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Reader garden: Taking shape in Bloemfontein

• By: Mary Jane Harris
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As the orange tree provides shade all year round, Sharon placed this rustic table beneath it to serve as her potting table. “I was determined to grow hydrangeas, so I’ve planted them in pots on either side of the table to take advantage of the shade,
As the orange tree provides shade all year round, Sharon placed this rustic table beneath it to serve as her potting table. “I was determined to grow hydrangeas, so I’ve planted them in pots on either side of the table to take advantage of the shade,

Inspired by the design courses she teaches, Sharon Walker’s garden features interesting nooks and crannies and waterwise plantings.

WHO LIVES HERE? Wilf and Sharon Walker with their cat Noddy

WHERE Spitskop, Bloemfontein

SIZE OF PROPERTY 2.1ha (garden: 2 000m²)

AGE OF GARDEN 25 years

TYPE OF SOIL Red sandy soil

Sharon Walker. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Sharon Walker. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

"No matter what form it's taken over the past 25 years, my garden has always fed my soul and made me smile," says landscaper Sharon Walker.

And the Walkers' garden has certainly changed over the years.

When they first moved to this smallholding, it bore little resemblance to the intriguing feature-filled garden it is today.

The view from the pergola towards the house. The bed directly in front has a yellow theme with Inca lilies (Alstroemeria aurea) in spring, day lilies (Hemerocallis) in summer and yellow Kniphofia in autumn. The birdbath was positioned so that it's visible from the house. Its square shape is offset by a row of cement balls. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
The view from the pergola towards the house. The bed directly in front has a yellow theme with Inca lilies (Alstroemeria aurea) in spring, day lilies (Hemerocallis) in summer and yellow Kniphofia in autumn. The birdbath was positioned so that it's visible from the house. Its square shape is offset by a row of cement balls. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

"At that time, the garden, which is fortunately fairly level, consisted of a predominantly kikuyu lawn with a variety of fruit trees dotted about. There were a few established trees, mostly white stinkwood, and that was about it," recalls Sharon.

As this is the hot, dry Free State, the property's greatest assets were two strong boreholes.

Because they are in the middle of the Free State with its heat and droughts, Sharon has always been very waterwise. "We keep the climate in mind when making plant choices. Most of the plants in my garden are hardy and don't need a lot of water. Those that do, like hydrangeas, I place in pots in shady areas so I can give them special attention," she says. Originally intended as the spot for a small plunge pool, this area next to the house is now an interesting example of how to combine pavers with gravel and pebbles. At the far end are frames covered with star jasmine and blocks of neatly trimmed star jasmine. "Everything - from the orange tree to the common box hedge - is evergreen," says Sharon. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Because they are in the middle of the Free State with its heat and droughts, Sharon has always been very waterwise. "We keep the climate in mind when making plant choices. Most of the plants in my garden are hardy and don't need a lot of water. Those that do, like hydrangeas, I place in pots in shady areas so I can give them special attention," she says. Originally intended as the spot for a small plunge pool, this area next to the house is now an interesting example of how to combine pavers with gravel and pebbles. At the far end are frames covered with star jasmine and blocks of neatly trimmed star jasmine. "Everything - from the orange tree to the common box hedge - is evergreen," says Sharon. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

"We knew that with water we'd be able to create the garden we wanted," says Wilf, who shares Sharon's passion for gardening.

At the entrance to the pergola garden is a bougainvillea underplanted with dassievygie (Oscularia deltoides). The climbing frame behind it is where Sharon grows sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus). Inca lilies add colour around the paved circle. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
At the entrance to the pergola garden is a bougainvillea underplanted with dassievygie (Oscularia deltoides). The climbing frame behind it is where Sharon grows sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus). Inca lilies add colour around the paved circle. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

But the couple is mindful of how they use this water; during droughts, they reduced the size of the garden so that watering was kept to a minimum and then expanded it when the rains came.

First steps

Sliding doors open from the living room onto this pergola on the west side of the house. "The grapevine growing overhead is an old ‘Catawba' grape that we inherited when we moved here," says Sharon, who added a bed of ‘Iceberg' roses and arum lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) on the right. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Sliding doors open from the living room onto this pergola on the west side of the house. "The grapevine growing overhead is an old ‘Catawba' grape that we inherited when we moved here," says Sharon, who added a bed of ‘Iceberg' roses and arum lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) on the right. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

At the time, the couple had two young sons, so a child-friendly garden with a cricket pitch, trampoline and bike track was a priority.

"We also planted a lot of trees, including wild olive and river bushwillow (Combretum erythrophyllum), to provide more shade. I was born in Ireland, so I really feel the heat," says Sharon.

As the boys grew older, they developed new interests, building their own paintball course and skatepark on other sections of the smallholding (one son now builds professional skateparks in Europe), leaving Sharon to develop the garden to suit her taste and style.

The beautiful orange flower spikes of wide-leafed dyckia add height to Sharon's garden from the end of spring and well into summer. "It's my favourite flower," she says. "I found that hollyhocks and foxgloves don't do well here in the heat, so opted for this hardy, waterwise bromeliad instead as it fulfils the same role of creating height in the beds. There are green-leafed and bronze-leafed varieties which add colour to the garden even when they are not in flower." Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
The beautiful orange flower spikes of wide-leafed dyckia add height to Sharon's garden from the end of spring and well into summer. "It's my favourite flower," she says. "I found that hollyhocks and foxgloves don't do well here in the heat, so opted for this hardy, waterwise bromeliad instead as it fulfils the same role of creating height in the beds. There are green-leafed and bronze-leafed varieties which add colour to the garden even when they are not in flower." Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

A schoolteacher by profession, Sharon developed a passion for gardening when her children were small and studied garden design through the Pretoria Technikon.

When the Walkers arrived in Bloemfontein, she bought a nursery and established a landscaping business.

Bougainvillea. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Bougainvillea. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

The next step was setting up a School of Gardening where she presents courses on garden design (there are also courses in Knysna, and online courses are in the pipeline).

This proved to be a huge inspiration for the layout and design of her own garden.

Blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella). Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella). Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

"I wanted to be able to put the design ideas I was lecturing on into practice. I have a great love of line and structure, and I wanted to show my pupils how this can enhance a garden. It's not just about plants."

Expanding horizons

Sharon used LM grass in the shady areas and kikuyu in the sunny spots. To connect the pergola to the path to her gardening school and the SmartStone showroom, Sharon placed a series of pavers in the lawn. "These are easy to maintain as the edges only need to be trimmed twice a year," she says. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Sharon used LM grass in the shady areas and kikuyu in the sunny spots. To connect the pergola to the path to her gardening school and the SmartStone showroom, Sharon placed a series of pavers in the lawn. "These are easy to maintain as the edges only need to be trimmed twice a year," she says. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

Then Wilf was retrenched and as Sharon was finding it difficult to source the decorative paving materials she needed for her landscape designs locally, the couple decided to open a SmartStone paving business on their smallholding, where the showroom is now also located.

Sharon believes that a combination of different shapes makes for a visually pleasing garden. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Sharon believes that a combination of different shapes makes for a visually pleasing garden. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

"This has been very successful over the past two decades and it's so convenient for me as I can find exactly what I want on the property," says Sharon.

When executing her ideas, Sharon started with the areas closest to the house and worked outwards.

"By that stage, we had thinned out the fruit trees to make the harvests manageable, but we left an apricot tree and an orange tree next to the house."

The Walkers kept one of the original apricot trees - it still produces fruit! Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
The Walkers kept one of the original apricot trees - it still produces fruit! Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

Although each area has its own personality, they are linked by means of similar plants, hedges and paving.

Lined up with the house, grass paths and pavers set into the grass draw you naturally from one area to the next.

Sharon loves to combine curves and straight lines, so she offset the hedges of common box and dune crow-berry with a circle of paving set in pebbles. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Sharon loves to combine curves and straight lines, so she offset the hedges of common box and dune crow-berry with a circle of paving set in pebbles. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

"Lines and shapes are very important when designing a garden," says Sharon, who co-authored a book titled Making Sense of Garden Design (Briza).

Australian brush cherry (Syzygium paniculatum) topiaries are underplanted with canary ivy trained over metal balls. The edging is mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus). Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Australian brush cherry (Syzygium paniculatum) topiaries are underplanted with canary ivy trained over metal balls. The edging is mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus). Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

"In my classes, I like to demonstrate that you can combine straight lines and curves in a garden. I always say, ‘If it makes you happy, do it.' There's no such thing as the garden police."

Sharon's favourite waterwise plants

Hedges

• Common box (Buxus sempervirens)

• False olive (Buddleja saligna)*

• Waterberg bell-bush (Freylinia tropica)*

Shrubs

• Autumn sage (Salvia greggii ‘Red Surprise')

• Dune crow-berry (Searsia crenata)*

• Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

• Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica and N. d. ‘Pygmaea')

• Salt bush (Rhagodia hastata)

Trees

• Pride of India (Lagerstroemia indica)

• White stinkwood (Celtis africana)*

• Wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana)*

Climbers

• Canary creeper (Senecio tamoides)*

• Cape leadwort (Plumbago auriculata)*

• Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

Groundcovers

• Fragile crassula (Crassula expansa)*

• Mat rush (Lomandra tanika)

• Spekboom (Portulacaria afra)*

• Wide-leafed dyckia (Dyckia platyphylla)

* indigenous

Structure is key

Here, she has combined a row of obelisks made from recycled barbed wire with canary ivy (Hedera canariensis) + trained over ball-shaped metal frames, rectangular pavers and hedges of star jasmine. Note: canary ivy is a declared Category 3 invasive plant in KZN. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Here, she has combined a row of obelisks made from recycled barbed wire with canary ivy (Hedera canariensis) + trained over ball-shaped metal frames, rectangular pavers and hedges of star jasmine. Note: canary ivy is a declared Category 3 invasive plant in KZN. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

Keen to create pathways and sitting areas that add structure, texture and shape to your garden?

Sharon offers the following advice:

  • While solid paving is ideal for driveways and patios, in gardens it has a number of drawbacks. Firstly, it reflects heat which makes the garden hotter and dries out plants. When it rains, there can be a substantial amount of run-off water which can lead to stormwater problems and flooding. Solid paving also deprives the soil beneath it of water.
  • To prevent the above and make your garden more interesting, combine pavers with other earth-friendly materials such as flagstones, sleepers (both cement and timber), wooden or composite decking, crushed stone, gabion rock, pebbles and gravel. Leave drainage spaces between the different materials so that rainwater can penetrate the soil.
"I introduced gravel and pebbles in this area, edging them with cobbles to keep the loose stones in place," says Sharon. "I made the raised bed in the centre using kerbstones and this is where I experiment with plants." Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
"I introduced gravel and pebbles in this area, edging them with cobbles to keep the loose stones in place," says Sharon. "I made the raised bed in the centre using kerbstones and this is where I experiment with plants." Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
  • You could also fill these drainage spaces with low-growing plants such as carpet daisy (Dymondia margaretae) or, if the spaces are wide, fragile crassula for a cooling effect. Artificial grass is also very effective. Choose one with a pile length of 30mm or more so that there's a shadow in the grass and it looks darker and cooler. Rounded pebbles on weed barrier between flagstones create a lovely textural contrast and are excellent for areas that get full sun all day.
  • When choosing colours for paths and sitting areas, avoid harsh single hues. Rather go for softer blended shades that mimic nature. Look at the colours of the roof and walls of your house and choose paving materials that complement them.
  • When laying out a path or decorative paving design, first level the area as best you can. It doesn't have to be ‘spirit level straight'. You may have to go with the natural flow of the soil, so long as it's fairly level and water is directed away from the foundations of the house.
Sharon made the pillars supporting the trellis from stones and wire mesh. "To reduce the number of stones you need, place a plastic pipe in the centre and fill in around it. Make sure you have enough wire mesh at the bottom to close the pillar off completely so that the stones don't fall out," she says. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Sharon made the pillars supporting the trellis from stones and wire mesh. "To reduce the number of stones you need, place a plastic pipe in the centre and fill in around it. Make sure you have enough wire mesh at the bottom to close the pillar off completely so that the stones don't fall out," she says. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
  • If you're going to use loose stone or ornamental gravel, you must place a weed barrier underneath it. To keep the weed barrier in place, bend pieces of wire into giant staple shapes and push them into the ground at intervals. Then, to keep the stones in place, create an edging with small cobbles (about 110 x 110mm). Build a foundation about 50mm deep using readymix concrete and lay them in this. If you are using artificial grass, you'll also need an edging to hide the cut edge which can look ugly.
Sweet pea. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann
Sweet pea. Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

CONTACT Sharon Walker School of Gardening 082 796 6615, schoolofgardening@gmail.com

STOCKISTS

SmartStone | SmartStone Bloemfontein 079 527 2521 | bloemfontein@smartstone.co.za

Mary Jane Harris

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