A Small Garden With A Big Heart

Despite its small, awkward spaces, this garden is a master class in how to use colour with sophistication and subtlety

- Alice Spenser-Higgs

There is almost no need to ask for directions to Cheryl van Acker’s garden. On arrival at the security estate, the helpful men at the gate sign you through with a simple instruction; drive in and look right! Because, you can’t miss its eye-popping, extravagant, abundant colour and so much more.

When Cheryl met landscaper Debbie Smit of Foxgloves Landscape Design four years ago her brief was simple: “I want an explosion of colour!” Debbie has delivered, and there are more flowers packed into this tiny garden and on the pavement than most other gardens two or three times the size.

“As she’s a florist, Cheryl knows flowers, so when I find something I think she'll like, I add it,” explains Debbie. Everything is densely planted, even under the roses, because Cheryl dislikes bare soil.

Roses are the main feature, with vivid pink ‘Knockout’ standard roses on the pavement, which Debbie describes as “incredibly giving roses” that are never without flowers. ‘Satchmo’ lines the driveway, with “Blue Moon’ and ‘Vodacom’ more recent additions.