Download Planting Scheme
	Set in the surrounds of local bush land, this architect designed house has been designed to compliment the existing landscape and to make the most of the views offered by the northern aspect. The clients brief was to primarily create a garden that blended with the natural feel of the indigenous landscape. Jim created a very subtle garden, one that drew interest mainly from the planting scheme rather than from the hard landscape. He designed an exposed aggregate driveway which mimics the existing earth. A set of steps made from sandstone and recycled red gum sleepers leads to the existing sandstone porch and front door, via a sandstone path and front paved area. The house is interestingly designed with the master bedroom separated from the main part of the house by a small causeway. Jim designed a running creek bed starting at the back of the house on the higher ground, and cascading underneath the causeway into a catchment area right next to the front door. Originally, the clients had thought of this being a spa pool, but changed their mind once the job started. This is the focal point at the front of the house. As the house has virtually no back garden, the front garden has become the main usage area of the garden. It is here that an ornamental lawn of Kentucky Bluegrass provides a centre piece to deep sweeping garden beds. The pathway running up to the back of the house is designed to be rustic and soft on the eye. Surfaced with crushed granite and limestone, the path contains steps made from Mansfield Mud Rock. Framing these steps are an interesting plant combination of Senecio cineraria and Carex buchananii. A large tiered vegetable garden was cleverly built by Semken landscaping, allowing the clients to be somewhat self sustainable in the vegetable department. Jim believes that blending more native and indigenous plants into a designed garden can only be good for the environment. He has been able to achieve a very natural feel, a feel that is very Australian in style, and one that suits our lifestyle perfectly.