Burke’s Backyard recently visited the garden of Gitta and Gunther Rembel. Situated in bushland, it was designed with a series of walled, courtyard gardens preserving and blending with the native vegetation as well as creating separate garden rooms. The walls create feature gardens with a strong design element blending the exotic and native landscapes together.
Design elements
There are a number of different design elements which combine to create this colourful and adventurous garden including;
Citrus plants – Citrus plants are often grown as individual specimens but in this garden they are mass planted in rows to create a lush foliage effect. The double row of Emperor Mandarins (Citrus reticulata ‘Emperor’) are trimmed into balls on sticks and Washington Navel Oranges (Citrus sinensis ‘Washington Navel’) line the driveway. Citrus plants are used to bring straight lines and a structural element to the garden as well as producing fruit for the family.
Cacti and succulents – The use of succulents and cacti en masse is adventurously successful by creating a geometrical style garden with a fountain in the centre and rills (like gutters of water) running throughout the area. The low walls around this garden room allow an easy view of the surrounding bushland.
Structure – There are many different structural elements which divide and open up the garden. The archway of wisteria is an example of a soft structure that is softened further by the plant. In spring the blossoms rain down from the roof of the archway.
Colour – An overriding feature of the whole garden which blends and combines all the different compartments of the garden is the use of bright colours; red ochre and yellow. Porter’s ‘Tosca’ Lime Wash is the red ochre in the cactus garden and is available from Porter’s Original Paint stores and agents. Evergard ‘Bonanza’ is the yellow colour of the house and walls throughout the garden. This ties in with the surrounding bush being similar to a wattle colour. The yellow paint is only available from Evergard, phone: (03) 9401 2266.
