Meet Leigh — The Gardener Behind My Stylish Backyard

I grew up on a farm in South Africa, surrounded by acres of gardens and a wholesale nursery. Plants were part of my daily life before I could name them. But early on, I also started living with mobility and chronic pain issues — and that changed everything about how I garden. That combination — a deep love for plants and a very real understanding of pain — is what My Stylish Backyard is built on

Why I Started This Blog

Most gardening advice assumes you can kneel, dig, and haul without a second thought. I couldn’t always do that. And I kept meeting other gardeners — seniors, arthritis sufferers, wheelchair users, people with fibromyalgia and fatigue — who felt quietly shut out of something they loved. I started My Stylish Backyard to fix that. This is a place for people who refuse to give up their gardens just because their bodies have changed.

What You’ll Find Here

• Accessible gardening techniques that reduce bending, gripping, and strain
• Tool recommendations tested with arthritic hands and limited mobility in mind
• Plant guides chosen for low-maintenance beauty
• Raised bed and container ideas that bring the garden up to you
• Honest advice from someone who gardens with pain — not despite it

My Promise to You

I’m not a doctor or a physiotherapist. I’m a gardener who has spent years figuring out what actually works when your body doesn’t cooperate. Everything I share comes from real experience, real research, and a genuine belief that everyone deserves a beautiful, accessible outdoor space.

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Thank you for joining us on this gardening adventure!