Backyard and Outdoor Living Issue #54 2021

It’s my favourite time of year — spring, of course! Our gardens are now full of life and we can start to make the most of our outdoor spaces again. To celebrate, this issue Angie Thomas shares her five favourite spring flowers. When many people think of native plants, they think of the Aussie bush which, of course, is beautiful, but perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to home garden styles. A native garden doesn’t have to be bushland-style; it could be tropical or coastal, modern or formal, cottage-style or resort-inspired. And of course, there are so many benefits to planting natives in your garden. According to our writer Karen Booth, “Plants that are naturally adapted to the climate and location will not only thrive, they’ll give a…

STABLES RIERA OJEDA, VICTOR DEUPI RIZZOLI | $110 A richly illustrated and elegant volume showcasing beautifully designed stables by contemporary architects and designers the world over. From a ranch in the US and a Finnish farmstead to a Spanish hacienda and Australian outback home, Stables is a celebration of horses and their extraordinary lodgings. International in scope, ranging from traditional to contemporary in flavour, these stables — built of timber, metal and stone — are examples of the finest taste in design. The book also explores indoor and outdoor arenas, paddocks and gardens. CONTEMPORARY GARDENS OF THE HAMPTONS CHRISTOPHER LAGUARDIA MONACELLI PRESS | $79.99 Presenting the work of Laguardia Design Group (LDG), a highly regarded landscape architecture firm specialising in contemporary residential design in the Hamptons, this monograph is not to be missed. Notable projects include the…

01: COMO COMEBACK Como Reimagined is the revitalisation of an iconic Melbourne heritage site. Australia’s preeminent garden designer, Paul Bangay, has been commissioned by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) to revitalise the stunning garden of Melbourne’s most glamorous stately home, Como House. Situated in the heart of South Yarra, Como House is in the midst of significant restoration and conservation works to preserve its structures and garden so that future generations can enjoy the estate’s beauty. Established in 1876, Como House boasts more than two hectares of lush gardens originally designed by William Sangster in 1855, and further updated by Ellis Stones in 1965. Simon Ambrose, CEO of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), says he is delighted to see the revitalisation of such a significant heritage site. “Como House…

SWEET PEAS I love burying my nose in a bunch of sweet peas. Their sweet fragrance is intoxicating. Whether you cover an entire fence with tall sweet peas, grow them up a tepee or fill a window box or hanging basket with dwarf varieties, they’re the perfect way to welcome spring. Sweet peas are easy to grow from seed, which should be sown in mid-late autumn. Put a note in your gardening diary for next year! The key to a long and fabulous spring sweet pea display is feeding every one to two weeks with a high-potassium fertiliser such as Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers, regularly removing spent flowers and controlling powdery mildew, a disease that appears like a dusting of white powder over the leaves. WISTERIA If you have a sturdy pergola…

The best gardens — those that have enduring appeal and look as if they were meant to be — sit in harmony with the environment that surrounds them. They have a sense of place and look as if they evolved naturally rather than being contrived by man (or woman). Plants that are naturally adapted to the climate and location will not only thrive, they’ll give a garden a real feeling of belonging, and this is where native or indigenous plants step in. Australia has an incredibly rich palette of native plants from which to draw, making it much easier than many people realise to create a variety of garden styles. A native garden does not have to be a bushland-style garden; it could be tropical or coastal, modern or formal, cottage-style…

“There’s a host of truly spectacular Australian plants that are perfectly suited to growing in pots, where they can reach their full flowering potential. Many of our showiest native plants need the superior drainage that a good potting mix will provide; the alternative — growing them in the ground — means they are much more susceptible to problems such as root rot. Also, potting mixes can be selected to suit plants with specific nutritional needs, such as banksias, which require low phosphorus levels,” says Angus Stewart, horticulturist and author. “Plant breeders have done a lot of inspired work to create named varieties of showy native plants including kangaroo paws, flannel flowers and everlasting daisies, which come in a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes. In frost-free conditions, some varieties flower…