Garden designer Mark Vowles has transformed a bare block of land at Deception Bay, Queensland, into a lush, tropical garden. He has travelled widely, and was inspired by the ancient and modern tropical styles of Thailand, Bali and the South Pacific.

Mark has a passion for rare, colourful and interesting warm climate plants. He loves to experiment in the garden, combining artefacts with leaf textures, shapes and colour to create a space that conveys a peaceful and tropical feeling.

Features of the garden

A collection of unusual cordylines, Cordyline fruiticosa cultivars (also sold as C. terminalis) gives permanent foliage colour to the garden. The cordylines grow in the front garden in filtered light under mature trees and palms, along with colourful iresene and coleus. Plants in the garden include rare and interesting palms, such as the graceful wanga palm (Pigafetta filaris) and the thick-trunked West Indian royal palm (Roystonia oleracea). Jugs, urns and statues are used as focal points throughout the garden. Mark says that these days it is easy to find a piece that you like if you explore the garden centres and importers. If you can't find the perfect garden accessory, Mark suggests you create your own using Hebel (a soft, lightweight concrete product that is easy to carve), then paint it with an interesting wash paint. The garden is shared with bantams, fish and budgerigars, as well as flocks of lorikeets that are attracted by the native subtropical trees. Across the front of a house are colourful flags, which Mark made himself from a Balinese design. The flags move beautifully in the wind, adding a touch of fun and a splash of bright colour against the greenery.

Further information

Mark Vowles, Garden Design, 6 Simon Street, Deception Bay, QLD, 4508. Phone: 0407 113 281.

Copyright CTC Productions 2001