The position and proportions of the pool were vital to the overall balance of the garden. Situated on the upper terrace, close to both the house and the conservatory, the sound of spray from raised water jets is relaxing with summer evening sundowners. The pool surround is Naboomspruit sandstone, while the water jets are mounted on two stainless steel pipes running beneath the sandstone, and operate from their own pump.
The art studio and guest cottage in the garden, designed to replicate an orangery, are situated next to a lemon walkway. Tucked away on the other side is the barn, where Sharland keeps her gardening materials. An imposing pin oak stands guard over a pair of life-size bronze bushbuck by sculptor David Tomlinson.
Two life-size bronze cheetahs by David Tomlinson are positioned on the lower terrace, as the focal point between two contained beds of perfectly clipped lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). In the background, a simple garden pavilion beckons as a shady resting place. The garden enjoys ninety per cent full sun.
One of a pair of bespoke urns in light ochre that have been placed in matching ponds on concrete plinths. The plinths are submerged below water level to create the illusion of floating pots. The ponds themselves are painted black and edged with black slate.
The 3.5-metre-high concrete retaining wall clad in sandstone, with the conservatory beyond, on the upper level.
As the owners are enthusiastic tennis players, the tennis court is an important feature of the garden that also needs to be aesthetically pleasing. Instead of standard court fencing, Sharland specified a sandy colour to blend in with the retaining wall. She has also used this colour for the tennis court surface and the rope weave of the nets.
The back wall of the court forms part of the property’s retaining wall. To avoid the potential hazard of the ball bouncing back, Sharland designed a net that can be pulled across, like a curtain. This runs easily on a track, using yachting materials sourced by Gavin. The lights are replicas of English streetlights.
A spurwing goose sculpted by David Tomlinson.
Built of brick and plastered to resemble limestone, this practical, working vegetable basin is in daily use for lopping off roots and rinsing newly picked fresh produce. The hexagonal shape looks attractive from every vantage point.
An artichoke almost ready for harvesting.
The resident scarecrow stands guard over the lush vegetable garden.
Set below the eastern face of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, this garden achieved its current elegant status when the new owners, Gavin and Sharland East Urquhart, put it through a mammoth reconstruction a few years ago. Sharland, a well-known artist and gardener, has made a brave statement with her landscaping.
First, she took a number of dramatic decisions, starting with the removal of 14 fully grown pine trees, together with their root boles. As the last and largest tree was hauled out, the hole it left behind threatened to swallow up the giant, bright yellow bulldozer entirely – much to the horror of terrified onlookers.
The garden, as it was, consisted of a series of terraces falling away from the house towards the road below. Another courageous decision was to completely re-level these terraces. A 3.5-metre-high concrete retaining wall clad in sandstone and spanning the entire 85-metre length of the property, was erected.
When the planting finally began, the fearless couple brought in truckloads of large indigenous trees, and so yellowwoods and white stinkwoods (Celtis africana) were given a nurturing home among existing Cape ash and pin oaks.
‘I could visualise the finished picture … like a painting.’