Merlo’s Garden
Jack Merlo is a Melbourne-based landscape designer who is setting a new standard in style for turn of the century Australian suburban landscapes. His work has been described as ‘disciplined yet extremely innovative and appealing’, and has received both public and industry recognition. Although at nineteen Jack is still a young designer he possesses a flair that rivals more established colleagues, and this is reflected in his steadily growing clientele. Jack gave Don a guided tour of three of his gardens, starting with one he designed when he was just sixteen years old.
Formal parterre garden
As space was limited, Jack used a series of hedges to reflect the geometric architecture of this Neogeorgian house. Lonicera (Lonicera nitida) forms a tall hedge; there is a medium-sized hedge of English box (Buxus sempervirens) and a small hedge of Dutch box (B. sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’). Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) provides year-round foliage contrast and ties in beautifully with other features in the garden, such as the black fence. A row of conifers (X Cupressocyparis leylandii ‘Leighton Green’) runs down one side of the house. The focal point of the garden is a reconstituted sandstone urn filled with cyclamen.
French provincial courtyard
The design of this Brighton house is based on a French villa, and includes a fabulous loggia, or outdoor room, overlooking the garden. The owners asked Jack to come up with a planting scheme for the courtyard that would reflect the architecture of the building. Jack has used mass planted gardenias bordered with English box (B. sempervirens), European olive trees (Olea europaea var. communis), Manchurian pears (Pyrus ussuriensis) and Bradford pears (P. calleryana ‘Bradford’). The effect is simple, elegant and functional.
Contemporary poolside garden
The garden Jack designed for his family home has a simple yet contemporary look with its soft green lawns, shrub borders and carefully positioned small trees. Urns of cycads (Cycas revoluta) help to soften the stark walls of the building. The swimming pool is a feature. It has been edged with a row of orange trees (Citrus sinensis cv.), which are planted along one wall. The oranges provide perfumed spring blossom, fruit, and attractive evergreen foliage around the swimming pool. Jack considers citrus very practical poolside plants because they don’t drop too many leaves into the water.
Contact details:
Jack Merlo, Landscape Designer
Phone: (03) 9592 1700
Mobile: 0414 593 144