Unless you have lots of time to get out into the garden daily, informal, sustainable gardens take centre stage. The emphasis for the modern, busy gardener is to let nature take control. The first step is using native plants, but what do you do if you inherit a well-developed, mature garden that might be a little past its prime?
English country garden style feels like it's part of the fabric of the land. It is timeless, traditional, a style that doesn't follow fashion. In fact, to many, it may seem old-fashioned, but when spending time in it, you come to appreciate the settled, mellow feeling it embodies. This feast for the eyes in Linksfield, Johannesburg, is a carefully planned and thought-out space full of surprise and loveliness. Designer Vic van Eyk took over the garden from his mother in 2012, who had lovingly tended this one-acre garden over the years, which takes the pride of place as an open garden on many occasions.
Says Vic - 'this is a garden I grew up in, with many glorious memories of swinging off the syringa tree. When, however, I bought the property from my parents, it had become overshadowed by the shade of the big trees that had been growing there for years. I have to make the difficult decision to take many of the trees out, which is a very emotional decision you can't take lightly. But this needs to happen unless you're going to be doing serious pruning every season, as you need the light for things to grow under the trees. So as soon as I took the house over, things changed.
"That massive syringa tree had to go, regardless of how iconic it was for us. But if you're not prepared to make those hard decisions, you're not going to have much growing in the garden. However, it wasn't about taking out trees and not replenishing the garden. After all, you can always plant an indigenous, smaller tree to fill the space, and they won't take over the space as much as the really old established exotic varieties do?
Denne historien er fra Garden & Home August 2023-utgaven av South African Garden and Home.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Garden & Home August 2023-utgaven av South African Garden and Home.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Winter Warmer
Properly insulated homes are the next frontier for South Africa in a world of higher energy costs and a harsher climate
Carved in MARBLE
Use marble around your home to create an instantly luxurious feel
A Lesson From The Animal Kingdom
Not all of us are graceful ballet dancers or stylish fashion followers, but we can still stake a claim to elegance
Nature's Hidden Harvest
Clutching a bovine bolete deep inside a pine forest, Ryan Enslin discovers nature's bounty as he unearths her hidden gems and edible treasures
PAPER BRIQUETTES
Fuel your winter fire with these home-made briquettes made from recycled paper that you would otherwise throw away. Each brick burns for up to 1.5 hours
WINTER DOS AND DON'TS HOUSEPLANTS
Winter houseplant care is not complicated, but there are a few essential tips to follow to keep your plants alive until spring arrives
In The Garden
July Garden To-dos
ELEGANT AGAVES
Low-maintenance and always looking their best, you can't ask for much more from these showstoppers
MIRROR UPDATE
Turn any old or plain rectangular mirror into luxe home decor with this simple and beginner-friendly DIY
LOFT LUXE
This Cape Town loft remodel, inspired by Balinese living, shows how much of an impact minimalist design can make in small spaces
