On a grey mid-August day, I had the pleasure of visiting Jan and Eric’s garden. Eric greeted me at the gate with a chuckle, saying, “She’s the gardener, I’m the slave.”

Over the past 12 years, Jan and Eric have transformed their once kikuyu-covered wilderness into an impressive garden. When they first arrived, they were fortunate to have some established trees. After renovating their house, they dedicated the next three years to shaping the garden. The area, originally a poultry farm, boasts very fertile soil.
 
At the front of their house, beside the driveway, stand several silver pears. While we won’t see their white blossoms on the Festival day, the silver foliage will be compensation. Along the long street frontage, a row of pale pink weeping cherries add a touch of elegance. Beneath these cherries lies an iris bed adorned with oriental poppies, Buxus balls, and climbing roses Veilchenblau and Chawton Cottage.
 
A long screen of espaliered camellias, Silver Column, and Setsugekka, stretches across the front of the house. Between the street frontage and the camellia screen, a pair of Cornus alternifolia Argentea stand proudly. On the southern side, maples, including Acer palmatum Senkaki, provide vibrant colour.
 
Eric has cleverly installed trellising at each end of the house, creating distinct front and back gardens. As we walked towards the back, we were greeted by a line of pergolas forming a rose walkway. To the right, several beautiful Viburnum plicatum Mariesii will be magnificent. Jan mentioned she had to “yank out hundreds of their seedlings or they would have had a viburnum forest.”
 
During my visit, the white azaleas and numerous Hellebores were in full bloom. I also noticed several rhododendrons and three large cherry trees. Unfortunately, they had to remove one recently due to silver leaf disease. Their arborist informed Jan that Cambridge is full of cherries afflicted by this debilitating disease.
 
The vegetable gardens are ready for planting, with plans to grow potatoes, tomatoes, courgettes, and beets, among other crops. There’s also a caged garden of raspberries and blackberries.
 
Jan’s preference for form, foliage, and flowers, in that order, is evident throughout the garden. Every plant and structure is thoughtfully placed, creating a harmonious and visually appealing landscape.
 
This garden is clearly a labour of love. When Jan and Eric aren’t tending to their own garden, they are actively involved with the Cambridge Tree Trust.
 
Don Wilson