Table of contents for Issue#14.6 2017 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

Hidden behind a distinctive band of forest trees on a winding stretch of road in the hills near Berry, on the NSW South Coast, there is an enchanted garden. It has all the attributes gardeners seek: deep, rich basalt soil, a cool to moderate temperature and usually good, regular rainfall. It could be considered a gardener’s paradise. It was to this gorgeous neck of the woods that Ian and Norma Norris moved in l984. THE NEXT CHAPTER After working and raising a family in Sydney, they were looking for somewhere with good soil, an agreeable “retirement” climate, lovely views and an uncomplicated lifestyle. The property they found, perched on the mountain top, filled the bill perfectly. The small acreage the couple bought was completely bare, just grass. The new house…

“The use of natural stone pays homage to the rocky crags and bluffs that sit on the shoreline beyond” This breathtaking garden vista is a far cry from the original site, a 1000sqm expanse of sloping patchy lawn, bordered by an Elaeagnus hedge that hugged the rugged cliff face, obscuring the ocean view. Designer Christian Préaud of Atelier Jardins has created an enchanting windswept garden through a series of curved and terraced lawn areas. These are bordered by select plantings that offer accents of subtle colour and mass plantings of gracefully sweeping grasses. The terraced areas were built with natural stacked granite stone, their elegant curves mimicking the coastline below. The use of natural stone pays homage to the rocky crags and bluffs that sit on the shoreline beyond the…

“The unique pool area is surrounded by timber lounges and matching timber slats that adorn the fence” For a young family, creating an outdoor space that is both safe and aesthetically pleasing is a delicate balancing act, which is why award-winning designer Nathan Burkett and his team were brought in to conjure a space that creates architectural features out of the natural landscape. The purpose of the space was two-fold according to Nathan, who was tasked with producing “an entertaining area for family and friends and creating a stunning architectural feature when viewed from the inside of the home”. As a new build, the block was a clean slate, but sloping levels posed a challenge for Nathan and his team. To overcome this, they worked with existing wall…

Backyard entertaining is a fundamental way of life in Australia. We love having friends over for a barbie, playing in the pool, backyard cricket or just lazing on a Sunday afternoon with a cold beer or a chilled glass of wine. What has also become a fundamental part of our lives is the struggle to get our backyards looking good and staying good, especially for those big occasions when friends and family come over. Earthlife, a company based in Toowoomba, Queensland, understands these struggles and has developed some simple solutions to help Aussies grow fantastic-looking, healthy gardens and lawns. Best of all, Earthlife can help turn lazy gardeners into the envy of their guests. Earthlife rock mineral products create conditions that allow plants to grow as they are meant to.…

Zucchini are prolific producers and, once you start harvesting them, they will only produce more. They can be trained up a trellis, grown in a pot or left to travel across the veggie garden, and come in different sizes from mini to larger varieties in greens, yellows and even an almost white skin colour. Wonderful in stir-fries, roasted or cold in salads, zucchini are easy to grow and low in calories and even the flowers can be cooked and eaten. If you want to add colour to your vegetable garden and your plate, zucchini are a must. VARIETIES Yellow varieties of zucchini include Gold Rush with its beautiful golden skin and One Ball, a unique round zucchini that would make an attractive addition to any vegetable garden. Bambino is a…

GET CRAFTY If you’ve got some spare time on your hands or you simply want something to distract you for a little while, a new hobby or craft project could be just what you’re looking for. Cosyproject.com is a fun new website chock-full of craft patterns and projects that you can download instantly. Garden-related projects include a nifty garden apron and a seed wallet that helps you plan your year of planting. If you’re a dog lover, you can even make soft dog toys or a throw for your dog’s kennel. All patterns are created by industry experts with easy-to-follow instructions, so anyone can have a go. cosyproject.com RACK OFF The weather is fine and it’s the perfect time to entertain family and friends in your backyard. Unfortunately, the flies…

As much as we love calling it our garden, we are more caretakers of it. My parents bought this property 14 years ago and began by transforming the very run-down 1930s Californian bungalow into a magnificent, eco-friendly, mud brick masterpiece. Much of the building was done by my father and a team of labourers, who often included me and my three younger brothers. For many years, the “garden” was largely a mass of (regularly mown) grass and weeds with several lovingly planted fruit trees and raised vegetable beds. It wasn’t until 2006, when the house was finished, that my parents turned their full attention to creating a garden space that both complemented the house and provided a space for food production and relaxation. In March 2009, my parents decided to…

This once barren scrubby parcel of land is now a beautifully designed landscape filled with a diverse selection of native plants, shrubs, grasses and small trees dotted around an architectural-style home. And with a sustainability ethos at the very heart of this design, materials used for the project were sourced locally from an area that has a bountiful array of wonderful natural resources. These included gravel for pathways, stones for gabion walls and local plants. Located in Queenstown, New Zealand, the Shotover Delta Views property was designed by Joe Nutting of Southern Landmarx, and built by Southern Landmarx. It’s a rich tapestry of productive, formal and native gardens that creates a striking landscape filled with vibrant and subdued colours, rich texture and flowing movement. Around the home, symmetrical rows of…

Creating gardens where children can play can be an exciting and rewarding process. “One of the most wonderful things we can do for our children is allow them to play freely in a safe and interesting environment that engages, educates and inspires them to greater heights,” says Georgina Martyn of BoldSimplicity. “Our gardens can offer the perfect place for children to play in ways that stimulate their imagination, let them learn about nature and exercise their bodies. Creating a garden for play doesn’t necessarily mean including play equipment,” she adds, “as it is often simple items like rocks, stones, water, flowers and herbs gleaned from nature with which children love to play. It’s also about designing gardens that encourage a child’s sense of adventure and exploration by using different surfaces,…

If a product can withstand the daily wear and tear of a commercial environment such as a school, you know it will stand the test of time in your own backyard. Emmanuel Anglican College (EAC) in Ballina, NSW is a centre of academic excellence that promotes environmental responsibility. While working on a major upgrade at EAC, the team at Bennet Constructions took stringent measures to reduce wastage and promote sustainability. Due to its eco-friendly construction and waste minimisation, Futurewood solid composite decking was chosen for the large deck/walkway that connects a new junior classroom with other components of the building. Made from 90 per cent recycled material, Futurewood’s composite products are a low-maintenance timber alternative. The project involved more than 400sqm of Futurewood CleverDeck solid composite wood decking, fixings and…

SALVAGE MISSION Introducing recycled style into your garden is a good excuse to tap into your creativity: broken tiles and plates can be used to create mosaic wall art or feature insets in paved areas, old railway sleepers can be used for garden edging or steps, a disused timber door can be turned into a tabletop, an old bathtub can be turned into a water garden, a wagon wheel can be propped in a corner and used as a decorative element, and on it goes. In this garden, designed and built by Phillip Johnson Landscapes, exceptional use has been made of a variety of recycled materials, including salvaged timber which was employed in the construction of the outdoor room. In a space-maximising move, a rooftop garden was integrated into the…

“For me, having the right environment means I can create in harmony” Tai Schaffler’s heart has always been firmly rooted in the countryside. However, this New Zealander’s achievements and aspirations are very much big city. Based in south-east Queensland in the beautiful valley of Tallebudgera, Tai operates her international homewares brand, Bandhini, in a setting that could only be described as idyllic. Tai’s passion for good design that is also ethically and ecologically responsible can be attributed to decades of travel and living in countries where a healthy environment dictates wellbeing. When Tai and Andrew Zdanowicz — her equally talented designer partner — first came across their hinterland property, a certain tree caught Tai’s eye. Fondly named Ralph, this beautiful 240-year-old western red cedar ironically survived due to asymmetry. Historically,…

While the backyards of yore were typically sprawling, with great big lawns, a shed and veggie patch to boot, there’s no doubt that modern backyards are getting smaller and smaller. So what do you do with a more confined and often awkward area? Shrinking spaces have prompted landscape designers the world over to bring ingenuity to their garden designs and the results are truly amazing. Of course, bigger isn’t always better. A big yard means a lot of upkeep and the average person is time-poor these days. Carefully selected plantings and materials can reduce maintenance considerably and really make the best use of the available space. Small like many of the homes in the region, this backyard in Leichhardt, a suburb in Sydney’s inner west, measures only 3.5m x 5m.…

A garden is far more than the sum of all the plants, shrubs, trees and hard landscaping elements within it. It’s a cohesive whole that reflects a certain look or vibe. For some it’s a place where the kids can play. For others, it’s a quiet place to relax or a place to entertain family and friends. In essence, a garden uniquely reflects you and the way you choose to spend your time outdoors at home. And one of the simplest ways to individualise and personalise the space is through the use of garden decor. This encompasses many things. A stunning laser-cut screen that divides a space, a piece of abstract art that lifts a dull corner, a series of pots that draws the eye, or a repurposed farm gate…

For instant tropical or resort-style appeal, it’s hard to go past the allure of bamboo screening. Whether you’ve gone for a Balinese-themed backyard or just want to add a touch of the exotic to your garden, bamboo screening is the ideal choice. Bamboo screening can be used in a broad array of ways — as cladding on an existing fence, to screen out neighbours, as an architectural feature or as the perfect backdrop to tropical foliage plants or a garden bed full of flowers. And if you’re looking for a backdrop for a sculpture or water feature, bamboo screening is perfect for that, too. Infinity Panels specialises in high-quality, low-maintenance black bamboo screening panels. Black bamboo adds a richness of colour to a garden or alfresco living space and is…

People are often afraid of gardens. They have a perception of the garden being a time pit, constantly requiring maintenance such as mowing, weeding and pruning. While this can be the case, it doesn’t have to be. Creating an interesting and practical low-maintenance garden with careful landscape design can achieve an impressive garden requiring minimal upkeep, ideal for the busy lifestyle. THE RIGHT ELEMENTS Designing an easy-care garden requires thorough planning. Firstly, you should work out what practical functions you need your yard to achieve, such as a seating/entertaining area, lawn for the kids to play on or a swimming pool. Integrate these practical elements into your garden space so flow between the areas is seamless and the functions don’t become secondary to the aesthetics. PERFECT FORM Ensure your garden’s…

A somewhat acquired taste, grapefruit is a citrus tree, usually categorised as white (blond), pink or red (ruby). These refer to their flesh colour rather than their skin, which is either plain yellow or yellow with a pinkish blush. The red and pink grapefruit are sweeter and generally contain slightly higher levels of key nutrients. Grapefruit is a great source of vitamins A and C, an immune supporter. The pink- and red-fleshed varieties contain a good amount of lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient found in large quantities in tomatoes. Lycopene’s anti-tumour properties make it important for helping to prevent prostate cancer in men. Apricots, guava, watermelon and papaya are other lycopene-rich fruits. Colour is the clue. Another type of phytonutrient found in grapefruit, called limonoids, has been shown in animal studies…