ON THE surface

GARDEN #1

A French connection

When Jacqui Dixon moved into her new house in 2018, she was less than excited about her overgrown backyard, which was predominantly grass. “I wanted to plant veggies, but I also wanted it to look pretty; I’d been given wildflower seeds while staying at the Art of Living Ashram in Germany and I was very keen to use them,” she says. “It was my dream to have a little wildflower patch!”

Jacqui called in the help of landscaper Charlotta Carolissen who recommended using leftover cobbles from the driveway to create borders to contain the veggies, wildflowers and other plants that would eventually grow into hedges and so maintain an orderly effect. Since veggies aren’t always attractive, surrounding them with hedges is ideal in this 42m² backyard, explains Charlotta who also planted herbs in pots.

Jacqui loves her revamped garden. “The hedges and cobbled borders with moss and peace-in-the-home growing in-between are so French. I love my