Trevor Nottle is the author of Gardens in the Sun, a book about the beauty and practicability of Mediterranean gardens for our Australian climate. Don Burke recently visited this Australian garden writer and discovered his feelings about the richness of the flora of climates similar to our own and his frustrations that the Australian nursery industry has followed inappropriate directions with the types of plants grown and recommended.

Trevor says there is a huge range of plants available and feels strongly about grouping appropriate plantings together. He believes that a sensible garden is one where we can relax during summer instead of being out in the heat maintaining our ideals of English gardens.

Garden fashions

Trevor says that Australia is still influenced by imported fashions which causes frustrations for gardeners year after year. There are attractive and interesting plants suitable to our climate which do not require high maintenance. This feeling was echoed by Don during the Burke’s Backyard Spanish program. He believes that Spanish buildings, courtyards and plants are suitable to Australia’s climate.

Trevor likes using the following plants which come from Mediterranean and drier climates as they have strong root systems:

Wild peony (Paeonia suffruticosa)

Spanish Dagger (Yucca gloriosa ‘Variegata’)

The iris with ‘no name’ (Iris innominata)

Australian style

Trevor Nottle hopes that we can form our own Australian style of gardening in a way which responds to our climate and environment, and which helps us create a sense of place.

Further reading

Gardens in the Sun by Trevor Nottle (Kangaroo Press, 1996). ISBN 086417-664-3 rrp $39.95.