t was during the height of

South Africa’s drought in

2016 when Johannesburg-

based landscaper Tim

Steyn finalised the designs

for this Bryanston garden.

Created in tandem with

a spacious new home,

the idea was a timeless

juxtaposition between the

structure’s contemporary

architecture and the site’s

sloping, rocky surrounds.

‘The style of the garden

draws on some of Dutch

landscaper Piet Oudolf’s

work that I’d seen at

Trentham Gardens in

Staffordshire in the

UK,’ says Steyn. ‘The

combination of wild grasses and hardy

perennials is very appealing, and a great

response to our dwindling water resources.’

Describing the landscape as a direct

counterpart to the building, Steyn was

especially cognisant of the home’s dramatic

views. The elevated, clean-lined property

looks directly towards the Sandton skyline,

with the pool and patio level descending

steeply towards the boundary below. ‘On

the upper level, the lawns are delineated into

flat geometric planes to complement the

home’s rectilinear style,’ he says. ‘The loose

nature of the wild grasses acts as a direct

contrast to this. I also wanted to create the

visual impression that the infinity pool

cascades directly into the wetland below.’

First steps involved some dramatic rock-

blasting to carve out sufficient space for

the pool. Some of the boulders were craned

in and placed in strategic positions, while

others were simply unearthed in situ. With

these elemental structures in place, Steyn

then created a meandering walkway that

loops from the manicured upper garden to

the lower wetland and back. ‘The rhythm

changes are frequent, from formal water

features to tranquil contemplative areas,’

he says. ‘The idea is that you’re taken on

a journey, that you want to walk through

the space and explore the varying elements.’

When it came to selecting grass species,

Steyn chose varieties that would ‘behave

optimally’, holding their form rather than

collapsing back down in the winter months.

‘We wanted year-round interest and colour,

from the rich green of early spring, to

the flowering heads in autumn, and the

textural browns and greys in winter,’

he says. The indigenous Aristida and

Miscanthus species proved ideal, as did

two varieties of exotic Muhlenbergia.

For colour, drought-hardiness and

texture, Steyn introduced statement

perennials, including deep purple salvia

and soft grey helichrysum. ‘I intentionally

mixed indigenous and exotic species,

choosing plants best suited to the design

rather than simply trying to replicate an

indigenous plantscape,’ he says. ‘Globally,

there are many regions that are far drier

than Joburg. As long as plants are not locally

invasive, I often use exotics for suburban

gardens. Salvia leucantha (from Mexico)

and Euphorbia wulfenii (native to the

Mediterranean) are good examples of this.’

Although just two years old, this

colourful garden has a long-established

air. Every part of it provides an experience

of discovery, with perpetually shifting

vistas as you wander along its pathways.

Pavers are softened by erigeron daisies,

while crassulas, euphorbias and sedums

combine in a tactile clash of greens and

greys. And when you get to the wetland, once

a neglected bottom-of-the-garden space,

it’s a different world entirely. Filled with

water lilies, giant papyrus and oxygen grass,

this peaceful green lung removes all traces of

the city. ‘The garden as a whole has become

a magnet for bird and insect life,’ says Steyn.

‘Tilapia flourish in the wetland, effectively

controlling the frogs and mosquitoes.’

Above all, this enduring highveld

landscape is a garden for all seasons. Baby

blue salvia bloom in summer, followed by

the plumes of flowering grasses in autumn,

the emergence of flowering bulbs in winter

and the addition of colourful water lilies

in spring. ‘The house has an abundance of

glass doors and windows, so all sides can

open up to the exterior,’ Steyn says. ‘The

lines between indoors and out have been

completely blurred.’ O [email protected]

THIS SPREAD, CLOCKWISE

FROM OPPOSITE TOP LEFT

Feathery Aristida junciformis contrasts with

hard natural rock; a dark reflection pond is

backed by Boston ivy and silver birches; the

garden’s rim-flow pool descends towards the

natural wetland in one of many level changes;

swathes of Aristida junciformis line and soften

the wetland path; a mix of Miscanthus and

pink Muhlenbergia adds height and texture.

I