Lizette Jonker, the South African Garden Diva, is first and foremost a gardener, albeit a very restless and impatient one! She has worked as photojournalist and stylist for several South African magazines the past 20 years, inspiring readers with creative gardening, décor and craft ideas. Her last full-time job, as editor of the very popular SA Garden magazine, ended last October when the publisher decided to close the magazine. She now freelances for Finesse and Garden & Home magazines, and gives regular garden talks at garden centres and garden clubs. She comes from a family of plant lovers who understand the need to share and explore everything that grows. She travels South Africa and the world in search of beautiful gardens to capture, usually accompanied by a small tour group organised by Thompsons Holidays. Her other big passion is singing - she is a trained dramatic soprano and vocal coach, and is part of the operatic group XQST. She shares a home in Pretoria, South Africa, with her handyman husband Chris, her son Duard, who is a first year opera student, and her mom Jean, who also loves gardening and has a rose named after her.