We’re very lucky to have the opportunity to work with extraordinary architects, builders, artists and tradesmen in locations  which are sometimes breathtaking whilst others are more homely and we enjoy working on them all. From the country to the coast – local and interstate we get to meet people from all walks of life.  To be able to improve the quality of someone’s day by giving them a beautiful garden is what we love doing the most.

I’m so proud of the work the contractors and their teams produce – without them our work is just ink on paper so I’ve put together a small collection of some of this year’s projects with before and after images. Usually I don’t show the gardens we design before they have had a few years to grow and look at their best, but I thought it may be interesting to watch their journey.

After a well deserved Christmas break we recommence work Tuesday next week on some really exciting projects to kick off the year.

The first set of images are of one part of a project at Curl Curl by Matthew Woodward Architecture which was constructed by JTCD and Verduous Gardens. I’m besotted by the breeze blocks, off-form concrete and second hand bricks used in this project and the way they enhance the cottage. A mature frangipani was transplanted from one part of the site to another transforming the courtyard.

Curl Curl Home – before

Rear courtyard under-construction

Second hand bricks used on steps with breeze-block feature wall

Curl Curl Garden by Night with fire pit in the foreground

This next garden at Wamberal is to be a staged project, and as access will be tricky the owners opted to get the back garden built before they began building. The garden will grow alongside a renovation by White Dickson Architects. The garden was constructed by Box Building and Landscaping, levels were tricky and the stone and rendered walls negotiate it well.

Wamberal Garden before

Wamberal Garden after – planting is very fresh but the walls and steps sensational

On this second Wamberal project we decided that the approach to the front door was all wrong, sometimes we have to look at things with fresh eyes and in new ways, so we demolished part of the existing entry court wall and created a new series of steps and paths to lead visitors to the front door. We saw that the house had a retro vibe and we enhanced this with plants to accentuate the mood. This project was executed by Cornerstone Landscaping – I can’t wait for the plants to grow and either can the owners. I’m loving the off-form steps and stone walls which positively glow at night with the garden lighting by Gardens at Night.

Wamberal 2. before

Wamberal 2 with custom step detail

The third set of images is a unique home by architect Peter Stutchbury – a home in the country at Paynes Crossing for clients I’ve known since they shopped in my nursery in Sydney. The rammed earth courtyard which is central to the home was where the owners elected to begin their garden and Stuart from Eyb Gardens began by constructing the exposed aggregate interconnecting path and then laid a combination of second hand common bricks and recycled clay pavers to our design. A labour of love, this will be a landscape that develops over the years.

The sinuous line the driveway took as it snaked it way to the house site was one of our design leads.

Windows with cinematic qualities…

The courtyard (before) is an integral and central part of the home

Texture and pattern create interest to the eye and bare feet

The fifth project is on an acreage at Duffys Forest, the house was reconfigured by Fineline, then it was gutted and refurbished and we moved fence lines, changed the garden, added a custom swimming pool fence and reconfigured entries and access. As with almost all our work, we like to establish long-term relationships with the garden owners and we will soon be embarking on a new design for an existing dam on this property. Steve from Shakkei Landscaping has done all the work on this one…

The front of the house before work began

Secondhand brick was used extensively for the new driveway

New swimming pool with our custom fencing detail.

The 6th and final `before and after garden’ in this post is at Pittwater and one where we have re-organised existing plants, made roof gardens, created new areas and added lots of new plants. Mature palms have been an important part of this project where an instant effect was what was required. This landscape was constructed – as was the home itself by JGroup Projects. Koichi Takada Architects

Mature Cereus peruvianus was potted near the entry

An old crepe myrtle was carefully lifted into position to provide some privacy to the outside living area                          Image – JGroup Projects website

A sensational view – but we opted for this mature crepe myrtle to give a degree of privacy to the outside living area

Image – JGroup Projects website

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We all want instant results, but it doesn’t matter how much money you have to spend with a garden when it come to plants you have to wait, and he is happy to do this –  he understands that the journey is just as good as the destination. It makes me sound old and philosophical, but when it comes to gardens I have learnt that some things are worth waiting for. This wait breeds patience and you learn to appreciate what you have. Little things make a difference, and you have time to stop and `smell the roses’ – and you learn as you go, as well as listen to the birds and observe the seasons. This garden will grow  at it’s own vegetable speed.

I know what we have done here at this place is making a difference to the lives of the family that live here, and not only that, we are significantly increasing the value of the property as we continue on this `ride’.

Rosa `Green Ice’

As is my usual preference, there is great variety to the plant selection. Clipped evergreens balance the wildness of grasses in this garden and there are even some softer, traditional flowers such as roses and salvia in the mix. Plants such as dragon trees and spineless prickly pear give structure. After our wander we loaded a group of turpentine trees and hoop pine onto the back of my ute and drove over the paddock positioning them where they could offer interest and a little privacy from a neighbouring home. As I return trip I thought to myself how fortunate I am, that I enjoy my profession so much – and so the day began, happy days…

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When we design we’re used to using our imagination and knowledge to guide us with the future landscape, to understand the architectural components to best create a desirable, liveable, saleable product. So it was a pleasant surprise to find our landscape design transposed from drawings to Lilliputian trees, shrubs and hedges surrounding a multilevel buildings where we could gaze within the building through the windows and conversely look through the windows (from the other side of the model) and see the garden outside. In a world where 3D drawings are accessible on a computer screen to most architects, including White + Dickson, it’s nice to see something hand made.

Unlike most developments we see, with this one we’ve been encouraged to create bespoke gardens that compliment each individual residence as opposed to lifeless, commercial mono cultures, devoid of soul.

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