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We’ve been away for a sleep over and a few days

We’ve been away for a sleep over and a few days with friends not far up the coast at Blueys Beach and woke this morning back home to birdsong and the most perfect spring day.

It’s eerily warm outside this morning, but then

It’s eerily warm outside this morning, but then days like this sneak in at the end of winter every year so it shouldn’t surprise me in the least. The birds are out and about, green leaves are popping on the plane trees and liquidambar but fresh faced beauty of the magnolias is stealing the show as the garden is wakes up. After feeding Harry and Clucky-go-Lucky I wandered down to the orchard filling my dressing gown pockets with lemons so that Cathy can use them in a celebratory lunch we’re sharing today with friends. There’s been a few spots of rain so we’ll be eating inside - but it won’t stop us from taking a stroll so I have a little tidying up to do this morning after the wind yesterday…

There were plenty of @brigidarnottphotography imag

There were plenty of @brigidarnottphotography images to choose from but these are the last I will share. (with a link in bio to this blog post) It’s been a perfect winters day in the garden, with sun most of the day and a rain shower to get me back inside. I’ve weeded the nursery, my fingers are sore and the fire has been lit and the dogs are curled up on their beds. There is nothing like the pleasurable tiredness of a day in the garden and I’ll sleep well tonight.

There’s a whiff of spring in the air again this

There’s a whiff of spring in the air again this morning. The delicate scent of Camellia tsaii, magnolias and an old Akebia vine growing on the fence near the orchard were the first I noticed, and I’m hearing more birds again. #euphorbialambii is flowering behind the pond - and in the swimming pool garden, and the flowering bracts have the most extraordinary colour! Time for that second espresso and the hedger and gloves are waiting in the wheelbarrow…

More gorgeousness and winter colour from the garde

More gorgeousness and winter colour from the garden of David and @emilyberlach #salviaindigospires is a sage I’ve grown for decades and the new to me velvety red salvia #salviaconfertiflora There’s a link to my blog in my bio to see more of this this wonderful garden 📷 @brigidarnottphotography garden constructed by @boxbuildinglandscaping

It seemed only yesterday that @brigidarnottphotog

It seemed only yesterday that @brigidarnottphotography was capturing the last of the falling autumn leaves on her camera, and now there’s a hint of spring in the air so I thought them best shared quickly before the season has past. This is the wildly beautiful garden of @emilyberlach and her husband David which has been carefully constructed and maintained by @boxbuildinglandscaping and for something different I’ve written a blog post with some extra words and details which you can find if you hit the link in my bio.

A drippy kind of morning, I won’t know if it’s

A drippy kind of morning, I won’t know if it’s fine it’s fine until the fog lifts. Sunday mornings always start by feeding Harry,and not a great communicator - especially when there’s hay, a marginally better response from Seeker. Maybe they’re not good in the mornings?

Living where we do, fog can be an everyday occurre

Living where we do, fog can be an everyday occurrence. The light is soft and it envelops and softens the garden in a shroud of pale grey.

In a few short days there has been a shift in the

In a few short days there has been a shift in the garden. We know it’s not spring just yet, but it sure feels that way. #wintergarden #wintergardening #camelliatsaii #snowflakes #leocojumaestuivum #magnolia

For a gardener the only thing that can beat a team

For a gardener the only thing that can beat a team of professional horticulturalists working in a garden is two teams, and this is how I’ve spent the two days at home this week. Lizzie, Lauren, Thomlen, Jake, Aaron from @cornerstonelandscaping and Rob, Hugh and Dean from @verduousgardens and this is an appreciation post. Some of the jobs were interesting but others were just hard slog but the winter sun was shining and they kept smiling. There are a lot of unusual plants in this garden, and as I often use less familiar species in my designs and these are often the gardeners that go on to look after them after construction it’s an invaluable win, win. We learn from each other and Rob demonstrated how he prunes and trains roses over an archway. In many cases I like my gardens to look natural, and in small groups we assessed the various forms of trees and shrubs and how to reduce their size without looking like they had been touched, in stark contrast they pollarded the mop top Robinia out in the paddock. When I walk around my garden now there is a sense of order and I’m excited for the growing season ahead. Big thanks!

Last night I planned to light the bonfire in the p

Last night I planned to light the bonfire in the paddock at first light, but that’s been thwarted by wind, so it can wait until later this week when the final round of winter cut backs begins. The last leaves of the oak tree have been shed and there’s stirrings in the winter garden. Early magnolias have begun to show colour, and the sweet peas are up and running, with stems growing fatter as they climb the jute net in search of sun. In the orchard the citrus are laden with fruit, the mulberry needs to be reduced in size, quinces and figs too, and this is where we will begin pruning on Thursday.

The garden close to the house has been stripped ba

The garden close to the house has been stripped bare and ready for warm sunny days. Roses are yet to be pruned and the lily stakes will have to be replaced this year and I’ll keep moving through, reassessing, removing, shuffling and adding new plants. If I’m not sure of myself I’ll leave it until I am as there is no rush. There’s an icing sugar dusting of frost on the oak leaf mulch layered over the grass garden that will have melted by the time I finish this espresso, and then I’ll get started. #wintergardening #sundaygardening

It’s true, many hands make light work. Yesterday

It’s true, many hands make light work. Yesterday the sun shone for most of the day and @boxbuildinglandscaping crew arrived at first light for the first round of winter cut backs. This year we began with the grasses, and worked upwards through the winter garden. There were familiar and new faces, and we refined pruning techniques, and the ways I would like them to emulate this winter (and they did plenty of boring weeding) As a garden matures, different skills must be learned and we moved onto lifting the canopy Port Jackson fig and removed specific branches to highlight the form of oak and plane trees. Old perennials were removed to make room for new plants, and we discussed how to freshen up an aging corner of my garden by removing old plants to highlight the heroes. I really appreciate your help Bailey, Cameron, Lachie, Kyle, Dave, Elli and a big thanks to Wade.

I woke to a warm house and fire still glowing, I s

I woke to a warm house and fire still glowing, I set a few twigs and a wedge of wood, opened the flue and in seconds the dark room was aglow. Dogs fed and back snoring, Harry out to his paddock and then a walk around the garden in my dressing gown under a cloudless sky. It’s fresh outside, woodsmoke disguises the scent of winter honeysuckle. It’s a good day to be alive. #wintergarden #agaveamericana #panicumautumnglow #australiangarden #grasses #ornamentalgrasses #jonquil #geranium #pelargonium #pelargoniumbigsalmon

Thirty three years ago I dug a sapling oak from a

Thirty three years ago I dug a sapling oak from a retirement village garden and transplanted it to one side of what would be my new driveway, and now I walk beneath the broad spread of that grand tree’s branches many times each day. #oak #quercusrobur #wintergarden

Cathy and I left the house early to be with friend

Cathy and I left the house early to be with friends for lunch before I’d had time to make this post this morning, when the fog was still swirling around the garden. Yesterday I spent a few hours on my own up a ladder pruning the wisteria. It’s become a tradition I look forward to when the last golden leaves have almost fallen. I flick any spent leaves, cut off the thin straggly shoots and shorten the flowering laterals to two buds. Lastly I remove any fat growing stems that look like they could take over next year, because I’d be happy for this lusty vine to slow down. I like the sculptural quality of the bare stems and look upward each time I pass the pergola to watch for bud swell. Annual garden chores such as this are reassuring in an often troubled world , and give me a feeling of satisfaction, and the old vine can transfer its strength to fewer flower buds and give me an incredible show this spring. #wisteria #wisteriashirokapitan #whitewistaria #whitewisteria #pruningwisteria #wintergardening

Early walk to the orchard to feed ‘Clucky go Luc

Early walk to the orchard to feed ‘Clucky go Lucky’ (the only surviving chicken, after two recent visits from a murderous fox) It looks to be a perfect winters day to spend in the garden. Espresso no. 2 coming up but I’ll be adding it to cup of hot milk with a spoonful of dark chocolate powder to give me strength and keep me warm.

Soon it will be time for our big winter garden cut

Soon it will be time for our big winter garden cut back - in the meantime I’m getting about and taking small bites; like pruning the Santa Rosa plum that is beginning to bud, or taking down a gaggle of boisterous Salvia Meigan’s Magic that is overhanging the box hedge in the orchard. Immersed in the garden and observing, I’m in a happy place as the season for one species begins, another is closing. Almost all the perennials in my garden have been dug up and lifted at some time or another and taken on a wheelbarrow ride while I contemplate the next move to a better place, and this is how I learn what plant looks good beside another, and what conditions it does best in. The late flowering Salvia madrensis doesn’t object to being uprooted and as it takes a wide spread each season its currently living under deciduous trees and as it looks happy, it can stay just where it is for another year. #winter #wintergarden #salviamadrensis #birdattractingplants

Winter honeysuckle is a shrub for large gardens. I

Winter honeysuckle is a shrub for large gardens. I couldn’t say it’s spectacular - once I even heard it described on the internet as dreary, but to me it has an unassuming charm. In winter, and the air is icy cold is when the small white flowers appear and its sweet lemony fragrance carries all the way through the garden to the front gate. It makes me happy and I wouldn’t be without it. #wintergardening #lonicerafragrantissima #woodbine #fragrantflowers

As is my way, I’ve been out early. I’ve been t

As is my way, I’ve been out early. I’ve been to the gym, pony and dogs have been fed and I have compiled a list in my mind of what I hope to get done today. The sky is clear, it’s cold…but still no frost, and the red-hot pokers set against a smoky backdrop of Miscanthus seed heads are a joy. Now it’s second espresso time and I’ll head out to split a barrow or two of firewood… #kniphofia #kniphofiawintercheer #wintergarden #miscanthus

Dan @verduousgardens installed my first @husqvarna

Dan @verduousgardens installed my first @husqvarnaaustralia #automower in the orchard a short while ago where I once to be found every weekend pushing a lawnmower around. These mowers have been installed in many of the gardens we design but I haven’t experienced my own up until now, and I’m impressed. Luckily it’s programmed to mow at 1am every second day when I’m fast asleep or I would waste too much time watching it zip back and forth do the work I used to do.

My garden isn’t just about plants it grows indel

My garden isn’t just about plants it grows indelible memories.
Today our son turned thirty and lives near the beach with his girlfriend.
Meanwhile in the garden the seasons fly by. Where has the time gone?
Happy Birthday Nat, we love you x. @nathancookepga and his cousin @jarrodcooke Christmas some time ago - maybe 1998?

Harry has been walked out to his paddock from the

Harry has been walked out to his paddock from the stable, the pool has been backwashed and the skimmer box basket emptied of wind blown pecan leaves. The pond has breached its wall and the ground is oozing water. Thankfully the rain has abated but it’s cold, the fire is blazing, the dogs are snoring and I’ve gone back to bed to warm my frozen fingers and read.

On cold, wet winter days when I can’t work outsi

On cold, wet winter days when I can’t work outside we light a fire and lamps in the lounge room and I walk from room to room and stare out the windows planning my next moves. The ever changing outlook from the French doors of my bedroom calls to me; and falling leaves, sculpture and clipped boxwood sing with the loudest voices - less so the grasses the dogs graze and the perennials that are filling a space whilst I think of something better… #australiangarden #landscape #landscapedesign #australiangardendesign
#gardener #jardin #horticulture #wetwinterdays #firstdayofwinter

With winter just days away I’ve settled into com

With winter just days away I’ve settled into comforting familiar routines like splitting and stacking wood, and lighting the fire each afternoon to warm the house. The garden is in fine form, the Boston ivy has coloured, as have the Japanese maples, and a few of the sweet pea seedlings are beginning to thicken and climb on the jute support I tied to some old iron tree guards. I’m off to @stonewall_equestrian in a few moments and then back home to potter about, maybe prune the plum tree in the orchard but let’s see how the day evolves… #sunday #sundaymornings #wintergarden #parthenocissustricuspidata #acerpalmatum

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