite enchanting.
This is exactly what happened when design team John and Tanya Keating from Tandi Projects were tasked by the owner to create a formal, low-maintenance garden in the back in keeping with the rest of their design.
New purpose for a tired space
The design team immediately identified the spot outside the kitchen as ideal for an al fresco dining area. It was the perfect place – convenient for the host and sheltered by the building.
The area was paved and covered by a pergola that supports the charming ‘Catawba’ grape (Vitis labrusca).
This story is from the October 2018 edition of The Gardener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2018 edition of The Gardener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Touch of Class
A cut above the rest and attractive enough to fill all the spaces you can see in your garden or in pots...
Bordering on food aggression!
The economy, fires, drought, Russians, fuel prices, and politicians, dictated what we ate in my youth. The only exception was that Eskom worked...
Quarantining new koi fish
Give your new koi the best start
Big deal GLADIOLI
To get balance in a flower bed, we rely on tall flowering plants to provide height and show off amazing blooms. One of our favourites to plant are gladioli. They might look impressive, come in some gorgeous colours, and are great for a vase, but they are also easy to grow with a few golden rules.
PRETTY FILLER Scabiosa
There are over 70 varieties of Scabiosa (pincushion flower) in both the annuals and perennials categories with arguably some of the best ones local to our country, and excellent pollinator attractors too.
TRIPLE treat
A floral combo that's bursting with colour
CHLOROSIS how to fix it
Chlorosis is not a death sentence for your plants. With prompt identification and the right interventions, you can restore your plants to their lush, vibrant selves.
COREOPSIS 'UpTick'
For an easy-to-grow, tough perennial, with masses of pretty blooms, plant Coreopsis hybrids and watch the bees and butterflies come into your garden.
Decorative Dahlias
With a little basic care, you can grow these showstopping plants in your own backyard with minimal effort.
The beauty of BEGONIAS
For endless colour and a garden that looks vibrant throughout the seasons, these are your go-to choices.