In the Garden

  The best of the new house and garden designs in Darwin are equal to the best in the world. Superb tropical houses and gardens are being built that are beautiful but also pleasant to live in amidst the stifling heat and humidity of our most northern capital city. The...

Structure and formality is returning to favour in gardens. Plants trained into hedges or along trellises or pergolas have become very fashionable. A pinnacle of garden achievement is a pleached walk. ‘Burke’s Backyard’ recently visited a garden which...

  One of the most spectacular forms of modern housing in Australia is the marina home, snaking their way around artificial canals. Burke’s Backyard recently visited a Darwin home that is a truly magnificent example of canal art. Asian inspired, but ultra-modern...

  Building a garden is one of the most satisfying things you’ll ever do. Don’t be overwhelmed by the task. A fairly ordinary backyard can be turned into a colourful and interesting garden using a little imagination and a few tricks. The makeover On...

  Bird’s Nest or Crow’s Nest ferns (Asplenium australasicum) are lovely plants which are easy to use in the garden. Don Burke suggests using them creatively in a jungle setting. Experiment at the local nursery by mixing around the ferns with some different...

Burke’s Backyard recently visited the 2 acre native garden on a 5 acre property belonging to Merv and Olwyn Hodge in Queensland. The natives include a large number of grevilleas (about 160 species and many hybrids that Merv Hodge has bred himself) as well as...

There is a wide variety of pots available in most parts of Australia ranging from traditional terracotta from Italy, glazed ceramic in oxblood red, greens, blues and whites and terracotta from south-east Asia, natural rustic granite pots from China, traditional cast...

  The ‘Dunrath’ Garden at 139 Castle Hill Road, Castle Hill, NSW, will be open on Sunday, 20 September 1998, 9.30-4pm. Entry fee is $2. For further information phone: The Hills Shire Garden Club (02) 9680 1953 or (02) 9651 4448. See the Spring display at...

  The paths which lead visitors through the Garden of St Erth blend beautifully into the surrounding landscape. They are a generous width and accommodate many visitors comfortably. When making a path, consideration should be given to the style, where it should lead...

  Planter boxes are a great way to display spring plants, flowers or herbs – outdoors and indoors. Tracy Marsh shows how to make a simple wooden planter box and how to decorate it with two easy finishes. Wooden planter box The basic planter box can then be...