124 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
EMMALINE’S TIPS FOR
ATTRACTING BIRDS AND INSECTS
1 Think local Choose plants indigenous to your area.
2 Add colour Blue and purple plants attract butterflies
and bees. Some examples are: native bluebells, native
violets, blue pratia and purple loosestrife.
3 Create habitats Use logs and rocks to create hiding
holes for lizards and frogs to make their homes.LIZ BEALE, ROSS PECK & DALE JOHNSON
An old clawfoot bathtub was reimagined as a comfy day bed in this
cute 3x5m garden called Awash with Nature, winner of the Achievable
Gardens category. Designed by Liz Beale, Ross Peck and Dale Johnson,
students from Swinburne University of Technology, the garden was
designed with the principles of the Gardens for Wildlife program in
mind. Within the tiny space, the creators managed to include a
frog pond, mini wet zone and a raised garden bed planted with
indigenous species. Recycled materials were used throughout and
a strip of ‘insect hotels’ (shelters for beneficial critters) ran around the
perimeter fence. “In this small space we’ve shown that you can create
a place brimming with diversity and ecological balance,” says Liz.EMMALINE BOWMAN
A passion for conservation, animals and indigenous plants
was the driving force for Melbourne landscape architect
Emmaline Bowman of Stem Landscape Architecture &
Design, who took out first prize in the Boutique Gardens
category for her Wild at Heart design. In a space
measuring just 5x5m, Emmaline created a naturalistic
bushland garden containing a rockpool, walkway,
productive garden and suspended day bed. “I wanted to
showcase a space where people, animals and insects can
come together,” she says. Using species that attract birds
and insects was crucial; key plants include purple
loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), billy buttons, native
bluebells (Wahlenbergia), native violets (Viola hederacea)
and red box (Eucalyptus polyanthemus). The rockpool was
made from Melbourne basalt and the dreamy day bed
was built from recycled hardwood.MIFGS HIGHLIGHTS
Young designers
to watch