Have you ever dreamed of living in a tropical paradise, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life? You might think that sort of idyllic lifestyle is only for the privileged few, but Ann and Graham Humphrey have transformed their small suburban garden (800 square metres, or less than a quarter of an acre) into a fabulous, stress-free oasis. It’s the sort of place you’d imagine the Garden of Eden must have been; a pleasure zone as distinct from a work zone.
Ann and Graham have created their own private retreat by making maximum use of limited space. Four years ago when they decided that the garden needed a ‘makeover’ they had plenty of ideas but didn’t know where to start, so garden designer Annette Irish was brought in to help with design, plant selection and maintenance.
A Balinese style pavilion overlooking a pond is the perfect place to sit and relax, because even on the hottest of days it is cool. Unlike gazebos, pavilions have free access all around and they’re very livable. The palm collection includes specimens of foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata), MacArthur palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii), princess palm (Dictyosperma album), Cuban royal palm (Roystonia regia) and golden cane palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens). The foxtail palm is often used in place of the high maintenance Cocos palm (Arecastrum romanzoffianum) because it is self-cleaning, and drops its dead leaves. Ann doesn’t recommend the Cuban royal for small gardens because it grows too big. The garden also features cycads and ferns, plants with colourful foliage such as crotons and cordylines, and flowering plants including heliconias, bromeliads, orchids, tropical bulbs and ixoras.
The Humphrey garden is at 55 Gloucester Crescent, Bray Park, QLD, 4500. It is open to the public on March 4-5 from 10am-4.30pm. Admission is $4. For more details call Australia’s Open Garden Scheme hotline: 1900 155 064.
The Bali pavilion was supplied by:
Gone Potty Australia Pty Ltd
Shop 10, Noosa Home Maker Centre
Thomas Street, Noosaville, QLD, 4566
Phone: (07) 5449 9378
The kit is priced at $5000 ($4500 without floor), and delivery and installation is extra
Major plant material suppliers to the garden:
Chinderah Palm Nursery
Larry and Narelle Reynolds
2 Walsh Street, Chinderah, NSW, 2487
Phone: (02) 6674 3163 Fax: (02) 6674 3588
Annette Irish is a landscape designer and horticultural adviser specialising in gardens using tropical and subtropical species. She can be contacted via:
Annette Irish FAIH, MPLA
Managing Director
A.I.M.S Pty Ltd
83 Whiteside RD Whiteside
QLD 4503 Australia
Company Phone: +61 7 34674294
HPh: Aust – 0406824438