Landscaping services
My landscaping consultation is free to all prospective clients, aside from a nominal design fee.
The usual procedure is thus:
After the initial contact, I visit the site and take as many photographs as possible. This is followed by the rendering of sketches and this enables prospective clients to see my vision more clearly. These sketches become the property of the client, prospective or otherwise, so that they can familiarise themselves with what I propose. People have asked me whether I'm not afraid of people stealing my ideas - not at all - it's not stealing, it's sharing!
I confine my services to designing, installation of hardscape and plants and garden construction. I do not do maintenance but will provide clients with adequate plant lists with care instructions.
Landscaping hardware
Rock curtains, steel horses, flying fish and aloe fountains.
When it comes to hardscape, we are only limited by our imagination (and budget) but there are many ways to make beautiful features without breaking the bank.
To me, the dgreatest and most satisfying challenges come from recycling and repurposing. For instance, a slate wall, using old slate roof tiles, threaded onto rebar, makes a very effective and attractive privacy screen.
Rock curtains, using offcuts from sandstone cladding, threaded onto stainless steel cable and anchored at both ends, creates a barrier without cutting out the view.
There are so many talented and unknown sculptors and metalworkers in our country and I aim to find some of them and display their work in many of my gardens.
In some I have used the beautifully carved wooden fish as bird perches in birdbaths, as well as stainless steel horses, sable and other wonderfully executed sculptures which add interest and imagination to any garden landscape..
Indigenous genious
Local plants for local climates.
Trends have shifted from the use of exotic plants in our gardens as few of us have the time, energy and resources needed to maintain labour intensive plants.
Our local nurseries have a plethora of exquisitely cultivated local flora, including all the lampranthus (vygie) species, plectranthus and aloes.
No garden needs to look like a karoo landscape (which I love, personally), but with carefully selected plants, we can have wetlands, shady fern and arum lily sanctuaries, sweeping meadows of gazanias, ribbon bush, leonotis (wild dagga) and other indigenous beauties.
Themed gardening
A garden to suit every occassion and personality.
I have a personal preference for themed gardens, but believe that every garden should fit in perfectly with the style of the house. If it is country and cottagy, then, bringing in pots and pebble pathways, benches, wheelbarrows and garden swings, will achieve the desired effect.
Contemporary, minimalistic gardens are also classy and easy to maintain, ideal for our busy lifestyles.
Another personal favourite is the Zen garden which appeals to a sense of order and serenity. Without knowing all the spiritual intricacies of the Zen culture, I am enamoured with the simplicity that these gardens inspire.
The Moroccan styled garden pictured here was created out of a love for all things beautiful and followed a visit to Southern Spain where the influence of the North African culture abounds.
