WATCH: Locals’ paradise in Garden and Home

In the hustle-and-bustle of western Kempton Park, on the corner of Ilex Way and Aandblom Road, lies a hidden paradise.

Upon entering the black gate of house number 51, and passing an avocado tree that seems to touch the heavens, one comes face-to-face with the 48-year-old award-winning garden of Keith (76) and Lettie (71) Johnston from Edleen. Their creations’ beauty is so overwhelming that one might not believe one is in the City of Ekurhuleni at all.

To the left of this oasis, a jungle of green ferns cast a shadow over a neatly-cut lawn. This sea of green is contrasted with splashes of red impatiens. The noise from moving cars and passing aeroplanes from a moment ago is suddenly gone, drowned by the sounds of burbling water features and chirping birds that found shelter in a giant melaleuca tree.

This garden is magical. With its hidden corners, plants that fill every nook and cranny and a bright blue pool shaded by green conifers, it is the perfect hide-out for children and adults alike.

It is, therefore, no surprise that the esteemed leisure magazine Garden and Home featured the Johnston’s hidden paradise in its January edition. Although they have won a countless number of prizes for their creation, it was only when their son-in-law suggested they contact the magazine, that the Johnstons considered it.

“He sees our garden all the time, so for him to say it is beautiful is really something,” remembers Keith.

This avid gardener was in the pharmacy when he saw the magazine for the first time. “I walked past the bookstall, opened it, saw our garden, and then the show started,” he laughs.

Lettie chirps that her husband is very proud of the feature. “The book has followed Keith wherever he goes.” As she looks for the article in the magazine, Keith tells her, with a hint of excitement in his voice, that it is on page 70.

“Oh goodness, he even knows the page number,” she laughs.

Although Lettie teases Keith, she is also immensely proud. “I looked at the article and thought, wow, that is our garden.”

Sadly, however, these green-thumbs might be hanging up their gardening gloves in the near future. “It’s gotten too big for us,” they say in unison.

“For a garden like this, you have to be dedicated. We worked seven days a week to get it like this,” Lettie adds.

When not busy in the garden the couple enjoys travelling. “We’ve seen Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore and Switzerland, and then we decided to start looking at our own country, which is beautiful,” says Keith.

And do they ever want to find garden inspiration during their travels? Lettie laughs: “No thank you! I am fully inspired. Otherwise, we’ll never stop.”