Garden designer, Lisa Isherwood, is passionate about Australian native plants. Although Lisa thinks the natural bush garden has its place, she encourages her clients to use natives in a more contemporary context, with lots of colour and drama for bold effect. ‘Gumdale’, at Gooseberry Hill in Western Australia, is a great example of the way Lisa uses native flower colours and foliage in a co-ordinated way. ‘Gumdale’ is a contemporary landscaped native garden already showing exceptional growth, even though it is only three years old. The owner, Bob Datson, has done all the hard landscaping, including the building of a cantilevered pavilion and entertainment area, stone and moss rock walls, pathways, water features, bridges, seating and lighting. Lisa assisted Bob in the choice of thousands of native plants for his garden. The pool area was the first to be planted. Lisa describes this planting as a ‘smorgasbord’, with lots of colour during the spring and summer months. The pump for the pool is housed in a water tank that blends into the landscape. Bush jarrah poles support two large shadesails over the pool.
‘Gumdale’ is not a garden that you take in with one sweeping glance. There are many points of interest that visitors need to explore and discover, particularly with regard to colour. For example, a little frankenia (Frankenia pauciflora) juxtaposed with Toodyay stone near some pink kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos ‘Bush Pearl’). Or the bronzy new growth on plants such as Agonis flexuosa, contrasted with silvery or variegated foliage plants such as Leptospermum ‘Pink Flamingo’. (Note: colourful Toodyay stone comes from the town of Toodyay, 85km from Perth.) Lisa stressed the importance of pruning native plants every three or four months to maintain shape, encourage vigour and get more flowers.
Further information
Lisa Isherwood Inspired by Nature Phone: (08) 9454 3638 Most of the plants in the garden came from Zanthorrea Nursery, Maida Vale, WA. Phone: (08) 9454 6260. Gumdale garden at 9 Grange Crescent, Gooseberry Hill, WA will be open on October 12, 2-5pm. Entry fee: adults $3, children free. All proceeds to Kanyana Native Animal Rehabilitation Centre. For more details phone (08) 9454 8424.