Garden inspiration

Suzette Nortjé of Sasolburg writes One day I happened to be travelling through Sharpeville when I came across this beautiful garden. Residents really battle with their refuse as the municipality doesn’t take it away. There are hardly any clean open spaces but as the locals explained to me: what must they do when they don’t have a vehicle to take it to the dump?

But in the middle of all of this is a garden oasis: it’s tiny – about 5m2 – but absolutely lovely. The grass is green, the plants are healthy and avid gardener Samuel Thokoa has created a focal point with thoughtfully placed plants in an interesting design. I’m lucky to get bags of kraal manure, so one day I decided to deliver some to him. I didn’t get to meet Samuel but later decided I’d also take some waterwise plants and this time he was at home. What a pleasure it was to meet him – and he was so surprised that someone admired his garden; he was speechless but very proud!

I really feel he and his garden deserve a place in a magazine. I think Home is the right choice because it is for us ordinary folk who make something out of nothing and within our means. The pictures I took don’t do it justice – I hope his garden will inspire others in Sharpeville to make their surroundings more beautiful.