An indigenous oasis on Knysna’s Leisure Isle
Just because your garden is located on an island, it doesn’t mean you’re limited to planting palms. Take a look at this paradise…
In Peter and Liz Reynold's garden on Leisure Isle in Knysna, beautiful indigenous plants take centre stage!
However, four years ago, before redesigning their garden with the help of Hannes Stander – a local landscape designer and co-owner of Ecozest – the property only featured a neglected lawn and a few trees, including a big old milkwood. Peter and Liz really wanted an indigenous garden that would make them feel as if they were living in the wild, despite being located in a built-up area. The garden also had to complement the contemporary architecture of the house and offer as much privacy as possible.
North and south
Once the meticulous design process was complete, Hannes set about helping the couple to create their dream garden. He divided the garden into two sections.
On the south-facing side, where the main entrance is located and the high front façade looks out over the beautiful Knysna Heads, Hannes used dense plantings to add a sense of privacy: indigenous trees, shrubs and groundcovers that all occur naturally in the coastal dunes and are accustomed to the salty air, strong winds and sandy slopes. The design creates the feeling that the garden is located in a natural coastal forest, with Outeniqua yellowwood (Afrocarpus syn. Podocarpus falcatus), wax berry (Morella cordifolia) and Helichrysum teretifolium, among others.
The major part of the garden is on the north-facing side of the house, which gets more sun and is sheltered from the prevailing wind. Here, Hannes created a vibrant and colourful indigenous garden which also forms the Reynolds’ outdoor living area. Hannes divided this part of the garden into different zones, each with its own habitat.
“Different garden habitats within a larger whole give a garden character with interesting variety, thanks to the unique vegetation in each. Each habitat forms its own microclimate and attracts certain insects and birds that seek shelter and food in that particular area,” explains Hannes.
One of the biggest zones is the dry riverbed that forms a central axis running through the garden. It is a dry landscape with both small pebbles and large rocks, waterwise plants such as succulents and winding pathways. Deeper in the garden, behind the packed stone wall that demarcates the dry riverbed, dense thickets of forest plants create a woodland feel.
About 98% of the garden is indigenous; although, Peter and Liz have also included a few exotic plants that they particularly like, such as Mexican blood trumpet (Distictis buccinatoria) and pomegranate (Punica granatum).
“We like the way Hannes has screened off the surrounding buildings, creating a lovely country feel,” says Liz. “We love the wild areas which attract lots of birds and insects. And everyone likes the riverbed!” >>
[INDIGENOUS STALWARTS] in this island garden
• Bladder-nut (Diospyros whyteana)
• Glossy leaf (Rhamnus prinoides)
• Cross-berry raisin (Grewia occidentalis)
• Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa)
• Wild pomegranate (Burchellia bubalina)
• Gold carpet (Helichrysum cymosum subsp. cymosum)
• Common pincushion (Leucospermum cordifolium)
• Blood lily (Scadoxus puniceus)
• Wild jasmine (Jasminum angulare)
• False buchu (Agathosma ovata)
Hannes’s gardening tips
• Grow interesting plants and those that need more attention alongside or near to stoeps and pathways where you can see them and easily take care of them. If a plant is out of sight, you’ll soon forget it!
• Use hardy indigenous shrubs such as glossy leaf, cross-berry raisin, wild pomegranate, sage wood (Buddleja salviifolia) and Natal plum as natural screens and backdrops for the garden. These plants are an excellent choice for coastal gardens and those exposed to lots of wind.
• Consider the view. When you design your garden, emphasise the best bits by opening areas to create ‘windows’ out to the wider landscape. For example, don’t block a lovely view with trees; plant them elsewhere on your property where you need privacy. Making use of the views from your garden helps to create a sense of spaciousness, especially in a built-up area.
• Plant groundcovers in-between shrubs to emphasise the natural look and to create a microclimate. They serve as a living mulch and will, over time, become part of the ecosystem. >>
[HOW TO CREATE DIFFERENT GARDEN HABITATS]
It’s easy to create a variety of habitats, no matter how small your garden. A habitat need not be bigger than a room in your home, and even the shade of one big tree is enough, says Hannes.
“Creating habitats with definite characteristics will allow you to use a wider variety of plants in your garden and will attract more wildlife. It also adds a specific feel to each part of the garden, which makes it interesting. In effect, what you’re doing is gardening according to the sun and shade, the amount of water and nutrients needed in a certain section, and the feel you want to create in an area.
“In nature, vegetation plays a huge role in habitats. Likewise, in a garden the plant selection is very important in creating the right feel. I first divide the garden into zones, with each zone creating its own habitat. Then I choose plants that will help to create a specific habitat – these plants then form a symbiotic relationship; in other words, they grow for the benefit of each other,” he explains. “These different habitats will allow you to use certain exotic plants in combination with indigenous plants. The trick is to use them correctly. Each plant must have a function as an accent plant, a filler plant, a groundcover or a screening plant, for example. They should also contribute to the life and character of the garden.
“Different habitats flow into each other without there necessarily being a visible dividing line. The garden, therefore, still has a sense of uniformity. It is only when you walk through it that you become aware of the subtle transition from one habitat to another. Structural elements such as pathways, walls, retaining walls, pergolas and hedges can still be used to separate one habitat from another and to add definition,” adds Hannes.
[THE RIGHT PATH]
Several pathways lead you through the garden, connecting the various garden rooms and habitats and providing access from the house to the outside area.
“Movement through a garden should be one of the main objectives of its design,” says Hannes. “In any garden, a path will attract attention and you’ll be curious to find out where it leads. I believe paths must be designed to allow you to get where you need to be in the easiest and most interesting way. In Peter and Liz’s garden there are many footpaths that do exactly that!”
Hannes designed the pavers and made them himself from cement; he wanted them to be the exact width of a footpath in the veld.
Liz and Peter cultivate their favourite veggies and herbs in planter boxes and beds in the terraced kitchen garden (left) located behind an attractive screen made of wood and welded wire mesh.