Six years ago, Hazel and Hans Kuoni started their garden from nothing. Today, they have a beautiful garden full of memories and nostalgia. Hans and Hazel’s garden is made up of gifts of seeds, cuttings or plants from friends and relatives. This ‘keepsake’ garden is now a vibrant and colourful testimony to what can be achieved ‘on the cheap’.
Hazel has a story for every plant in the garden. She explained to Don that the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) by the front door is over 30 years old. It was dug up from her last garden. A large geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) was grown from a cutting given to Hazel by her neighbour, and friends gave her some agave cuttings (Agave attenuata). Every time Hazel and Hans look at these plants, they think of the generosity of their family and friends.
Hazel recommends growing plants from cuttings and giving some to your friends or neighbours. She said that when she looks around her garden she doesn’t always remember the name of the plants, but she always remembers the friends.