Romaine's
Garden
Romaine's
Garden
The archway entrance to this enclosed garden leads to a grassy area which is great for throwing down a rug and eating stretchy pizzas or hot chips with my family. To one side of the garden is a small railway sleeper seat and a solid wood box table which was rescued from the local tip. To add to its charm I have placed a terracotta pot as a centrepiece which overflows with fragrant catmint. When seated here in my favourite place, ideally with a hot cuppa, the beautiful cut leaf Japanese maple, underplanted with erigeron can be viewed and appreciated. Then, with the arrival of spring comes a spectacular show from the crab apple (floribunda) and pink robinia as they burst into flower.
Within the Secret Garden is a stone Wishing Well in which hangs a wooden bucket filled with parrot mix for the multitude of visiting birds.This is a small, enjoyable and shaded area of the garden filled with bird song, subtle colour and fragrance.
|
|
|
Edna Walling, a great landscape designer who influenced thousands of gardeners in Australia has some wonderful thoughts when it comes to the appreciation of nature and in particular the beauty of the Australian bush. "In the 1950s Edna Walling turned from a careful blending of Australian plants and exotics to a preoccupation with natives and their almost exclusive use in her designs."
"I love all the things most gardeners abhor: moss in lawns; lichen on trees; more greenery than 'colour' (as if green isn't a colour!); bare branches in winter; and root ridden ground. I like the whole thing to be as wild as possible, so that you have to fight your way through in places. I like sheets and sheets of forget-me-nots, and anything else that will self-sow and look beautiful..."
The Edna Walling Book of Australian Garden Design, Anne O'Donovan, Publisher Ann O' Donovan Pty Ltd, Victoria, 1981.
Much of our garden has been edged in local rock consisting largely of sandstone. This area, as were many others, was once covered by an expanse of ocean. When seen closely these rocks have a multitude of fossil shells and plants embedded within them and capture time in a facinating way. I have collected these lovely rocks over a period of ten years in our rattly, rusty box trailer, whenever roadworks have lifted them from their ancient site.
My ultimate aim is to achieve a restful garden with hidden places in which to sit and contemplate. The Secret Garden is one of these places, one to rest the mind and body, especially in the evening when candles are lit beneath the Chinese Liquidambar. This is a beautiful sight, the light dancing on the leaves with a flickering touch and the movements made from a gentle breeze. These together create a feeling of peace, glowing with a symphony of subdued colours. They are treasured and pleasant moments that always make me smile.