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Episode 1: Kiddie's garden

Abacus Gardens was approached by Caron to design a kiddie's garden at her Home in Eagle canyon, northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Four years ago Abacus Gardens had landscaped their brand new home, but since then they had started a family. Their needs had changed and she wanted the garden remoulded after the needs of their 2 year old son Luke. Thus a Kiddies garden request landed in our laps.

The Abacus design team decided that a kiddie's garden needed to be a magical garden where kids could play to their hearts content and a designer jungle gym was chosen as the central focal point. But this would be no ordinary jungle gym. We decided to build the jungle gym from meranti wood as apposed to typical gum pole construction. This translated into a funky and contemporary double storey home for Luke, gorgeously detailed with several rooms, bridges, swings, ladders, slides, climbing cargo nets, fireman's poles and really so much more.

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Our design inspiration came from kid's stories such as "Charlie and the chocolate factory" and so every aspect of the garden needed to include sumptuous visual delights. Embellishments such as a row of marching chickens and "dog" planters were carefully selected in order to maintain a sense of fun.

Even though we endeavoured to create an irresistible toy box garden, it was critical that our design did not result in a kiddie's nursery school play ground either, after all adults needed to enjoy the garden too. In order to achieve this end the kiddie's garden was set amongst a variety of screening foliage including tall striking cocos palms, adequately blending the original landscape with the new kiddie's garden. Clever use of flower plants has allowed for a visual feast all year round as the seasons change.

Fun plants were chosen such as the Venus fly trap collection, which no doubt will entertain little Luke for endless hours. Paths meander around the jungle gym, under and around shrubs and trees, whilst at all times Luke and his friends will get the opportunity to closely interact with nature as they brush against plants lining the mini-step walk ways. The plant selection have allowed for a fabulous hideaway. Even a bird feeder was included adjacent to the snow white sand pit, in order to encourage the garden to be a natural bird sanctuary.

Click to enlarge.

All plants selected as part of the Abacus design were child friendly, no thorns and non-poisonous plants were chosen. Even the water features were converted to be child safe!

Click here if you would like to FAST TRACK an enquiry to have a Kiddies garden designed and installed especially for your home.

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