Cottage industry

Every square centimetre of this pocket-sized garden is a sight to behold!

- Gillian Eva

When former Johannesburg landscaper Jeremey-Anne Hopkins’ husband Hugh retired in 2008, they decided to emigrate to New Zealand to be with their family. While waiting for their emigration papers, friends invited them to visit the gorgeous little mountain town of Greyton in the Western Cape.

“After a brief period of vacillating between New Zealand and Greyton, the latter eventually ‘won the toss’, so to speak,” says Jeremey-Anne with a smile. “It has been a most exciting move for us from big city to little village, as well transitioning to a small 380m2 property from our quarter-acre Randburg erf where we lived for 41 years.” Jeremey-Anne’s cottage-style garden is a delight to explore.

There is no lawn; instead, pathways lead you from one section to another through lush, overflowing beds. The front garden measures just 13 x 7m. “As my garden in Randburg was very shady, I couldn’t grow roses, so I took full advantage of the sun that my new west-facing front garden receives. I had so much fun choosing the roses! My ‘Ace of Hearts’ rose has won Best Red Rose in our annual Greyton Rose Show for the past three years, and my ‘Deloitte & Touche’ won the Best Massed Rose Arrangement,” she says proudly.

Evergreen beauties