The Prettiest Tiny Garden!

Such a pretty bowl of welcoming flowers!

Some of my 'faithful followers' know of my daughter Linda, either through 'Romeo's Wish', or through reading her blog, The Squashed Tomato. As her exceedingly proud mother (don't get me started, else I fear I won't be able to stop myself) I know I am not just biased in her favor. She really is that special and I regularly wish I could sing her praises from the rooftops (she will not allow me to do so and that is why I am so reticent).

Now, before you grab your things and rush away, thinking I'm just another blogger nauseatingly puffed up with maternal pride, please let me reassure you right here and now. This post is not about Linda. It is about her little garden. I was there yesterday and, although I had not taken my camera along, I just could not resist snapping away using my mobile's camera. I do hope that all of you who are 'novice gardeners' or who have teeny tiny plots of your own will be able to glean some lovely ideas from Linda's delightfully pretty, little garden. I am so proud of what she has achieved in her own teeny tiny garden.

See for yourselves...

This woven screen gives her privacy from the cars which park directly beyond this gateway. I really love what she has done to make this an attractive feature in her small front yard.

A narrow little bed filled with perennials each flowering in its own appointed season to add year round interest.

Every gardener deserves a quiet spot from which to enjoy her garden!

It just goes to show that you can effectively incorporate bold leaved plants even in a very small space!

What is a garden without a water feature. This little pond has seven fat, happy goldfish living in it!

In a tiny garden, these elements of whimsy add an element of delightful surprise. Linda tastefully places her 'surprises' in the most appropriate spots.

I helped her start her garden when she became the proud owner of her townhouse in March 2010. I was given strict instructions, "no fussy plants".  She wanted an 'easy-care garden' and has certainly succeeded in achieving this.

The little pond runs continuously and its soothing trickles are incredibly comforting to the ear.

This Pussy Willow is her only tree. It is growing strongly in its pot and adds a lovely shade of green and soft foliage to break the wall beside her pond. Notice the mirror cleverly tucked behind the greenery.

Another corner of her small front garden. 

There are three trellised creepers trained up the three walls enclosing her front yard. They flower gloriously when it's their season,  emitting the most beautiful perfume.

One of two window boxes on either side of her patio door exiting into the front garden. Notice the solar lights that are strategically positioned around this little garden, At night, she has her very own little fairyland.

This is her back yard. It is here that she and her guests gain access to her home. I love this bright splash of color to welcome every arrival!

A healthy Gardenia shrub greets with its heady perfume right outside the backdoor entrance.

A nest of pots and a birdbath add beauty to this corner of the tiny back yard.

Linda has a couple of wall ornaments to add interest to an otherwise monotonous expanse of  back yard wall.

A small wrought ironwork table graces this corner, attractively adorned with a cluster of potted plants. 

Birds are most welcome to stop for a drink in this little Eden.

This little shelf displaying a pretty succulent is strategically placed on the wall above the birdbath.

In case anyone was wondering, this garden tour was entirely unsolicited and unexpected by the homeowner who, at the time I visited, wasn't even present. She was in fact back at my home, taking care of the dogs so that I could attend an appointment in Cape Town. That being said, she had not prepared her garden for this impromptu photo-shoot! What I saw and captured was exactly as I found it. No sprucing or hurried manicuring. It really is just this pretty all the time!  Now do you see one of the many reasons I'm so jolly proud of her?  Should you wish to find out more about her, please feel free to visit her blog or her website