Garden design is changing rapidly in Australia. After hundreds of years of basically copying the English cottage and formal styles, Australians are now coming to grips with designs and planting schemes that are more suited to our climate, light levels and soils.
Leading the way are innovative designers like Phillip O’Malley, who believe that the future of Australian garden design lies in a daring blend of many different cultural influences. Phillip describes Alba, his own Gold Coast garden as:
“The synthesis of influences from tropical gardens of the world, the vibrant colours and formal structure of Mexico fused with the lushness of Asia, earthed in an Australian subtropical context.”
Burke’s Backyard first visited Phillip’s garden in early 1996, but it has been developed in stages over the last five years. The design is based on vistas and axials from inside the house, with the general aim of creating balance, harmony and unity throughout the house and garden.
Santa Fe
The Santa Fe style originated in Santa Fe in New Mexico. This area with its mixed native American and Spanish heritage has inspired a design look that has permeated gardens, houses and decorator items around the world. It is characterised by an earthy, handcrafted look, the use of vibrant colours and plants with strong leaf colours, forms and textures. Phillip’s front garden features a classic Santa Fe style wooden gate, and an adobe-look wall which was hand rendered and coloured with an ochre tinted limewash. Plantings include an avenue of dracaenas (Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’), bromeliads, zinnias, mandevillas, chilli, hibiscus and a pineapple hedge. Religious images such as the crucifix-shaped garden and statue of an earth goddess guarding a pool are typical of Santa Fe style (Santa Fe means Holy Faith).
Pots of gold
A Mexican stone figure holding an offering of frangipani flowers (Plumeria sp.), Mexican stone fish sculptures and an avenue of spindle palms (Hyphorbe verschaffeltii) dominate the rear garden, which is still under development. The palms are planted in bottomless tubs decorated with gold and stone mosaics, and they are spaced to give the garden an illusion of greater depth. Not far away a pigmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) is surrounded by 6 water jars containing waterlilies and other water plants, and each alternate jar is edged in Japanese box and dwarf sansevieria. Next to the water jars a Spanish 3-boy statue sits on a green limewashed pedestal decorated with ceramic frangipanis. The bases or plinths for the statues in the garden are caved from Hebel, a lightweight material that can be cut and shaped with woodworking tools.
Further information
Phillip O’Malley,
Garden Designer.
Phone: (07) 5485 2858
Mobile: 0419 332 522
Web: http://phillipomalleygardendesign.com.au
Phillip O’Malley’s garden is at 39 Jabiru Avenue, Burleigh Waters, Gold Coast, Queensland. It will be open as part of Australia’s Open Garden Scheme on November 20 and 21, between 10am and 4.30pm. Cost $4 (children free). Phone: 1900 155 064.