of standard roses. It’s those investments that make the
garden. That’s what you spend your money on.”
Espaliered apples and camEspaliered apples and camellias line fences and drifts ellias line fences and drifts
of rhododendron fromof rhododendron from nearby Red Dragon Nursery are nearby Red Dragon Nursery are
striking in spring. “It’s a little English,” says Sally, “and that’s striking in spring. “It’s a little English,” says Sally, “and that’s
deliberate. Wdeliberate. We wanted to me wanted to marry the garden with the church, arry the garden with the church,
without going down the cottage garden track. I love themwithout going down the cottage garden track. I love them but but
they are too mthey are too much work when you’re working full-timuch work when you’re working full-time.”e.”
JimJim adm admits to having mits to having made a few made a few mistakes. “But if istakes. “But if
somsomething doesn’t work we just pull it out,” says Sally. ething doesn’t work we just pull it out,” says Sally.
“A lot of trees have done m“A lot of trees have done merry-go-rounds around the erry-go-rounds around the
garden. Somgarden. Some of theme of them survive. Som survive. Some of theme of them light light
the bonfire. But that’s okay. Neither of us is horticultural. the bonfire. But that’s okay. Neither of us is horticultural.
To be honest, we have very mTo be honest, we have very much winged it.”uch winged it.”
Apparently, there’s never an argumApparently, there’s never an argument —ent — both being both being
practical people, neither could stand the waste of timpractical people, neither could stand the waste of time! e!
If the pressure gets too mIf the pressure gets too much in the garden, Jimuch in the garden, Jim has has
converted a formconverted a former garage, built by the previous owner er garage, built by the previous owner
in the style of the old Brown Min the style of the old Brown Mountain cottages, into ountain cottages, into
possibly the poshest mpossibly the poshest men’s shed around. Men’s shed around. Meanwhile, Sally eanwhile, Sally
loves to potter in the vegetable patch with her Silkie and loves to potter in the vegetable patch with her Silkie and
Ancona chickens and three beloved Chow Chow dogs, BJ, Ancona chickens and three beloved Chow Chow dogs, BJ,
Katy and Lulu. The dogs’ kennel is a mKaty and Lulu. The dogs’ kennel is a measure of how easure of how
loved they are. Designed and built by Jimloved they are. Designed and built by Jim in the style in the style
of a mof a miniature church to reflect the original building, iniature church to reflect the original building,
it even has its own garden in the shape of a horseshoe. it even has its own garden in the shape of a horseshoe.
Nearby, they’ve placed the headstone of the original pastor, Nearby, they’ve placed the headstone of the original pastor,
John IngramJohn Ingram Thom Thomason, and designed the surrounding ason, and designed the surrounding
garden to reflect an old-fashioned feel with chrysanthemgarden to reflect an old-fashioned feel with chrysanthemumums, s,
gladioli and dahlias sourced fromgladioli and dahlias sourced from fam family and friends.ily and friends.
The church collection box is still at the front door where The church collection box is still at the front door where
congregations of old passed through. “I wonder if that’s congregations of old passed through. “I wonder if that’s
why people comwhy people come to the back door,” jokes Jime to the back door,” jokes Jim, “so they don’t , “so they don’t
have to pay.” In a way, they see their work in the garden as have to pay.” In a way, they see their work in the garden as
honouring the mhonouring the mememory of Underwood’s pastor, a mory of Underwood’s pastor, a man Jiman Jim has has
learnt about through digging in the local archives. “Hlearnt about through digging in the local archives. “He was e was
regarded as the good Samregarded as the good Samaritan of Underwood,” says Jimaritan of Underwood,” says Jim..
“H“He did everything for everyone. We did everything for everyone. We don’t know where he e don’t know where he
was buried, but we found his headstone in the back of the was buried, but we found his headstone in the back of the
shed, so we’ve placed it in a spot we regard as our graveyard.”shed, so we’ve placed it in a spot we regard as our graveyard.”
The neighbouring paddock has been the couple’s latest The neighbouring paddock has been the couple’s latest
challenge. Once the picnic grounds of Underwood, challenge. Once the picnic grounds of Underwood,
it now belongs to Sally and Jimit now belongs to Sally and Jim, who have turned it into , who have turned it into
a ma magnificent David Austin rose garden, designed to agnificent David Austin rose garden, designed to
reflect the shape of the church windows. reflect the shape of the church windows.
MMost most mornings you’ll also see Sally doing a comornings you’ll also see Sally doing a complete lap plete lap
of the garden with the dogs. She finds it diffiof the garden with the dogs. She finds it difficult to head cult to head
off to work, at a financial services comoff to work, at a financial services company in Launceston, pany in Launceston,
and won’t leave without saying hello to everything on and won’t leave without saying hello to everything on
her rounds. “I just get lost in the timher rounds. “I just get lost in the time,” she says. “The e,” she says. “The
atmatmosphere has becomosphere has become so peaceful.”e so peaceful.”
UNDERWOOD TASMANIA G A R DE N
NOVEMBER 2017 COU NTRY ST Y LE 65