Don visited Orchard House, a modern Melbourne garden incorporating both Mediterranean and Asian influences. The planning, construction and planting was a family team effort, resulting in a garden that is unique and interesting without being labour intensive.
Orchard house was designed with drought tolerance and low maintenance in mind. Don pointed out that there is not a blade of grass in sight. Owners Helen and Paul Fitzpatrick have a mantra for their garden – “Don’t fight nature”. They are not fussy gardeners and believe that gardens should not be hard work; if conditions are right then the plants will thrive. The project took the family one summer to finish (about three months), and was completed four years ago.
Front garden
Measuring only 170 square metres, the enclosed front garden features plantings of dwarf fruit trees, including nectarine, peach and apple. This area has a quasi-Mediterranean feel, with its olive trees, grapes and potted citrus. Although the walls are a sombre, charcoal colour, light coloured paving and lots of silvery coloured plants add brightness.
Rear garden
The backyard draws its inspiration from Asia, and was designed to give a series of disappearing vistas. Helen believes that a garden should keep revealing itself, and that you should never understand or see everything in one glance.
The centrepiece of the garden is a rectangular, sunken conversation pit surrounded by raised beds. Old Javanese wooden doors and windows frame views and give glimpses into adjoining areas. Plants were chosen for their foliage, texture and colour. They include Japanese maples (Acer palmatum), Manchurian pears (Pyrus ussuriensis), angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia x candida), grass trees (Xanthorrhoea australis) touch-me-not (Melianthus major) Japanese windflowers (Anemone x hybrida), California tree poppy (Romneya coulteri), Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), climbing roses and wisteria.
Further information
Orchard House, 34 Mercer Parade, Newtown, Victoria will be open under Australia’s Open Garden Scheme from 16-17 October 2004. For more information closer to this date phone 1900 155 064.