Design

Although every garden and client I help is unique, I’d like to give you a glimpse into the process of designing and building a garden, by telling the story of Rosie & Eddy’s project.

Rosie & Eddy (not their real names) had bought a beautiful stone cottage in the Adelaide Hills and it was ready to be transformed!  The first part of the garden to be changed was the back of the cottage. Set into a sloping site it was engulfed by agapanthus, weeds, ivy and a badly constructed rock wall.

The brief included a more useable space with an open area, a pretty perennial garden with flowers and texture throughout the year and a place to sit and contemplate the garden. The aspect, soil and existing trees were all favorable, so we set about opening up the area to design a beautiful enticing space for the whole family.

With consultation, I prepared a concept plan which included a terraced garden with a central walking & access path, a seating area and shade plantings.

The big steep bank of soil encasing a tin & concrete water tank posed a problem; not only did it make them feel closed in, but deprived them of lovely open space. I suggested in the concept plan to remove the bank and they agreed to take the plunge.

I was engaged to oversee the earthworks and work began!

Bringing in the excavator, a large swathe of the slope was removed and gentle curves were created. When removing the tank was attempted, we discovered it was lined with concrete and would require massive earthworks to remove completely. With careful thought and much discussion, we reduced the tank to half its height and incorporated it into the sweeping curved stone terraces. It was then converted into a gorgeous fish pond, adorned with a delightful cottage garden. 

The planting design was done by Rosie and her daughter, who were both keen gardeners and included garden beds full of flowers all year round for Rosie to pick for the house, one of her favourite pastimes.

Eddy and his sons constructed beautiful stone walls and Rosie planted.

Now where there was once an imposing bank is now a stone paved open space for outdoor eating and children to play. Later, the kitchen window was enlarged, so the garden can be admired from inside the house. With flexibility and creativity, this unused area has become a much-loved space.

(Here at Green Platypus Gardens, we provide landscape design services that range from garden consultation, through to Concept Plan, Master Garden Design, project management, installation and maintenance. Please contact us on 0428833949 or greenplatypusgardens@gmail.com to find out more!)