104 australiancountry.net.au
GARDEN PROFILE
an evergreen carpet of Aptenia cordifolia to the
circular expanse of lawn enclosed with Japanese
box and smoke bush that is the centrepiece of
the front garden. “It’s a great spot for a game
of pétanque with friends or, when all eight
grandchildren are in residence, a cricket match,”
Marilyn says. “It’s Raff erty’s rules, but if you hit
a child, you’re out. We chose couch for the lawn
because it’s hardy enough to withstand summer
and I like its fi neness. It also provides good
softfall for cricket catches.”
The signature scheme is blue and white,
provided by rows of agapanthus, plumbago,
towering spires of echium and swathes of
lavender. “Our soil is very alkaline, so you
have to go with what grows,” Marilyn explains.
“French lavender seems to do particularly well.
There’s always something starring depending
on the time of year.”
A stand of primarily Queen Elizabeth
and blackboy roses is framed by a border of
intertwined wattles and grevilleas leading to the
kitchen garden with masses of herbs. The Wilsons
planted a screen of seedless red sultana grapes to
help keep this western side of the house cool in
summer. Succulents also thrive in this drier part
of the garden, and Marilyn has created a mini
Versailles with serried rows of rosette succulents.Clockwise
from above:
A milk separator is
born again as a pot
stand; the Wilsons
have a Red Poll stud;
there’s year-round
colour in the garden.