Urban Courtyard 2
When landscape designer Rick Eckersley first saw the tiny backyard of this Melbourne home, he was confronted by two small patches of badly drained, half dead lawn. Undeterred, Rick set to work on his design, aiming to create an extension of indoor living to outdoor living. The result is an entertainment area that is intimate, welcoming and very sophisticated.
Design solution
The grass was removed and replaced with paving incorporating ECO pebbles laid down in patterns. Pebbles in different colours and patterns also form the backdrop to a wall fountain. The lines of the paving are picked up by a grid of copper wire planted with star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). Trachelospermum is an excellent indicator of lines, it tolerates clipping and shaping, and it has wonderfully perfumed white starry flowers. It grows best in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and the tropics, and is worth a try in inland zones.
- Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides
- Black mondo (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
- Black mondo (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) defines the garden edges, and adds a thick, lush effect. It will grow anywhere in Australia. All the walls are painted in Murowash, a water based acrylic paint. Rick particularly likes a dark mushroom coloured Murowash called Aubergine, which works well with the copper wire trellis.
Further information
Rick Eckersley
Eckersley Garden Architecture
03 9421 5537
[email protected]
www.e-ga.com.au
Rick Eckersley can be heard on ‘Smart Gardening’, an excellent radio gardening show on 3AW every Saturday morning from 8am – 10am. ECO pebbles are around $60 for a 20kg bag. For further information phone ‘ECO Landscape Design’ on (03) 9822 0699.