Style Observer Gardening (SOG) is back in the garden of landscape designer Marie Hylton. This private ecosystem — teeming with diverse flora — is a vibrant, living testament to the sheer abundance found within a miniature rainforest.

Affectionately called her “happy space”, Hylton’s tropical oasis is a labour of love that demands a lot of maintenance. “The key for caring [for the garden] is consistency in maintenance, which includes mowing the lawn, pruning trees, shrubs, fertilising and chemical treatment to get rid of those pesky insects,” she shares. Her advice to those eager to create their own green space based on knowledge gleaned over three decades: “Start with potted plants. These could be hanging pots or just a few pots in different sizes or shapes to add interest to your garden. Choose plants that are low-maintenance, inexpensive and drought-tolerant, such as petunias, syngoniums and lace ferns. Planter pots give you the option of controlling the growth and care of plants, as watering plants and grass can become challenging during periods of drought.”

Her sound advice will find favour with many budding gardeners. Do let us know.

Photos: Naphtali Junior

Golden shrimp (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Jungle geranium (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Irish moss(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Heliconia (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Madagascar periwinkle (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Hibiscus (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Italian cypress (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Brazilian red cloak (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Yesterday, today and tomorrow (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Bougainvillea (Photo: Naphtali Junior)