When a BBY reader and mum wrote in asking Don for his ideas on a magical kids’ garden he created a special design just for them. Dear Don, I really need some help. I am such a lucky mum. I have been blessed with one-year-old twin boys, Max and William, and a lovely...
When Don Burke visited Marysville in Victoria to see how the township is recovering from the devastating Black Saturday bushfires, discovering Bruno’s garden was like witnessing a Phoenix rising from the ashes . photos brent wilson Animan Dancing in the Wind Fountain...
Don Burke and his makeover team turned a storm-damaged backyard into a wonderful French-flavoured country-style hobby farm, complete with rustic chook house, potager vegie patch and lots of lovely old bric-a-brac. The fabulous ‘aged’ look takes the owner’s love of...
Although they are quite old fashioned gnomes are very happy additions to many gardens if you have a positive & fun approach to life. As well as the traditional Seven Dwarfs type gnomes there have been many in recent times that were made to resemble...
Cacti and other succulents are water-storing plants, so they are ideal for busy people who don’t have much time to spend in the garden watering. Succulents have a number of features, or modifications, which enable them to survive in deserts, on rocks and in the...
In an outer Sydney suburb, Don and the Burke’s Backyard team transformed a daggy Aussie backyard into a Tuscan inspired entertainment area. They tackled several problem areas including an old swimming pool and an ugly fibro garage. The spectacularly stylish...
Don’s Rubble Garden Australian native plants are excellent in the garden especially the new varieties of grevilleas, grafted darwinias, banksias, compact and prostrate wattles. An excellent base for a native garden is sandstone rubble. Sometimes...
When you live in the tropics you can be very adventurous in your use of colours, both in the garden and inside the home. Don looked at an award winning house and garden in Cairns, where the bright colour scheme provides a permanent, tropical holiday feel. Seven years...
The owners of this Cairns garden, Steven and Lyn Ford, wanted to let more light into the front of the house, so they removed the carport and replaced it with a moat. The moat fills the front yard of their half hectare (1.2 acre) block. Steven’s work as a...
Don traveled to Melbourne to meet Kari Tusan, a Balinese man, and his Australian wife, Sarah. Kari and Sarah met in Bali, married and now live in Australia with their three children. They told Don that they’d like a tropical-style garden to remind them of Bali,...