Australian gardens in the 1950s and 1960s were simple areas of lawn with few interesting plants. These days gardens have become places of fantasy where people create a bit of theatre in the backyard. Australians are amongst the biggest travellers throughout the world and these travels have influenced the sorts of gardens they create. There are many Tuscan and Mediterranean influenced gardens around Australia which try to capture some of the memories of people’s travels around southern Europe. Asian inspired gardens are also popular and as Bali is the number one Asian destination for Australians, Balinese gardens are extremely popular. Burke’s Backyard recently visited a Balinese garden owned by Tina and Peter Richards who import many of the authentic Balinese artefacts that have helped to create a piece of Bali in their backyard.
Aspects of a Balinese garden
There are some simple aspects of a Balinese garden which can be easily adapted to any garden and create a Balinese feel.
- Incense – An evocative aspect of a Balinese garden is the sweet smell of incense burning. In Bali it is burnt for the gods on the altars, so there is the smell of sandalwood wafting through the garden.
- Artefacts – An array of authentic Balinese artefacts and religious figures placed throughout the garden as focal points add the feeling of Bali. From simple temple flags, to colourful umbrellas, carved timber sculptures, bronze and stone hand-carved statues of animals and gods, they provide backdrops and focal points throughout the garden. Fresh flowers are scattered amongst the statues to add colour to the garden as well as symbolic meaning, with a dancing statue carrying frangipanis on her head.
- Plants – The basic plants used to create the Balinese feel include cordylines, palms and ferns which provide greenery and lushness. The use of varying and staggered heights of foliage plants gives a lush rainforest effect. In cooler climate areas select cold climate foliage plants which give the effect of a tropical rainforest such as European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis), European Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei), Fatsia japonica ‘Variegata’, Dicksonia antarctica and Cordyline spp. such as C. australis, C. terminalis.
- Structure – The garden is set on a very steep slope which is not dissimilar to the steep mountains of Bali where paths wind up and down through the rainforests.
- Lights – The garden at night can continue to evoke the Balinese feel by highlighting the artefacts with spot lighting
- Inside – The Balinese theme is continued throughout the house with colourful paintings and wall hangings adorning the walls. There is also a further collection of Balinese artefacts throughout the house.
Further information
For more information about the various Balinese artefacts contact ‘Bali in Profile’, 81 Pacific Highway, Roseville, NSW, 2069. Phone: (02) 9413 1622. Prices range from $12 for temple flags, $70 for a bronze frog, $90 for a colourful umbrella and around $300 for the larger stone hand-carved statues.