138 / AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
R
obert and Judy Henry have loved
their 2ha plot for more than 40
years. At its heart is the home
Robert built, surrounded by a gently
rambling garden of interesting trees and
an eclectic mix of plants.
“I like my garden a bit wild,” says Judy.
“We place the trees then plant around
them and let the pathways dictate their
own terms. We move plants around a lot
too, even trees.” The result is a journey
through dappled glades, across informal
lawns and past colourful f lowerbeds.
Elsewhere, there are substantial vegetable
beds, chooks, a glasshouse for Judy’s
collection of cacti and succulents, a
strawberry patch, and a fabulous hedge
of raspberries, laden with fruit.
The property is blessed with rich, red
mountain soil and quality bore water, but
there have been hard times. The bushfires
of 2009 licked at their doorstep, destroying
sheds and equipment, but thankfully not
the house. “I think the rhododendrons we
planted 20 years before helped protect us,”
says Robert. “Although they were terribly
damaged, they came back beautifully.”
Most of the surviving trees in the front
garden still bear blackened trunks (H&G
featured a story about this resurrection
in the February 2015 issue).
The garden is rich with coloured foliage.
Many trees are unusual species, sourced
from specialist suppliers or propagated by
the Henrys themselves. Judy and Robert
were not gardeners to begin with, but their
skills have grown along with the garden.
This is a garden where every turn brings
a new delight, a change of mood or a place
to pause. “The different seasons are so
dramatic,” says Judy. “There’s always
something that surprises us.” >‘ The different seasons are
so dramatic. There’s
always something that
surprises us.’ Judy HenryCLOCKWISE FROM THIS
IMAGE Judy, Robert and
their whippet Xanny in the
shady dell, where an array
of ferns thrive. The silver
birch grove, replanted after
the bushfires, is thriving
once more. Judy’s
succulent house is arranged
botanically by family
group. Princess lilies
(Alstroemeria).