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Modern cottage gardens in Melbourne

January 8, 2021
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Blog
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Posted by Parveen

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Parveen

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Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) is a perennial tr Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) is a perennial tropical plant with distinctive colourful blooms. It can grow quite large and spread in clumps in the warm, humid climate that it prefers. Its leaves grow on the plant’s upright stems and can be around 3 feet long.⁠ ⁠ It’s also possible to grow as a houseplant, though it’s typically very difficult to mimic torch ginger’s natural environment and the plant might not grow and flower to its fullest potential. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠Torch ginger is available in varieties primarily based on its flower colour, including: ⁠ ⁠ 💮‘Yamamoto’: This plant is notably tall and features large light pink blooms. ⁠ 💮‘Giant Red Torch Ginger’: This variety can grow to 20 feet tall and blooms with bright red flowers.⁠ 💮‘White Torch Ginger’: This rare plant features large white blooms with hints of yellow.⁠ 💮‘Borneo Pink Torch Ginger’: This is another rare plant with pink blooms and red to maroon leaves. ⁠ 💮‘Sunset Red Torch Ginger’: This rare plant has red blooms and leaves that are dark green on top and reddish-purple underneath.⁠ ⁠ If you have one in your garden, please do share! 💚⁠ ⁠
Cranbourne North 2021 design⁠ ⁠ Itching to get Cranbourne North 2021 design⁠ ⁠ Itching to get this one underway as it will look amazing!!!💚🤩⁠ ⁠ ⭐some funky plant choices coming up⁠ ⭐feature cladding⁠ ⭐feature front entrance decking⁠ ⭐pleached deciduous trees⁠ for lovely autumn colour⁠ ⭐colour, texture⁠ ⭐custom metal artwork⁠ ⭐new garden room adjoining their master bedroom which looks into the garden but provides privacy too!⁠ ⁠ Blessed to continue to think outside the box and to work with lovely families!!! 💚
In 1836 between July and December ...⁠ ⁠ Eight In 1836 between July and December ...⁠ ⁠ Eight ships came across to Kangaroo Island and aboard two of those boats were Col William Light aboard the HMS Rapid and George Strickland Kingston aboard the HMS Cygnet.⁠ ⁠ Light and Kingston both set off to survey the coastline and find a bigger land mass for the colonists to settle on. This is when they came across what is now known as Glenelg. ⁠ ⁠ Glenelg was named after Lord Glenelg the Secretary of State for the Colonists. In December 28th 1836 Captain Hindmarsh arrived aboard the HMS Buffalo. There was a replica of this ship made and is running as a restaurant in Wigly Reserve today. It was on this day that Captain Hindmarsh Proclaimed South Australia where the Old Gum Tree stands today.⁠ ⁠ Glenelg, South Australia, a beautiful place to visit. Have you been? ⁠ ⁠ This is one of my favourite pictures of its beach as it love the contrast between the majestically tall conifers against the colours of the sea and the bright blue skyline!💚
If you truly love nature, you will find beauty eve If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere. ⁠ ~ Vincent Van Gogh⁠ ⁠ Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), perhaps the most famous artist in the world, is perceived by many as the 'mad' artist, the man who painted in a frenzy or simply the tormented soul who cuts off his ear. ⁠ ⁠ His artistic genius is often overshadowed by those who see his paintings as mere visual manifestations of his troubled mind. Whilst in part this may be true, in reality his innovative and unique artistic style was of enormous importance to a host of artists who followed in his wake. ⁠ ⁠ The career of Vincent van Gogh as a painter was short, but his paintings revolutionized artistic practice and styles. ⁠ ⁠ The intensity of his vision, his wonderful sense of colour, and the extraordinary boldness of his technique created masterpieces that exercise a profound influence on the art of the twentieth century.⁠ ⁠ Amazing!!! 💚
Loving the texture and the different greens in thi Loving the texture and the different greens in this one! ⁠ ⁠ An open garden I visited ages ago and one I admired a lot as it had a lot of features I wanted in my own garden. 🤩⁠ ⁠ It was the first time I actually paid attention to what the emotional pull in this combo was for me. It turns out that it was the lime green colour of leaves (one of my fav colours) and the knowledge (and anticipation) that it will turn a beautiful autumn colour when it's ready! 🍂⁠ ⁠ Love the impact of seasonality where something happens all the time in the garden and keeps it interesting for me!⁠ ⁠ What in your garden gives you that emotional pull and what is your favourite seasonality impact? 💚
The reason why I love sculptures is the fact that The reason why I love sculptures is the fact that if they are done right, they can add various visuals and nuances to a project.⁠ ⁠ I've posted 2 other pictures of this particular sculpture done by Nancy Holt in the Great Basin Desert, Utah.⁠ ⁠ If you scroll through my insta feed you will come across them and see what I mean. One of the other pictures posted shows the same exact view in sunset whilst the other considers artificial but fun and colourful lighting.⁠ ⁠ It's my approach to design. Considering layers of complexity and getting the maximum use and enjoyment of the space that you design!🤩💚⁠ ⁠ Now a little bit more about the Sun Tunnels project by Nancy Holt, 1973–76. ⁠ ⁠ Nancy Holt was an American artist most known for her public sculpture, installation art, concrete poetry, and land art. Throughout her career, Holt also produced works in other media, including film and photography, and wrote books and articles about art.⁠ ⁠ Sun Tunnels marks the yearly extreme positions of the sun on the horizon—the tunnels being aligned with the angles of the rising and setting of the sun on the days of the solstices, around June 21st and December 21st. On those days the sun is cantered through the tunnels, and is nearly centre for about ten days before and after the solstices.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ 📷 @betsygoes⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #landart #suntunnels #earthworks #nancyholt
Altona North 2022⁠ ⁠ Another project where I w Altona North 2022⁠ ⁠ Another project where I was requested to maximise the potential of a small space with a tight budget. ⁠ ⁠ The challenge with this one was to create a relaxed feel being surrounded by lush (low maintenance) plants whilst keeping it simple and functional. Privacy was also an issue as the neighbours could see through the existing fence right into my lovely clients dining room!⁠ ⁠ What I especially love about this project is that it has some artistic elements that suit the client's aesthetics and follows overall feel of the interiors but then adds another new vibe to the outdoors. This garden is currently being constructed so I’m hoping to share some completion pictures in the next couple of months to show you what I mean!⁠ ⁠ Some of the works (including artistic elements) will be DYI and some will be undertaken by the landscaper I normally put my clients in touch with!⁠ ⁠ So watch this space!!! 💚
Opuntia stricta was introduced to Australia in the Opuntia stricta was introduced to Australia in the 1830s to provide hedging material in arid regions. ⁠ ⁠ It quickly covered vast areas, but in an early example of natural management was brought under control by introduced insects.⁠ ⁠ They are succulent perennials that invade rangeland and native vegetation in the drier parts of South Australia. ⁠ ⁠ Wheel cactus (Opuntia robusta) and common prickly pear (Opuntia stricta) are the most prominent species.⁠ ⁠ This one was found peeking over my Mulgrave client's fence. ⁠ ⁠ Very architectural and a nice contrast with the smooth blue sky in the back ground. 🤩💚🌵
Completed front garden, 2021 Mulgrave project.⁠ Completed front garden, 2021 Mulgrave project.⁠ ⁠ It's amazing how simply refreshing an existing space can lighten up your mood!⁠ ⁠ The client loves this view as this is what greets them as they pull up their driveway after being away at work for the day.💚⁠ ⁠ All we did here was to create an actual path around the existing pear tree which gives a lot of autumn colour to the front garden and shades the space in summer.⁠ ⁠ We included a selection of our favourite wispy low maintenance grasses and a few large bromeliads as further accent points in the garden and to inject a little more colour during spring and summer!⁠ ⁠ We love retaining existing vegetation rather than starting with a completely clean slate as its good karma too!⁠ 🙏⁠ ⁠ We can't wait to get back to this garden this Spring and see how it's all grown and to spruce it up before the property goes on for sale. We absolutely loved working with our lovely clients on this project and that it gave them much enjoyment over the last couple of years! Hope that you all have had a wonderful weekend and a happy Mother’s Day too! 💚
Nature does nothing uselessly. ~ Aristotle⁠ ⁠ Nature does nothing uselessly. ~ Aristotle⁠ ⁠ Aristotle’s principle that “nature does nothing in vain” (NDNIV) is central to his theological approach to understanding organisms. ⁠ ⁠ An organism will develop toward its natural state unless interfering forces prevent that from happening. ⁠ ⁠ What are your thoughts? 💚
Front garden view on entry, Glen Iris 2022 design. Front garden view on entry, Glen Iris 2022 design. 💚⁠ ⁠ This was a project I started designing back in 2020 and which had many stops and starts. Mainly due to COVID and the underlying renovations taking place.⁠ ⁠ So I started with the rear garden and before even knew it was asked to expand my design scope to include a redesign of my lovely client's front garden too! ⁠ ⁠ I really loved working with her in retaining the framework of the existing garden (existing established trees) and incorporating some new plants to bring it all together.⁠ ⁠ The design includes an expansion of the driveway too so that there's plenty of parking when her kids have their own cars in a couple of years time. ⁠ ⁠ I was very careful to minimise the impact on the existing garden beds but had to make the grassed area a wee bit smaller. ⁠ ⁠ Can't wait to show off the feature paving when this gets constructed in a couple of years!! 💚🤩
A poem⁠ ⁠ Down the road lives⁠ a spooky tree A poem⁠ ⁠ Down the road lives⁠ a spooky tree.⁠ Every time I pass,⁠ it stares at me.⁠ At times it whispers,⁠ through the breeze,⁠ It stands alone,⁠ “Let me be me.”⁠ It’s limbs are bare,⁠ of leaves and vines,⁠ I hear it call,⁠ “I want you as mine.”⁠ ~ Anon⁠ ⁠ An established tree in a client's garden in East Malvern. Kind of scary in the evenings due to my overactive imagination but can't help being drawn into the intertwining limbs! ⁠ ⁠ Gorgeous in a creepy way lol 🤣💚
Beautiful spiral conifers along this particular st Beautiful spiral conifers along this particular street in Turin, Italy. Just wow!⁠ 💚⁠ ⁠ The spiral form is my favourite type of topiary - ie the way in which a human structures the shape of a plant.⁠ ⁠ Researching this, I've found out that this artform dates back to the Greek and Roman civilizations, but was perfected by Italian artists during the Renaissance.⁠ ⁠ It regained popularity when the Victorians included topiaries in their cottage gardens and is still included in many garden designs today. I love to have them in my designs if my clients are up to maintaining these lovelies! ⁠ ⁠ Most of the conifers usually transformed into spirals begin with a cone like shape. ⁠ ⁠ Contrary to popular believe (ie I get asked this question a lot), this is not something that can be done successfully with a mature conifer but is an artform which starts with a young tree.⁠ ⁠ To start, locate the central leader of the tree, making it the top of your cone. Using long-handled shears, shape the tree from the top down. Wait a few years at least and you'll have a lovely shaped specimen like the picture (although it will take time to fill up and get large!)⁠ ⁠ Patience is key and something you'll enjoy in the long term!! 💚
The hairy cactus is widely known for its long hair The hairy cactus is widely known for its long hairs. ⁠ ⁠ Spotted this one in one of my favourite nurseries and it felt sooooo soft and playfully reminded me of a greyed version Cousin Itt from the Addam's Family! 💚⁠ ⁠ These striking hair are modified spines that protects the cacti from frost and sunlight. As well as keeping the heat from the day to prevent the plant from freezing. ⁠ ⁠ The white fuzzy hairs can get dirty or turn brownish over time. You can give them a cleaning by mixing a small amount of liquid castile soap and water. (Organic unscented castile soap free of dyes is best although organic soaps will also work well.) ⁠ ⁠ Carefully wash off all the soap in the sink or with a hose. Make sure the soap does not seep into the soil though. Comb the hair — yes, actually comb the hair — upward to help it dry!!!⁠ 😁⁠ ⁠
Most succulents are very hardy and, unlike many ot Most succulents are very hardy and, unlike many other plants, thrive on neglect!⁠ ⁠ They require minimal care and, by following a few simple guidelines, will do well.⁠ ⁠ Plant your new succulents in well draining potting mix - try a blend of regular potting mix with cactus mix, coarse sand or perlite/vermiculite to improve drainage. ⁠ ⁠ Water well then allow the potting mix to dry out before re-watering.⁠ ⁠ This is a close up of a lovely chartreuse coloured groundcover succulent planted in my clients garden in Mt Waverley, Vic.⁠ 💚⁠ ⁠ 📷 Photo credit @pk_photography⁠
" Come forth into the light of things. Let nature " Come forth into the light of things. Let nature be your teacher." ~ William Wordsworth⁠ ⁠ This quote from William shows the significance of his view on nature. He feels that you shouldn’t have to think about what other people think, or if things are right or not, but to just let nature take its course and take you with it where ever it made lead. ⁠ ⁠ He is saying that if you are confused or wants to get to the deeper meaning and core of things, then don’t try hard because that will only confuse you and turn you in the wrong direction. Just give up your all and let whatever feels right take you and if nature wants you do unordinary things then so be it. ⁠ ⁠ What do you think? Is he right? 💚
Completion shot of my Murrumbeena project which wa Completion shot of my Murrumbeena project which was designed in 2020 and constructed in May 2021.⁠ ⁠ Can't wait to take the professional shots in Oct this year as the garden is coming along nicely!!⁠ ⁠ It's the first time I've used cloud pruned trees and will certainly won't be the last time. Loved the birds visiting this garden and especially that feature tree! ⁠ ⁠ Does anyone else think that the shadows thrown across the paths is super cool? I'm thinking of a genie emerging from a lamp! Must be my overactive imagination again :P!!💚
Perennial Salvias (also known as “sage”) are m Perennial Salvias (also known as “sage”) are mainstays of the midsummer garden border — blooming summer to autumn! ⁠ ⁠ Planted in the spring, these aromatic beauties are great for cutting and beloved by bees and butterflies. ⁠ ⁠ Plus, they’re drought-tolerant, making them survivors in the summer garden!⁠ ⁠ They range in size from groundcovers to three to four-metre-high shrubs and can be grown in either pots or garden beds. ⁠ ⁠ The photo was taken in a client's garden in Sassafras. Lovely beautiful arching lilac limbs that contrasted with its surrounds.💚
2022 Ringwood North rear garden!💚⁠ ⁠ The ke 2022 Ringwood North rear garden!💚⁠ ⁠ The key concept applied was to create a lot of multifunctionality whilst making sure that the garden was aesthetically pleasing at the same time!⁠ ⁠ Loved how the garden shapes evolved to factor in everything that they wanted. ⁠ ⁠ ✅vege patch⁠ ✅fruit trees⁠ ✅garden shed⁠ ✅fire pit area that also doubles up as a meditation spot⁠ ✅favourite plants/trees⁠ ✅metal lightbox & other sculptural interest⁠ ⁠ This project was also interesting from a business point of view as I realised I really enjoyed experimenting different options with my client and helping them see, in real time, what options could work for them whilst whittling away the ones that didn't suit them at all.⁠ ⁠ This process takes longer to do of course and definitely would cost the client more, but they really get to understand definitively how the garden would suit them and truly realise the full potential their outdoor space.⁠ ⁠ Can't wait to create more designs such as this one and hear back from clients when they enjoy their creations over time with their loved ones!! 💚
Transforming your home into a charming, romantic a Transforming your home into a charming, romantic atmosphere relies on enticing the senses. ⁠ ⁠ An elegant window candle or flameless flickering candle sitting on a book shelf, sideboard or bedside table can create a playful and stimulating ambiance, elevating the senses.⁠ ⁠ Battery operated candles can be placed anywhere in a room without the melted wax mess or consequences of being knocked over in the heat of passion!⁠ ⁠ Extremely handy in my home with my trio of boisterous kids!!! 💚
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