Australian_House_&_Garden_2017_02

HGGARDENS

128 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN

ABOVESam and Lisa call this their “salad bowl”, a circular garden bed, constructed from recycled stone, containing edibles. Purple-flowering oval-leafed mint
bush (Prostantheraovalifolia) are planted among poas and dianella while beyond are the silhouettes of black-trunked red ironbark (Eucalyptussideroxylon‘Rosea’)
and lemon-scented gums (Corymbiacitriodora).OPPOSITESinuous lines and an interplay of mass and void is very important in this garden. “The masses of
planting, mounding and boulders are balanced with the voids of pathways, ponds and pools,” says Sam. The paths are made from Castlemaine slate.

‘USING THE INDIGENOUS MIDDLE-STOREY PLANTS ALONG THE BOUNDARIES

ALLOWS US TO CONNECT TO THE SURROUNDING LANSCAPE.’SAM COX

<(Bursariasponisa), hop bush (Dodoneaviscosa) and oval-leaf

mint bush (Prostanthera ovalifolia). In one corner is a cluster

of sheoak (AllocasuarinalittoralisandAllocasuarinaverticallata),

a homage to Ford, who had a fondness for the trees.

Initially, the understorey consisted of sun-loving plants such

as banksia, callistemons, grevilleas and kangaroo paw but as

the canopy grew, these gave way to species that can tolerate

filtered sun, including hardy correas and everlastings, combined

with groundcovers such as cut-leaf daisy (Brachyscomemultifida),

Swan River pea (Brachysema lanceolatum), creeping boobialla

(Myoporum parvifolium) and an array of sedges and grasses.

Sam uses a mix of indigenous natives (those that have always

grown in the local Nillumbik area) and what he calls “traditional

natives”, those that aren’t endemic to the area but are appropriate

for the dry soils of Eltham. The indigenous plants are concentrated

at the edges of the garden, to help blur the lines between the

garden and the landscape beyond. “One of our main priorities

is to create non-defined boundaries,” says Sam. “Using the

indigenous middle-storey plants along the boundaries allows

us to connect to the surrounding landscape. People ask ‘where

does the garden finish?’ and that makes me think we got it right.”

Having indigenous plants along the furthest reaches is also

a practical measure: they require less maintenance and water.

The garden is fed by one dam on the site (there’s a separate

70,000L water tank for the house) so most rely on rainfall for

survival, as they would in the bush. As higher temperatures and

less rainfall become normal, Sam has been fascinated to see

plants from WA and semi-arid desert plants thriving in his

garden. “That’s surely an indicator of where things are at in

terms of global warming.”

Sam and Lisa love the spirit of place embodied in their garden.

“The best moment for me is sunrise in the garden,” says Sam.

“Listening to the chorus of birds as they wake up and seeing the

sun peeping through towering trees is magical.” #