Gardens are our playgrounds, our places to retreat, and often our favourite way to express who we are. Over the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of sharing my seasonal favourites in The Gardener magazine - from tiny, overlooked blooms to bold shrubs that stop you in your tracks.

Looking back on 2025, it was a deeply rewarding year. A year of helping readers discover new plants, sharing moments from my own garden journey and soaking up the colour, fragrance and joy that only time spent outdoors can bring. Every season has its own magic from summer’s abundance, autumn’s warmth, winter’s quiet surprises and spring’s unstoppable energy. What follows is my personal look back at the year, season by season, plant by plant.

And of course, the year begins in midsummer. As South Africans, we’re incredibly lucky that our new year starts with growth already in full swing.

 

Midsummer is playtime in the garden

Midsummer is when the garden becomes pure enjoyment. Whether you’re stretched out under a shady tree, hunting for something new to plant, or simply breathing in the scent of flowers on a warm afternoon, the garden is our safe space.

We kicked off 2025 by asking a simple question: What kind of gardener are you?

Some gardeners are natural Cool Influencers, always sharing their latest discoveries online and inspiring others along the way. Bold, tropical plants like Mandevilla fit this personality perfectly. With cascading white, pink or red flowers, especially the ever-reliable Diamantina range, they bring instant holiday vibes to any space.
The Pollinator Warrior plants for the bees, butterflies and all the good bugs. Modern roses, Dahlias, and the Cape Mallow reward dedication with buzzing activity and endless colour.

And of course, the Plant Whisperers! Those people who just seem to know what a plant needs. Tuberous begonias like Non-Stop, Summer Wings and Funky thrive in their care, returning each year bigger, brighter and better than before.

Truth be told, most gardeners don’t stay neatly in one category. We experiment we mix things up, and we enjoy a bit of everything.

 

Autumn Inspiration

Autumn brings a quieter kind of beauty. Cooler mornings and evenings slow things down and colours deepen and intensify. It’s a wonderful time to really notice the garden.

Some of my autumn favourites include Correa White Bells, a versatile shrub that flowers through autumn and works beautifully as a hedge or shaped feature. Cape Honeysuckle is another standout. A magnet for bees and sunbirds, offering vibrant orange, red or yellow nectar when it’s most appreciated. Lily Turf adds unexpected purple blooms to shady areas with very little effort, while Fire Cracker Fountain Grass spills gracefully over ponds and containers, adding movement and texture.

Autumn is also one of the best times to plant shrubs and perennials. With the soil still warm, roots can settle in comfortably before the next spring arrives.

 

 

Winter Wonders

Winter doesn’t mean the garden goes quiet - it just asks us to look a little closer. Spending time outside keeps the inspiration flowing, especially when you know what to plant during winter.

Camellias are always a winter favourite of mine. Evergreen, glossy and generous with their blooms, they flower from winter into early spring and bring real structure to the garden. Loropetalum with their fringe like flowers add dark pink flowers in the cooler months, followed by rich plum-coloured foliage in summer, and can be clipped neatly or left to grow naturally.

And then there’s Bellis perennis, also known as Button Flowers they create a cheerful ground cover that pops up with dainty flowers as soon as the sun warms the soil.

Even in winter, planting something unexpected or wandering through a friend’s garden, can completely change how you see your own space. And, of course, a warm cup of tea in hand always helps.

 

Spring Surprises

As the days warm up, the garden bursts back into life. Flowers open, fragrances drift through the air, and pollinators arrive in numbers.

Some spring favourites include Flowering Laurel, a compact evergreen with pink-tinged buds opening into soft white blooms, perfect for hedges, containers or garden beds. Scabiosa brings its pinwheel flowers in white, blue and pink, drawing in bees and butterflies and making lovely country-style bouquets. Crowned Lavender, with its short stems and purple-to-pink tones, thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

Spring also reminds us to slow down. Shrubs like Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow encourage us to pause, breathe and simply enjoy the moment as their fragrant blooms quietly change colour over time.

 

 

Summer Highlights

Summer is all about colour, ease and life in the garden.

Plants like Louisiana Iris bring drama with their bold flowers, especially in boggy spots or rich borders. Convolvulus trails beautifully over walls and containers, while Sweet Potato Vine adds lush, cascading foliage to baskets and pots.

Rudbeckia Toto Gold radiates sunshine with its compact, sunflower-like blooms and Veronica Sunset Boulevard delivers months of vibrant pink flowers that pollinators can’t resist.

One of my stand-out favourites for 2025 we the perennial Salvia Rockin’ Fuchsia rounds things off with deep pink blooms, long flowering periods and an easy-going nature in almost any soil.
Summer in the garden is about watching the buzz of activity, feeling the sun on your back, and enjoying the energy that colour and life bring to outdoor spaces.

 

 

Looking Back on 2025

When I look back on 2025, it’s the favourite moments, favourite plants and favourite discoveries that stand out. From tuberous begonias to tropical Mandevilla, from pollinator-friendly shrubs to bold summer colour, both Eckards and my own garden have been a constant source of inspiration and learning.

Gardens are never static. They’re never boring. And they’re always full of surprises. As we step into a new year, my advice is simple: look around, breathe in the fragrance, notice the colour, and enjoy the story your garden is telling.

Every plant we love and every patch of soil we tend becomes part of that story. And when it’s filled with favourites, it becomes a window into our world.