The contrasting shapes contained within this round pond-fountain, namely the central square plinth, round lily pads, tall blue sweet pea bush (Podalyria calyptrata) and snowball bush (Viburnum opulus ‘Sterile’) act as a visual feature in a section of the garden that leads down to the tennis court on the lower tier. A dense planting of erigeron frames the cement base of the pond.
In this garden overlooking False Bay towards the Hottentots Holland mountains, a rim-flow pool appears almost level with the sea on the horizon. The miniature, white daisy-like flowers of erigeron, which are hardy and can withstand footfall weight, break the hardness and monotony of the wide cement pathway. They also soften the formality of an otherwise austere but majestic setting. Potted white Marguerite daisies are placed either side of the steps, while the sculpture of a hammerkop adds a quirky touch to the balance.
June has linked the different levels of the garden by repeating design elements of the planting, such as clipped bushes.
On the lower level of the property, which is not visible from the house, June has created a gravel orchard. Comprising square hedged boxes of rosemary, citrus trees such as lime, grapefruit, lemon and orange grow in the centre of each box. In between are the round-clipped balls of westringea and saltbush, selected for their varying shades of green.
Gifted garden designer June Commerell was appointed by this international couple to landscape and redesign their newly acquired property in Constantia in the Cape. With June’s natural flair for envisaging an end result, she spent the following two years developing what is now a well-proportioned and interesting garden punctuated with fountains, arches, a lavender hill and a gravel orchard.
June methodically designed each section of the garden from her imagination. The garden needed form, symmetry and interest, particularly below the pool area, which had previously been ignored.
She first proposed that the small, rather insignificant pool at the side of the house be replaced with a larger one that would serve as a focal point, as well as being more in keeping with the proportions of the house. Because the garden is on two levels and challenged by a sheer drop to below house level, June also proposed the creation of another point of interest, a gravel orchard.
With its differing soils, varying vegetation and exposure to the notorious vagaries of the Cape’s weather, this garden certainly was a creative test, but one that June passed with distinction.
A white cement cone on a square plinth contrasts dramatically with the dark green, formally clipped Syzigium paniculatum behind it.
‘I have been gifted with the ability to visualise a completed garden, which is lucky, as I cannot draw!’