NEW HEIGHTS

My client bought this property having fallen in love with its spectacular forest setting. But both the house and the garden were in a sorry state after years of neglect, and she felt overwhelmed by the enormity of it all,' says landscaper Kathryn Phillips, recalling their first meeting. The site, located in Constantia on the eastern slope of Table Mountain bordering Cecilia Forest, was thoroughly overgrown making access to its multiple levels difficult. The aim was to make better use of the extent of the garden and in doing so create what the owner envisioned as a space that would leave a legacy.
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One of Kathryn's first suggestions was boldly practical: establishing a new driveway meandering up to the house from the lower garden at street level to create a separate entrance and large parking area. Later this evolved to replace the existing entrance, a panhandle that left little space for parking. With an application for access at the provisional road level and council approval in mind, Kathryn approached landscape architect Rose Buchanan to assist with the initial design.
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The upper garden - a virtually self-contained area independent of the planned driveway - was addressed first, as a series of stone terraces encompassing a water feature. Realising that captivating vistas could be gained extending as far as the ocean on the horizon, the client requested the construction of a viewing deck. 'Despite having a plan in place, creating this space involved a lot of thinking on my feet, which was so exciting. And it was wonderful to work with Nick Hann and the talented team of stone masons at The Art of Stone,' says Kathryn.
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Plants were selected to suit the south-facing Afromontane Forest conditions and withstand cold, wet winters. The area presents an engaging canvas of texture and shape in a palette of white, blues and purples. Billowy blooms of Hydrangea macrophylla, dwarf delicate Mazus reptans, creeping rosemary and Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls' soften edges while tree ferns and a bundle of papyrus reed lend feathery interest and height. Liriope muscari 'Evergreen Giant' and Salvia leucantha provide vibrant bursts of colour and below the deck, star jasmine screens water tanks creating walls of green or white depending on the season. The extension of the pool terrace was...