Style Observer Gardening (SOG) continues its tour of Angella and Lloyd Distant’s garden, where the couple’s shared persistence has culminated in a vibrant display of blooms, casting a radiant light over their Upper St Andrew home.

Throughout the years of its transformation, Angella has viewed the garden as a vital space for quiet reflection and personal restoration.

“This is my chosen sanctuary for meditation and quiet reflection. Much like the cherished hymn
I Come to the Garden Alone, these grounds offer me a profound sense of comfort. It feels even more special when a passer-by stops to take in the view. I always whisper a prayer of gratitude, glad that they can see the hard work and heart I’ve put into the earth,” she reflected.

Despite her collection of orchids, Distant insists she has no preferred flower, viewing them all with equal affection. Dedicated daily care has been vital to the garden’s prosperity, especially during those trials when she had to rebuild her sanctuary from the ground up.

“There is a unique joy in being surrounded by a thriving garden, but it does come at a price. It can be quite disheartening to lose costly plants to disease, dry spells, or heavy rain after so much effort and expense,” Distant explained.

Yet, despite the many challenges, the rewards make the effort worthwhile. Distant’s counsel for aspiring gardeners is straightforward: Begin on a small scale and expand over time.

“The best way to start a garden is to go in stages; do not go large initially and be overwhelmed. Choose plants according to what you can afford initially. It is costly but satisfying,” Distant advised. “But most of all, enjoy the plants and the process. They don’t have to be orchids to be beautiful.”

Cattleya Frances Fox Garfield Robinson

Bromeliad Garfield Robinson

Phalaenopsis Garfield Robinson

Saintpaulia ionantha Garfield Robinson

Crinum lily Garfield Robinson

Climbing oleander Garfield Robinson

Desert rose Garfield Robinson

Broughtonia sanguinea Garfield Robinson

Dendrobium Garfield Robinson