Table of contents for Issue #17.6 2020 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

POCKET PARK Rather than clearing the site for the new house, the home and garden were designed to keep and care for the existing trees. Affectionately dubbed a “pocket park”, the garden is bursting with life thanks to the long-established ornamental pear and silver birch trees. One tree even goes inside an outer screening to become almost part of the home’s architecture. Defying the norm for a typical garden, this backyard enjoys the natural flora of the area, while creating a home around the garden to complement it. maynardarchitects.com; bushprojects.com.au JAPANESE TRANQUILLITY When designing a peaceful haven away from the hustle and bustle of life, what better style to incorporate into a garden than Japanese? Perched 90m up on a clifftop ridge overlooking Onetangi Bay, New Zealand, this garden is…

Maria Konecsny is the co-founder of Gewürzhaus Herb & Spice Merchants along with her sister, Eva. There are five stores in Melbourne, two in Sydney and one in Canberra. The most recent store to open was launched in December in Sydney’s Castle Hill. Needless to say, Maria’s a busy woman and so her garden provides both sustenance and sanctuary. Together with her husband and son, she lives in Healesville in Victoria, where for the past five years they’ve maintained a beautiful three-quarter-acre (0.3-hectare) garden on the banks of the Graceburn Creek. “The garden was established by the previous owner about 10 years ago, so the trees were semi-mature and most of the garden beds were established,” Maria says. “On the whole, they did a great job of laying out the…

When you purchase a property in Gisborne with spectacular views of Melbourne’s skyline and Mount Macedon, you know you’ve hit the jackpot. The question now becomes: “How do I frame the view?” That’s exactly the challenge that confronted this home’s new owners. How do you make the most of the amazing views while screening unsightly items such as the water tank and providing protection from the wind, snow and scorching heat? Not to mention establish a garden robust enough to handle the resident kangaroos, rabbits and wombats. Adding to these challenges was a wish list that included the ability to grow herbs and vegetables, creating areas for entertaining, providing shade for a new pool (that mustn’t block the view, incidentally), as well as making the space low maintenance and fire-resistant.…

If, like many, you’re enamoured with the Hamptons style but you like it with a contemporary twist, this rear garden retreat should appeal. The look is cool and fresh, the colour palette restrained (mainly white, grey and green-on-green) and there is a casual, coastal air about it. While the owners of the property in the Perth suburb of Mount Hawthorn were happy to be guided by the garden designer in terms of style, they did have a few requests. “They really wanted a swimming pool but couldn’t imagine this in their backyard as it is quite small,” explains Denise Staffa of Outside In. “They also wanted a lush green outlook, in fact it was a must. The backyard can be viewed from so many areas inside the house, it had…

Strive to mount outdoor televisions in a shaded location. This improves visibility of the screen and reduces glare, which can prove very uncomfortable over long periods. If a permanent position in the shade isn’t available, consider a swivel mount so the television can be turned away from the sun when required. These mounts should be lockable to deter theft and they should be sturdy, wind-rated and, of course, weatherproof.…

Adding an area devoted to sporting pursuits in your backyard can be a great investment in both fun and fitness, particularly with kids around. With some careful planning, sporting and outdoor play zones can be integrated into a cohesive landscaping scheme, ensuring there will be an activity to keep all guests — young and old — totally entertained. A SOUND INVESTMENT Having your own backyard sports area is becoming an increasingly popular investment for families. Sydney-based Andrew Lane of CALDESIGN reports seeing a steady growth in the number of homeowners turning their private gardens into recreational sports areas. “It tends to be for a variety of reasons,” he says, “whether it’s the pursuit of a hobby or a sportsperson trying to take their talent to the next level.” To make…

Drought-proof your garden for every season With water restrictions becoming the norm, our beloved gardens and lawn can end up being more work than we may feel they’re worth. The answer sounds simple — drought-proof the garden and lawn. But what’s the best way? Toowoomba-based company Earthlife looks at nature and how it survives in dry conditions to develop some simple solutions to better drought-proof a garden. Save water, time and effort to keep your garden alive when the rain stops with this groundbreaking solution. By spreading Earthlife’s formula directly over the soil and around the plants, the product will start to break down the water-repellent crust that forms on soil, allowing water absorption. Follow-up applications will work their way down the soil profile to allow deeper moisture penetration. The…

Step 1: Cut the timbers to length. Step 2: Screw or nail the three shorter pieces evenly along the length of the two longer pieces. Step 3: Ensure you’ve squared up the edges and that no nails or screws poke out to tear the potting mix bag. Step 4: Seal the timber with decking oil or exterior varnish to prevent it rotting. Allow it to dry before putting the bag on top. Step 5: Poke five holes into one side of the bag. Turn the bag over and place it on the tray. Step 6: Cut five crosses in the bag — one in the middle and one towards each corner. Tuck the cut edges into the bag to make five neat square holes. Step 7: Prevent inhalation of soil…

WHATEVER THE WEATHER Chic power couple Cynthia and Gerry Walsh are the brains and brawn behind Sorrento Furniture’s new outdoor collection. Specialising in custom-made furniture, the company’s new range showcases a modern style perfect for poolside reclining. The bright white leather will bring a unique element to the outdoors, contrasting against greenery or pool. The all-weather collection will look fab come rain, hail or shine. sorrentofurniture.com.au WHEN IN VENICE If you thought chandeliers made a grand statement in a house, then how much more so in a garden? The Drylight outdoor chandelier collection (ceiling, floor and wall lighting fixtures) is one of the first of its kind and creates a soft, almost mysterious ambience in which to dine and wine. Inspired by Venetian tradition, Drylight claims to be the first…

GAMES FOR LIFE If you’re entertaining families, it’s always important to remember the littlies. Bored children can put quite a dampener on an evening get-together before you can say “tanty”, so be sure to provide something to entertain them while you’re sipping your wine around the barbecue. If you don’t have room for entire sports provisions (though check out page 87 if you do), you could plump for a moveable game such as Planet Finska’s croquet, which only requires a patch of lawn. Plum Products also has some fantastic options for amusing tearaways, including a gorgeous Mud Pie Kitchen and Nature Play Hideaway. planetfinska.com.au; plumplay.com.au WOODEN YOU LOVE ONE? To truly lounge in style, you need a wooden hammock. It might sound a bit wacky, but if guests clapped eyes…

To say Ben Shaw’s 650sqm Geelong backyard has undergone a revolution is probably something of an understatement. More than a decade ago, the 43-year-old father of two set about transforming his house into “an edible garden oasis”, embarking on a journey into permaculture from which he hasn’t looked back. “I had a clear vision to grow healthy, diverse and nutritious food for my family and friends and I wanted everyone to know that they could do the same,” he says. “The benefits were clear back then and even clearer today — locally grown food is great for families, the community and our environment.” The first couple of years spent clearing, weeding, chopping and attempting to grow various edibles taught Ben he needed more than just enthusiasm for his project to…

Complementing an historic one-acre (0.4-hectare) property in Melbourne built back in the 1860s and listed on the National Trust, this garden is believed to have been originally designed by William Guilfoyle, creator of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. In 2018, the team at Ian Barker Gardens faced the task of restoring the original grandeur of the 150-year-old space. Director Ian Barker was excited about embarking on the project. “It’s very special to find an acre like this in suburban Melbourne,” he says. “You’d be hard-pressed to find a garden with as much legacy.” The clients respected the area’s origins, wanting to preserve and restore the old charm and create designated entertaining spaces. “You’d be hard-pressed to find a garden with as much legacy” At the front of the home,…

Owned by two self-confessed “lazy gardeners”, this property was crying out for easy-care outdoor spaces, including a zone for entertaining, another one for quiet reflection and a place where the youngest family members could play. Denise Staffa of Outside In listened closely to what the owners wanted and after a thorough assessment of the site, came up with a relaxed modern design that matches the look of the house and the homeowners’ lifestyle. For the kids, a mini soccer pitch of artificial grass was created in the front garden. On the street side, the space is defined by a fence with Knotwood horizontal slat infills; on the other, a metal balustrade divides the pitch from the adjacent timber boardwalk. Running alongside the boardwalk is a strip of striking variegated sansevieria…

While it’s essential to choose speakers specifically manufactured for outdoor use — they need to be weather-resistant and able to stand up to harsh climatic conditions — the positioning of the actual speakers, and how many you install, is key to achieving good-quality sound. “Placement is really important. Your speakers should be evenly placed where you’re entertaining to get good coverage of sound,” says Ivan Westbrook from Intelligent Installations. He adds that the speakers shouldn’t be too close or too far apart, and that it’s much better to have more speakers rather than fewer speakers that are turned up too loud in your quest to get enough sound. Although outdoor speakers are designed and built to be long-lasting and weatherproof, you will find that some manufacturers will still recommend that…

Botanically known as Tanacetum parthenium (syn Chrysanthemum parthenium), feverfew is a delightful short-lived perennial growing up to 60-100cm. Its bright-green foliage is deeply lobed and fern-like in appearance and has quite a pungent scent. The flowers appear as terminal clusters of small, white, yellow-centred daisy-like flowers. They can be readily used as a cut flower and are often featured in cottage-style gardens. There’s also a double white-flowering form and a golden-foliaged variety. Feverfew can be easily obtained as small plants from garden centres and online. It’s also easy to grow from seed. If you let your plant go to seed, it will happily self-seed in the garden. HISTORY Feverfew originated in south-eastern Europe and has now naturalised in other locations around the world, such as North America, Australia and other…

The enticing aroma of sizzling steaks, the exotic taste of delicious seafood, even the smell of the humble snag on the barbie — it’s enough to make your mouth water. With modern barbecues, the backyard chef can now serve up restaurant-quality food outdoors. “There is almost nothing you can’t cook,” says John McGran from Lifestyle BBQs. “When I was a kid, I remember going to barbecues and all we ate were sausages and chops but now it’s different — people want a dining experience instead of the stock-standard barbecue fare. “With the hood up, you’ve got your open fire plate and grill for snags, steaks and hamburgers. When the hood’s down, it’s an oven, so you can cook pizzas, cakes, lasagne, pancakes for breakfast on Sunday, even a butterflied lamb…

Cooking and eating outdoors may be the ultimate backyard entertaining experience, but there’s often a degree of separation between chef and guests. Friends Damian Macalpine, Martin Brougham and Catherine Lawton spotted that gap and decided to fill it with their innovative AlfresQ outdoor dining/grilling combination. If you’ve ever enjoyed a Korean BBQ, Chinese hotpot or Swiss fondue, you’ll love this idea of sitting together around the table, getting stuck in and grilling your own food to your personal requirements (no more blaming Dad for burnt snags!) at whatever pace you’d like. Fancy a long afternoon grazing, tapas style? This is the way to do it. Damian explains you can “cook exactly what you want, when you want, right at home” and “have an absolute ball cooking, chatting, drinking and laughing…

For your outdoor entertaining area to be truly stylish and welcoming, you need to pay attention to colours – and not just the natural ones. A splash of paint can give an area a real spruce-up in no time, so it’s good to know which colours are on trend right now, and how to go about decorating. According to Dulux colour expert Andrea Lucena-Orr, it’s all about pastels this season — with mint greens and salmon pinks the most on-point choices for transforming your backyard into a tasteful tropical oasis. “When it comes to introducing colour into your backyard spaces, it pays to be adventurous, challenging any preconceived notions you may have about what’s right and wrong in this space,” she says. “Even a small quantity of an unexpected colour…

I SEE WILD (2017) In 2017, Phillip Withers Landscape Design captured the spirit of an entire country in its show garden I See Wild. The garden was a celebration of the Australian landscape, taking inspiration from our country’s natural rugged beauty and unique biosphere. Adorned with slabs of bluestone and hand-carved pavers, and bordered by native flowers, plants and herbs, it was a true reflection of Australia’s natural terrain. This was a space where you felt truly immersed in nature and one which remained true to the designer’s testament: “I step out the back door, I see nature, I see wild”. Fourteen boys from Warrnambool’s Clontarf Academy helped design and engrave the bluestone pavers, telling a story using Indigenous symbols. For me, the real triumph of this design is its…

The team at AQL Landscape Design had their work cut out for them with this design brief. The clients wanted their Melbourne garden to really flourish, with a focal water feature plus a social setting for gatherings, plus they wanted to highlight some areas and soften others. Thankfully, with the help of the Australian Quality Landscaping construction team, AQL met the brief with what they call a “country-themed garden with a contemporary twist”. Firstly, the idea was to create a country-style garden with a strong emphasis on vibrant flower colour, for visual interest throughout the seasons as well as food production. The team decided to focus on yellow, orange, white and red flowers in one area and blue, pink and yellow in another. As the design brief asked for focal…

You don’t need oodles of outside space to be able to entertain, which is great news for the growing number of Australian families living in apartments. All you require is some creative thinking and an understanding of the challenges that come with designing a balcony space to create a chic outdoor entertaining area. “The brief for this project was to soften the harsh external elements of the apartment balcony,” says Brent Reid from Candeo Design. “This was to include adding foliage through a subtle, Asian-themed planting palette outside the bedroom and living-room windows, creating an area for entertaining and providing a place for growing herbs and vegetables that wouldn’t be in the way.” The custom-made, built-in planter boxes are a standout element of the design and central to its success.…

According to the ancient Chinese art of feng shui, flowing water brings with it health, happiness and prosperity. Well, one way to bring the beneficial and harmonious sound of running water to your garden is with a water feature. A well-placed water feature can also become a garden focal point. Designer Dean Herald from Rolling Stone Landscapes says water features have timeless appeal and can look good in any outdoor setting. “They add texture and form, which is continually changing, and they appeal to all our senses,” he says. A water feature can be integrated with an abstract sculpture, mounted on a wall, be part of a swimming pool or it can be a standalone garden feature. Water features can be made from a range of materials — natural stone,…

You’ve just poured a cool drink while chilling with friends outdoors, the steaks are sizzling nicely on the barbecue and you discover a much-anticipated cricket match is on television. In the old days, you’d up stumps with your mates and head indoors to watch the game. Well, these days, you don’t have to. With new robust outdoor audio and visual equipment, coupled with changing technology and wireless capabilities, creating an outdoor entertaining area that offers a state-of-the-art visual and sound experience is easy. SOUND SYSTEMS Many in-home sound experts now produce outdoor weatherproof speakers that deliver clear, dynamic sound bites. They’re available in a wide range of styles, colours and sizes, can be mounted to walls, or placed in garden beds and most are unobtrusive, in neutral tones or modern…

Most Australian households have a barbecue, but if you’re looking for something a bit different for your entertaining area, why not try a wood-fired oven? Wood-fired ovens are easy to use, look great and allow you to cook restaurant-quality fare in the comfort of your own backyard. Wood-fired ovens can be built-in, freestanding or portable and come in a range of sizes to suit all applications. If you’re after a simple addition for a moderately sized patio or verandah, a single-shelved pizza oven might be for you, or one fixed with wheels so you can store it away when not in use. If you’re looking to cook for large crowds, a traditional standalone or built-in option might be more suitable. There are myriad styles of wood-fired ovens on the market…

This is a simple way to make a tiny herb or vegetable garden for yourself, or create a green and gorgeous gardening gift for someone who has limited space. This garden-in-a-bag will flourish for 12 months to two years. I’ve also created a recycled timber tray on which to sit your garden-in-a-bag. This gives the bag stability and allows you to move it easily. If you’re unable to make a tray, you can always use a timber bathroom mat or recycled bread delivery tray to hold the potting mix bag. GARDEN-IN-A-BAG IDEAS • A herb garden like the one shown has Lebanese cress, mint, thyme, lemon balm and edible nasturtiums. • An Asian herb garden could include Vietnamese mint, chives, Thai basil, chillies and coriander. • A Mediterranean herb garden…

The term “Asian greens” loosely describes any leafy green veg that might find its way into a bowl anywhere from Seoul to Shanghai, from Kolkata to Kyoto. Or from Cairns to Cabramatta, for that matter. Asian greens have peppery, elusive flavours and their dramatic colours and often crisp textures add pizzazz to any dish. You can stir-fry or braise them, blanch and steam them with oyster sauce, simmer them in soups or stews or chop them fresh into salads. As well as being versatile, they’re particularly nutritious — packed with vitamins A, C and K and calcium — and very easy to grow, especially in the milder, cooler weather. The collective name “Asian greens” refers to a crowded field of green veggies that includes the likes of watercress, water spinach,…