Constantia Classic
The Brief
This garden, situated in the heart of Constantia, is designed on a formal cottage garden style with strong classical continental influences. Our client, who has previously won an award for her garden in Johannesburg, requested a formal cottage garden with bounteous spring and summer flowering shrubs and annuals.
The client specifically prefers the softer pastel colours and loves roses.
A horse jumping arena and garden for home grown herbs, vegetables and cut flowers were required.
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A raised pond re-inforces classical symmetry in the front entranceway -
Potager near kitchen access -
Massed Iceberg roses create a strong impact either side of the front door entrance stairwell -
An 'allee' of lemon and olive trees seperates the jumping arena from the main garden while providing pedestrian direction -
A quiet pathway meanders between oak trees and shrubbery -
A classical water feature is home to a number of frogs -
A small blue and white formal garden creates an additional 'room' within the main garden -
Formally clipped double hedging supplies a border to lower end of the arena -
The Potager supplements organic vegetables and cut flowers to the household -
A series of arched pergolas leads onto the 'allee' -
A bench amongst shrubbery allows for cool contemplation -
A circular rustic bench and wrought iron table and chairs allow for a range of outdoor activities -
Matching benches in in shady areas of the garden offer views along secondary axis -
A bench surrounded by masses of summer flower -
Arching roses in classical urns add elegance to the stable entranceway -
An espaliered plum maximizes use of vertical wall space -
Typical view from bench placements along secondary axis -
Clipped hedges provide containment for exuberant flowering shrubbery -
A clipped hedge and flower beds read off the architectural retaining wall -
A palette of roses, flowering shrubs and annuals -
The placement of classical pots and urns re-inforces direction and flow of the garden
Garden Features:
An area for organic vegetables and cut flowers for the house, is situated close to the kitchen. In keeping with the continental style of the garden it has been treated in the fashion of the French style ornamental kitchen garden.
A feature was made of the protruding chimney wall by training a plum tree Espalier style. Other typical pruning techniques used in the garden include Pollarding of the driveway hedge, formal hedges of varying heights , and numerous topiaries of various design.
Roses are planted liberally throughout the garden , singly and en masse and make a strong impact on the mood and atmosphere of the garden.
To grow healthy roses that flower generously, a regular fertilizing and spraying program is adhered to. Organic sprays and pesticides are used, which encourage the presence of chameleons and numerous frogs in the garden. These insect predators in turn play a role in natural pest control and reduction.
The Design Approach
Through site analysis of the physical aspects, we were swiftly able to confirm that it was conducive to the requested form. An existing borehole for water, a rich fertile soil, a comparatively wind free area, and full time gardener, all lent themselves to the more sensitive planting palette and maintenance aspects of the required style.
The area for the horse arena was largely pre-designated as having already been used for this purpose by the previous tenants. The alternative road access and placement of stables also played a role in the chosen area. This presented a major design challenge, from both a practical and aesthetic view. Aesthetically, the arena lay at an awkward angle to the rest of the garden and its’ required standardised size threatened to dominate the landscape. The client herself suggested a skilful solution in the planting of an ‘allee’ of olive and lemon trees, parallel to the length of the arena. While maintaining a continental influence, the ‘allee’ allows for semi-permeable screening which is non-disruptive and creates a guiding linkage pathway through the garden.
Practically, the arena lay at the lowest point of the slope of the garden and was bound to impact negatively on the all important drainage aspects of the arena. To overcome this, a pole retaining wall was constructed , which separated the lawn and arena levels. The lawn was gently sloped away from the arena and inclined towards the bottom of the garden. The level change also assisted in separating the two zones in a subtle manner.
Our clients gardening experience and interest, attention to detail, and management of the employed gardening staff, has played a large role in the success of this garden.
‘The earth laughs in flowers’ – Ralph Waldo Emerson