Bio
Born in then-Rhodesia, Juanita Knox moved to South Africa in 1982 with her family when she was 13 years old.
Attending Lyttleton Manor School in Centurion she soon developed a love for the natural sciences and art and both of these disciplines influenced her future career.
Although a diligent and enthusiastic student Juanita's passion was horses. She started riding from the age of six and under the careful encouragement of her mother she soon developed her equestrian talent.
She and her horse Duke of Light were vying for a place on the South African Olympic team. Sadly the death of her horse put an end to her competitive dreams. Faced with an uncertain future and family financial disaster, it was time for Juanita to put her love of hard work and the outdoors to use.
Tapping into her entrepreneurial spirit Juanita created Status Gardens, which since 1987 has become a recognised landscaping feature on the Gauteng map.
Largely self-taught, Juanita says common sense and the influence of her grandmother and mother, who are both keen gardeners, are the key factors in her business success.
Known for pushing the boundaries of garden design, Juanita has developed a signature style incorporating concepts drawn from science, abstract art, mathematics and holistic principles and she has received many accolades including Landscaper of the Year from the Pretoria News.
When she is not on-site creating a horticultural masterpiece, Juanita is an adrenalin junkie and lists biking and paragliding as two of her favourite pasttimes.
She has invested in her dream property in the Wilderness which consists of a natural forest, an old farm house, a water tower and a shed and is in the process of turning this real estate pumpkin into a Cinderella rural retreat.