5 SIMPLE STRATEGIES
1. CLIPPING
Nicole de Vésian is a French textile designer who, in retirement, became renowned for her highly original garden, La Louve in Provence, a contemporary all-green garden created by clipping virtually every shrub in her 500m² of hillside terrace into a symphony of form.
There’s no neater way than informal topiary to add form and individuality to a garden – all you need to do in naturalistic plantings is to clip the odd well-placed, fine-leaved shrub into a dome or sphere.
Lavender, Westringia and rosemary lend themselves well to this, as do various indigenous shrubs.
It may take some time to achieve a dense, smooth shape, but snipping away is an enjoyable way to relax and the effect is worth it.
2. ADD LIGHT
Have you got enough white in your garden? Add a scattering of fine white, using just one or two kinds of easy-to-grow plants – billowy, dainty-flowered shrubs such as Freylinia tropica (pictured above) or
Pelargonium fragrans “Nutmeg”, spires of Galtonia bulbs in drifts, or fountains of cool white
Plumbago (for all these, visit newplant.co.za). For splashier white, add lavish tumbles of a soft-flowered ground-cover rose such as “White Sunsation” or classic “Summer Snow”.
3. SCREENING
A simple screen can be amazingly effective in any garden, providing shelter and adding depth and interest. Ready-made trellis, reed or woven wattle panels are available at most garden centres and need only a sturdy support for instant effect.
Use a screen to create a sheltered private corner on the patio or in the garden, or to conceal a small secret space or utilities such as compost and wormeries. Hang it with pots or climbers.
4. ADD PLUM
At the same time as you add sparkle, add depth with an interweaving of dark leaf colour, keeping it in the middle or background.
Consider feathery bronze fennel and strappy leaves such as Phormium “Dark Horse” or Cordyline “Red Fountain”. Penstemon “Husker’s Red”, which has small white flowers and maroon leaves, makes a lovely addition and Ajuga “Scallop” is excellent among other shade-loving ground covers. In warmer gardens, on shady patios or indoors, Philodendron “Rojo Congo” is a winner.
5. SUMMER BULBS
We tend not to make the most of easy-to-grow summer bulbs, of which there is a glorious array (especially indigenous ones) to plant next month for a lovely boost from midsummer to late in the season.
At the London Olympics Park last year, South African bulbs looked simply amazing in spectacular meadow-style
plantings (pictured right) that featured Galtonia, Eucomis,
Kniphofia, Gladioli and Dierama, along with perennials such as
Helichrysum and Diascia. Don’t forget all the Nerines and worthwhile exotics such as little Zephyranthes candida, slender orchid-like Tigridia and gorgeous crimson Sprekelia. Check out hadeco.co.za and simplyindigenous.co.za.