Explore our Black Friday 2025 guides below:

• Koala’s huge Black Friday sale has arrived, and my old sofa might not survive it
• You don’t have to wait till November 28 to save big – these Black Friday sales are already live
• I’ve waited all year for my favourite furniture brands to hit these low prices
• These outdoor furniture brands have slashed their prices for Black Friday
• Castlery launches Black Friday sale with up to $550 off sitewide

The range is perfect for those with contemporary tastes and an appreciation for clever design. And by clever design, we mean hidden bottle openers (genius!), removable cushions, and adjustable table legs. The aesthetic and functional pieces are available in a variety of sizes and configurations to suit any space, whether you live in an apartment or a home with a spacious backyard.

Koala Black Friday sale guide

Up to 30% off everything!

• Up to 15% off outdoor
• Up to 30% off sofas and sofa beds
• Up to 30% off mattresses
• Up to 30% off bed bases
• Bundle and save extra

SHOP NOW

Forget rusty tables and crumbling rattan chairs of outdoor settings past — Koala’s outdoor range is built to withstand the elements. Made from triple-coated steel and touches of teak, each piece is designed with Australia’s harsh summers and rainy winters in mind. Plus, just like their award-winning bedding, all outdoor furniture comes with fast and flexible delivery, a 120-night trial and a lengthy five-year warranty. How good.

So, if it’s time to upgrade that outdoor setting that’s looking a little worse for wear, take a look at Koala’s stylish and durable outdoor pieces, now on sale for Black Friday 2025.

You might also like MCM House just dropped its Black Friday sale early for Loyalty Members

Koala outdoor furniture on sale for Black Friday

01

Torakina 3-seater outdoor lounge chair in Outback Rose

$1350 $1147.50 at Koala

SAVE $202.50

Finished in a strawberry sorbet shade, this three-seater lounge is the ultimate statement piece for your alfresco dining space. With touches of teak and durable powder coating, this outdoor lounge is built to last and stand out.

It comes with detachable cushions, but according to several reviewers, the seats are equally comfortable with or without the extra padding.

“Super quick delivery,” One five-star reviewer wrote. “Easy to assemble. Really sturdy and comfortable and I have a really bad spinal Injury and sitting is always problematic.”

Another person added: “The lounge is comfortable without the cushions, but the cushions are handy if you want lay out for a nice long read or a little siesta, Very happy with purchase. Would recommend.”

And if you love the lounge but you’re limited on space, don’t worry — it’s also available in a two-seater and armchair size, so there’s a perfect size for everyone.

Dimensions: 78.5cm H x 194.5cm L x 73cm W

Weight: 42.7kg

Colours: Soft Moss, Silver Moon, Outback Rose, and Beach Walk

Key features:

• Triple-coated steel frame
• Comes with removable contoured cushions
• Hidden bottle opener beneath armrest
• Tool-free assembly
• Configurable sizes
• 120-night trial
• Fast and flexible delivery
• Five-year warranty

Shop Now

02

Torakina 6-seater outdoor lounge set in Soft Moss

$3105 $2639.25 at Koala

SAVE $465.75

If you need ample room to host guests, the Torakina six-seater set will more than do the job. Designed with comfort and durability in mind, the set features sleek curves, teak finishes and that handy bottle opener beneath the chair’s armrests.

Again, Koala understands that not everyone has space for a six-seater lounge set in their backyard — especially those living in an apartment or small townhouse. So, there’s also a two-seater, four-seater and five-seater option available to fit all spaces.

“I am absolutely obsessed with this furniture,” one five-star reviewer wrote. “The colour, the comfort, the function are all 10. The arm chairs are wide enough for me to sit cross legged in which is much bigger than average!!”

Dimensions: 78.5cm H x 194.5cm L x 73.5cm W (three-seater lounge chair); 37cm H x 100cm L x 100cm W (square coffee table)

Weight: 42.7kg (three-seater lounge chair); 27kg (square coffee table)

Colours: Soft Moss, Silver Moon, Outback Rose, and Beach Walk

Key features:

• Triple-coated steel frame
• Curved ergonomic design
• 100 per cent solid teak finishes
• Comes with removable contoured cushions
• Tool-free assembly
• Configurable sizes
• 120-night trial
• Fast and flexible delivery
• Five-year warranty

Shop Now

03

Torakina 6-seater outdoor dining table in Silver Moon

$1350 $1147.50 at Koala

SAVE $202.50

Host summer barbeques and sunset drinks in style with this simple outdoor dining table, available in a six-seater ($1250) and four-seater ($750). Along with a handy hidden bottle opener, the table also features a hole for your umbrella and adjustable wide feet, meaning no more stuffing napkins beneath uneven table legs. It’s the little things that count, after all.

“Impressed with the quality and perfect size for our small/medium back yard,” one satisfied reviewer wrote. “Adjustable legs handy for our slightly uneven paved floor.”

Dimensions: 74cm H x 87.5cm L x 87.5cm W

Weight: 21.5kg

Colours: Soft Moss, Silver Moon, Outback Rose, and Beach Walk

Key features:

• Triple-coated steel frame
• Wide adjustable table feet
• 100 per cent solid teak
• Hidden bottle opener
• Tool-free assembly
• Configurable sizes
• 120-night trial
• Fast and flexible delivery
• Five-year warranty

Shop Now

04

Torakina 4-piece outdoor dining set in Beach Walk

$1980 $1683 at Koala

SAVE $297

Embrace the butter-yellow trend with this joyful four-piece set that is perfect for smaller outdoor spaces. Topped with the range’s signature use of teak and paired with curvaceous chairs, this compact outdoor dining setting is both comfy and cute.

For an additional $180, you can purchase the set with armchairs instead of chairs. Or, if you have a larger outdoor space and find yourself entertaining bigger groups, opt for the six-seater variety, with pricing starting at $2740.

Dimensions: 74cm H x 87.5cm L x 87.5cm W (four-seater table); 81cm H x 53.5cm L x 57cm W (dining chair)

Weight: 21.5kg (four-seater table); 24.5kg (dining chair)

Colours: Soft Moss, Silver Moon, Outback Rose, and Beach Walk

Key features:

• Triple-coated steel frame
• Removable cushions
• Adjustable table feet
• Tool-free assembly
• Configurable sizes
• 120-night trial
• Fast and flexible delivery
• Five-year warranty

Shop Now

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The post Koala has slashed nearly $500 off this chic outdoor lounge set appeared first on Homes To Love.

“Within a few months of establishing a frog pond, four species of frog moved into my backyard, all of which I recorded with the FrogID app of course!” Dr Rowley says.

So, whether you have a small backyard or you live on acreage, here are some top tips on creating a frog-friendly space in your garden.

How to make your garden frog-friendly

If you have a backyard big enough for a pond, you’ve got yourself a potential frog-friendly sanctuary! Here are some top tips to welcome frogs into your garden:

• Choose a shady spot: To ensure your future frog neighbours are happy, choose a frog bog or pond location that’s in part shade. Also, be sure not to place your pond too close to your bedroom window or those of your neighbours; frogs can be quite loud!
• Add a water source: Create a ‘frog bog’ or a shallow pond with at least 50 centimetres of water and sloping sides; the frogs need to be able to hop in and out of your pond.
• Add mulch, rocks, logs and leaf litter: Frogs need places to hide from predators and seek shade. Logs are also great at bringing bugs, which will keep frogs fed.
• Add native plants: Plants are also essential for a happy pond ecosystem and provide shelter for frogs. Sedges, kangaroo grass, swamp banksia and native ginger are great options, according to Australian Environmental Education.
• Reduce chemical use: Be mindful that pesticides and fertilisers harm frogs.
• Add a water pump and/or native fish: Mosquitoes love still water, so make sure you curb their numbers by installing a water pump or adding in some native fish like Australian smelt.

What is FrodID?

FrogID is a free citizen science-based app by the Australian Museum that aims to share educational information about Australia’s frogs. The app works by recording frog calls, which allows the user to identify the frog species and enables scientists to better understand the diversity, breeding habits and distributions of Australian frogs.

The post How to make your backyard more frog-friendly appeared first on Homes To Love.

What to plant in November across Australia

Spring is typically the time to harvest, not plant, but that doesn’t mean planting is strictly off the cards in November. There are plenty of veggies and herbs, especially those from punnets, that you can pop into your patch this spring. Here are some of the best plants to consider, according to Australia’s different climate zones.

Temperate: Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Central Coast

Sun-loving plants like chilli, tomato, zucchini and basil can all be planted, in punnets, at this time of year in temperate climate zones like Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and the Central Coast. Silverbeet and lettuce also do well.

Cool temperate: Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Launceston

Much like in temperate zones, chilli, tomato, zucchini and basil can also be planted in November in cooler climate zones like Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart.

Sub-tropical: Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast

Eggplant, capsicum, tomatoes, snake beans and lettuce can be planted in November in sub-tropical zones like Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Tropical: Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Exmouth

In tropical zones like Darwin and Cairns, capsicum, cucumber, chilli, sweet corn, melons and Asian greens can be planted in November. However, because it is the beginning of the wet season, it’s worth prioritising fast-growing plants like Asian greens.

Gardening tasks to tick off in November

Summer is right around the corner, which means now is the time to get your garden ready for the heat. Here are a few gardening tasks to tick off your list in November.

• Add mulch: Mulching ahead of summer is great for improving water retention, reducing weeds and maintaining insulation within the soil.
• Prune wilting flowers: Encourage new blooms for summer by pruning your roses.
• Remove any weeds: As always, get rid of any pesky weeds that pop up.
• Apply liquid feed to your veggie patch: Give your plants a boost ahead of the hot summer.

The post What to plant and what gardening tasks to get done in November appeared first on Homes To Love.

“They wanted the space to be broken up into zones to maximise functional use and be able to enjoy little moments in different areas, chasing the shade around the movement of the sun,” says Adam. To that end, he cleverly sectioned the ordinary rectangular yard into segments by using a variety of paving patterns and plant groupings that worked around existing palms.

The new layout includes a dining zone, seating for relaxing, a barbecue on a cantilevered bench and a water feature. “We incorporated elements like fountains, lush greenery, vibrant colours and intricate patterns, marrying the ethos of tradition with contemporary flair,” says Adam.

Working with a site drenched in sun at different times of the day, Adam selected plants accordingly. The strappy foliage of Kentia palms (Howea forsteriana) creates “a sense of ceiling and enclosure, providing movement and
dappled shade,” says Adam.

Plant list

TREES: Mediterranean Cyprus (Cupressus sempervirens)

SHRUBS: Euphorbia hypericifolia ‘Diamond Frost’ Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus) Purple torch (Bartlettina sordida)

SUCCULENTS/CACTI: Dragon tree (Dracaena draco) Euphorbia (Euphorbia ingens)

PALMS: Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)

In the north-western corner, a mature potted olive tree adds a Mediterranean note that’s echoed in the Cyprus pencil pines (Cupressus sempervirens), with clusters of Euphorbia hypericifolia ‘Diamond Frost’ at their base. A dragon tree (Dracaena draco) acts as a partition, cocooning a seating zone with the Kentia palms and a backdrop of euphorbia cacti (Euphorbia ingens) and purple torch (Bartlettina sordida).

But the showstopping centrepiece of the garden is an arch-framed fountain, finished in handmade glazed jadetone tiles with a detailed lace pattern. “The central water feature is a quintessential Moroccan garden element, evoking a sense of coolness and tranquillity,” he says.

Adam’s tips for small gardens

• Create zones for cooking, dining and lounging or, if space is really limited, plan out a multi-use area.
• Comfort is key in space and seating. If there is no room for a separate lounging area, choose dining chairs with backs and cushioned seating to encourage guests to linger.
• Resist overcrowding with furniture so your guests can move around without feeling confined. Providing shade is important, too.
• Bring in height in smaller gardens. A palm, such as a Kentia palm or Dwarf date palm, is brilliant to add height minus the width.
• Play with materiality and texture to introduce drama. These help define areas and add visual impact

The post A lush oasis in inner Sydney with a distinctly Moroccan makeover appeared first on Homes To Love.

Outdoor dining sets don’t come cheap, so you want something that will stand the test of time and still feels fresh come next summer and the one after that. Exposure to the elements means outdoor chairs, tables and any other dining piece needs to withstand rain, wind, salt air (if you’re by the water), and certainly the harsh Australian sun. We have the lowdown on what materials are best for the great outdoors, how to make your outdoor dining space shine, and the best outdoor dining sets no matter your taste and budget.

Style your outdoor space with sturdy furniture that will get you dining alfresco, no matter what time of year it is. Even in winter you can have a warm and welcoming space to eat outdoors. If you want something truly inviting, swap out your typical black, white or green-grey outdoor dining set for something more vibrant. Earthy tones like rust, mustard, terracotta and timber will add instant warmth.

You might also like The best outdoor furniture brands to shop in Australia

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The best outdoor dining sets to shop in Australia 2025

Santana aluminium extension table

$1499 $1099 at Early Settler

Crafted from durable aluminium with a powder-coated finish, this durable and versatile piece is built with longevity in mind. The clever extendable design offers flexibility for outdoor entertaining, measuring 300cm when fully extended. Pair with the Tilla or Kai dining chairs to achieve the full contemporary look.

Key features:

• Crafted with durable aluminium with a powder-coated finish for protection
• Taupe colour feels timeless and versatile
• Extends from 200cm to 300cm
• Also available in White, Rose Pink and Steely Green

SHOP NOW

Outdoor Maive rectangular dining table

$3995 at MCM House

For those who love a little luxury, and want uncompromised quality, this outdoor dining table by MCM House is the perfect call. Available in both rectangle and round profiles, this table features a brushed steel base and sintered stone top for a timeless appeal. Pair with the Outdoor Revello dining chair for the full set.

Key features:

• Water absorption rate as low as 0.02%
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
• Assembly required

SHOP NOW

Nova outdoor dining package

$7695 $6156 at RJ Living

The sculptural silhouette of this outdoor dining set by RJ Living will bring joy to your outdoor space. In a cactus-green hue, this collection balances form and function, making it a perfect statement piece in your backyard. This package is the full set: featuring one outdoor dining table, two side tables and two outdoor dining benches. You can also purchase the dining table and benches separately.

Key features:

• Crafted in concrete
• No assembly required
• Two-year warranty

SHOP NOW

Torakina outdoor dining set in Soft Moss (6-seater)

$3105 at Koala

Looking for an outdoor set that’s easy to set up? This stylish dining set from Koala is your answer. With an elevated style and tool-free assembly (yes, you read that right), you’ll be enjoying your favourite afternoon bevvy in your backyard within a matter of seconds. Plus, this dining set is crafted with a triple-coated steel frame for superior rust resistance to ensure it lasts all season long. Did we mention it comes with a hidden bottle opener just under the tabletop?

Key features:

• Tool-free assembly
• Crafted with triple-coated steel frame
• Hidden bottle opener
  

SHOP NOW

Kace dining bench seat in Smoke Green

$449 $349 at Early Settler

Pick up the table or a couple of bench seats as well, this versatile outdoor dining set is made from strong galvanised steel, powder coated in a pretty green colour. Perfect for the deck or balcony, it won’t harm your floor surface wherever you are. This whole range can be mixed and matched, and is oh so pretty for all types of outdoor spaces.

Key features:

• Galvanised powder-coated steel construction
• Hardwearing
• Recommended to be stored undercover when not in use
  

SHOP NOW

Hunter outdoor dining chair in Forest Green (set of 2)

$329.99 $165 at Mocka

A retro design that will work with almost any style, these Australian-designed chairs are powder-coated metal and are designed to withstand the harshest weather. The green is slightly glossy, and goes beautifully with the Hunter Outdoor side table for outdoor dining and snacking.

Key features:

• Set of 2
• Sturdy metal frame
• Timeless design
  

SHOP NOW

Everly outdoor dining chairs in Sand (set of 4)

from $299.99 $249.99 at Temple & Webster

They come in this sand colour as well as black and white, they’re lightweight and the moulded seat is super comfortable. These outdoor dining chairs are easy to wipe down and we like the one-year warranty. They won’t wilt in the harsh Australian sun, and they look as fresh as a bright spring day in the garden.

Key features:

• Stackable design
• Lightweight
• UV-stabilised
  

SHOP NOW

Rio Outdoor Teak build-your-own dining set

$3097 $2939 at Castlery

Tweak the table length, include a bench seat or just have chairs, add an ivory cover or keep things simple. The choice is yours with this outdoor dining set. The table can come in 160cm, 200cm or 240cm lengths, and you can choose 2, 4 or 6 chairs, or a bench, or both. Made of teak, this stylish, angular outdoor entertaining set will last for many years.

Key features:

• Mix and match set
• Solid teak wood
• Finely sanded finish
  

SHOP NOW

Bistro Five Gracia outdoor dining chairs in Burnt Sienna (set of 4)

from $439 $379 at Temple & Webster

Colour your patio pretty with these outdoor dining chairs that come in an assortment of eight different hues. Think midnight blue and dark forest green. The chairs, which come in a set of four, are crafted from fibreglass-reinforced polypropylene and can each hold up to 250kg. They’re stackable, freeing up valuable space in your outdoor area when needed, and they’re resistant to UV rays, water and mildew, sun, rain and humidity. We love that the rain falls right through the gaps in the seat, meaning less wiping down day to day. There’s no matching table, but these versatile chairs can pull up against any dining table with the same sleek design.

Key features:

• Choose from an array of fun colours
• Stackable design
• UV-resistant
• Water-resistant
• Rust-resistant
  

SHOP NOW

Ataman Outdoor Dining Package

$3699 $3144 at Freedom

A sleek and simple outdoor dining table and chairs by Freedom, the Ataman collection offers a rust-resistant aluminium powdered coated frame in an architectural frame. Designed for both aesthetics and functionality, the range is crafted to withstand the elements and made from mildew-resistant, easy to clean, eco-friendly materials.

Key features:

• Crafted from Aluminium
• Sleek and refined design
• UV and water resistant
  

SHOP NOW

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The post These 10 outdoor dining sets make alfresco dining a four-season affair appeared first on Homes To Love.

The David Beckham Rose blooms

Sir David celebrated his 50th on 2nd May this year with a week of festivities, culminating in a glamorous private birthday dinner. Guests such as Eva Longoria and Gordon Ramsay celebrated alongside him, Victoria and their three youngest children. David posted pictures of the evening on Instagram, with snaps of him snuggling his daughter at the formal dinner and busting out dad moves on the dance floor by her side.

Harper, who been recently venturing into the world of fashion alongside mum Victoria, looked elegant in classic Beckham style. And the youngest of the Beckham brood is showing she has tasteful style that extends beyond the sartorial.

“Such an incredible gift from my amazing daughter”

Wanting to find the perfect gift to celebrate her father’s half-century, Harper has certainly done her research. News of the present she settled on has just been released. A new breed of English shrub rose has been grown and named in his honour. “David’s daughter Harper wished to mark the occasion of his 50th birthday with something enduring and full of beauty,” says a press release from David Austin Roses. “Inspired by this touching family gesture, David Austin Roses chose to dedicate this new rose to Sir David Beckham. Harper’s wish has grown into a rose of remarkable character.”

David shared the news on his Instagram stories earlier today, saying this was “such an incredible gift from my amazing daughter”. The flower grown for the occasion is true to the classic and elegant style the Beckhams have become known for. The rose buds “open with a subtle flush of pink, revealing luminous white blooms tinged with soft blush and yellow. The semi-double flowers are gently cupped in form, and each reveals a striking starburst of golden stamens at its heart.”

David Austin roses are famously fragrant, with multiple delicate cupped petals and full of traditional English charm. They bloom in most Aussie moderate climates in the summer months. The perfume of the new Sir David Beckham rose will reportedly have “fresh green notes of banana, warm honeyed musk layered with hints of nougat, clove and myrrh.”

David Beckham in the garden

The Beckham family have recently been enjoying the spotlight again, this time with former Spice Girl and fashion icon Victoria the focus in her a docuseries on Netflix. It follows the 2023 four-party documentary series Beckham, which explored David Beckham’s early life, rise to fame, soccer career and current family life.

The Australian House & Garden team loved the glimpses into the Beckham country estate. The rambling grounds, vegetable patches and kitchen-garden was impressive but not surprising, with David being a passionate cook and gardener. We wonder if there’ll be a new addition to the garden this coming English summer, with the Sir David Beckham rose blooming on the grounds.

The Sir David Beckham rose will launch at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2026. Each sale of the rose will see a £2.50 donation to The King’s Foundation, the charity for which David Beckham is an ambassador.

Harper Beckham evidently wins the daughter-of-the-year award for this incredibly sweet and thoughtful birthday present.

The post Harper Beckham’s heartwarming 50th birthday gift to dad David appeared first on Homes To Love.

Scientifically known as Jacaranda mimosifolia, these purple-hued beauties are hardy and thrive in well-draining soil and ample sunlight, making them perfect for Australian backyards. They require very little maintenance; pruning is only ever necessary if you’re after a specific shape or if you want to encourage a more robust floral display the following year.

With jacaranda season now well and truly upon us, here’s where you’ll be able to spot these striking trees across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

The best places to see jacarandas in Sydney

• The corner of Glenmore Road and Oxford Street in Paddington
• McDougall Street in Kirribilli
• Lavender Bay in North Sydney
• Circular Quay
• Parramatta Park, along Parramatta River and Centenary Square
• Argyle Street in Camden

While a fair drive out of Sydney, the country town of Grafton celebrates an annual Jacaranda Festival, and the best streets to visit include Pound Street, Turf Street and Dobie Street.

The best places to see jacaranda trees in Adelaide

• Adelaide CBD, especially Grote Street, Carrington Street, and Wakefield Street
• University of Adelaide
• Byron Road and Fairmont Ave, Black Forest
• Lionel Avenue, Clifton Street and Leslie Avenue, Blair Athol
• Niranna Avenue and Chamberlain Avenue at Clarence Gardens
• Frewville Main Street
• L’Estrange Street, Glenside
  

The best places to see jacarandas in Brisbane

• University of Queensland (UQ) St. Lucia Campus
• New Farm Park
• The Spectacle Garden in Roma Street Parkland
• Milton Park near the Brisbane River
• Along the Clem Jones Promenade in South Bank Parklands
• Taringa Parade, Indooroopilly
  

The best places to see jacaranda trees in Melbourne

• The Royal Botanical Gardens
• Parliament House
• University of Melbourne
• Edinburgh gardens
• Parkville

The best places to see jacaranda trees in Perth

• Applecross Village
• Hyde Park & Leake Street
• The Avenues, Inglewood
• Marlborough Street, East Perth
• Old Jacaranda Way, Subiaco
• Simper Street and Ruislip Street, Wembley

Are jacarandas native to Australia?

While wholeheartedly embraced Down Under, jacaranda trees are not actually native to Australia, and instead hail from South America.

The jacaranda was first introduced in Australia around the 19th century for their ornamental charm. They quickly adapted to our favourable climate and soil conditions, and today grow countrywide, showering all of our states with their pretty purple petals.

How long do jacarandas bloom?

Jacaranda season in Australia is typically late spring to early summer (October to November). The exact timing can vary depending on the specific region within Australia, as well as factors including local climate conditions and changing weather patterns.

In some regions, you will see jacaranda trees in full bloom for around four to six weeks, while others may experience much shorter displays. This will likely be due to changing climate and weather conditions. For the rest of the growing season they retain a lush green canopy that softly filters light.

At the end of their bloom, jacarandas shed their spent flowers, covering our streets and gardens in a glorious carpet of colour. Not only do they tend to attract bees and birds to our garden, but the sweet trumpet-shaped petals are also the perfect accessory to fairy gardens.

How quickly do jacarandas grow?

If you’re desperate for your very own jacaranda bursting into colour in your backyard, we have good news… jacaranda trees grow fast and mature quickly. In the right conditions, jacarandas can grow 2-3 metres per year, reaching heights of 10-15 metres with a canopy spreading around 5-8 metres.

Where should you plant a jacaranda tree?

Jacaranda trees are generally hardy and easy to care for, but choosing the right spot to plant your tree is critical to success. Like you, the jacaranda is a big fan of the sunshine, requiring at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day, as well as well-draining soil and a decent amount of space in which to grow.

When planting your jacaranda tree, keep in mind that the tree will drop abundant flowers, leaves and pods, which may clog up drains and gutters. They thrive well on sunny lawns and need plenty of water to bloom.

The post Where to see jacarandas in bloom across Australia appeared first on Homes To Love.

“There was no garden to speak of as, apparently, goats had eaten what was there,” Pip says. A handful of old lavender bushes, a few roses, and conifer and chestnut trees were dotted around the dilapidated, forlorn cottage.

Pip is an architect, and Mal works in construction, so they were excited by the property’s blank-slate potential. Plus, the borrowed landscape was hard to pass up.

“We are on the north side of Mount Macedon at a pretty high elevation of around 750 metres, with stunning views in all directions. It’s a special piece of land,” says Pip, who grew up in Melbourne and spent many weekends at her family’s farm just past Kyneton. “I had that country experience of learning and doing practical things.”

Pip is pleased that her and Mal’s children – Lucas, 22, Felicity, 20, and Tom, 17 – can enjoy the same experience. “The country house and garden has always been a group project for the family, and we do as many things as we can ourselves. It’s a joint effort,” Pip says.

The cottage has undergone a two-stage renovation, with minor updates occurring in 2012 and a larger renovation and extension in 2021. The garden was significantly revamped in phase two, with earthworks and extensive brickworks forming the terracing and windbreak walls, encompassing just over half a hectare of sloped land.

Renata Fairhall, of Renata Fairhall Garden Designs, masterminded the layout, this being the third garden Renata has planned for the Battens. “She is wonderful to work with and very good with hard landscaping plans,” Pip explains. “Plus, I wanted that billowy, country garden look with lots of flowers for picking, and I love that about Renata’s style.”

Pip and Mal called in the expert trades – bricklayers, a plumber and an electrician, plus a builder who is a friend of Mal’s – but the remaining tasks were completed by the Battens. They built garden beds and laid the granite paving and gravel under Mal’s direction. They also selected large feature rocks from the far reaches of their property and placed them around the garden.

“I wanted that billowy, country garden look with lots of flowers for picking.”

Pip Batten, Homeowner

“One of our main interests in building the garden and doing the renovations was to use second-hand materials,” Pip says. Recycled brick and hardwoods, and reclaimed weatherboards define the zones and amplify the relaxed, rural feeling.

With Renata’s guidance, Pip did all the planting in November 2022. “I didn’t know much about plants, but after planting everything and looking after it, my knowledge has increased exponentially,” says Pip. ”I didn’t have that level of appreciation for gardening before, but it’s a new hobby for me and just so satisfying. All thanks to Renata!”

The outcome is a joyful botanical tapestry of colour, texture and form – “tamed wildness”, according to Pip. She wanted a sense of movement and has achieved that with a selection of grasses, including Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ and evergreen miscanthus. Echinacea bobs in the breeze, yellow achilleas spread like butter, and fat David Austin ‘Cabbage’ roses lend an old-fashioned feel to the cold-climate array. Dahlias, salvias and hellebores pop up in their respective seasons, and everything simply thrives.

“The growth rate is enormous, and I spend a lot of time reducing and cutting back plants that have tripled in size,” says the natural green thumb. “I’m going to have to divide up the grasses next year because they are getting so big.”

Mulching is crucial to keep the weeds at bay, and Pip and Mal have been in a long-term battle with rabbits. “We have just put a perimeter rabbit fence all the way around as they were visiting too much!” says Pip.

When the working bees are done, the family relish the natural beauty of their garden. There’s always time for a soak in the wood-fired hot tub, and Pip will often paint vignettes of the birds and blossoms that colour the seasonal cycles. When the weekend is over and it’s time to hit the road, Pip leaves with an armful of freshly cut flowers. She dots arrangements around their city home, bringing a little bit of Landscape into the family’s busy urban life.

Visit renatafairhall.com.au

The post A colourful cottage garden with a relaxed, rural feeling in the Macedon Ranges appeared first on Homes To Love.

Perfectly sized for children’s backyard fun, the Bunnings Clam Shell Sandpit is lightweight, portable and designed with a stackable form for easy storage. Grab the second shell (sold separately) to use as a cover – turning your sandpit into an undercover summer zone. You’ll also find that the shell doubles as a dog-wash station or, filled with ice, a backyard drinks cooler. With a retail price of only around $13, it’s incredible value for what it offers.

Whether you’re reviving childhood memories, creating new ones for your kids or simply looking for a versatile seasonal piece, this isn’t the time to hesitate. Stocks are sure to vanish fast. Head in, pick your pastel favourite, stack your shells and prepare for a sunny season of happy memories.

The post Aussies are flocking to Bunnings for this pastel sandpit — and it’s under $15 appeared first on Homes To Love.

Even outside her greenery, Anderson has long been attentive to the details in everything she does –  from her work in film to her recent collaboration with Flamingo Estate on family-recipe pickles. The Rules of the Garden were brought to life in a recent Sonsie Skin campaign, reflecting the same fastidious approach that defines her clean beauty line. And now, in the serenity of her backyard, she offers a set of guiding principles that invite anyone willing to participate, to see gardening as a practice in patience and observation.

Rule 1: No Hovering

Pamela insists that growth is not achieved through constant interference. “Give it what it needs and leave it be. Hovering never helped anything grow,” she reminds us.

Rule 2: Handle Everything with Love

Every interaction with the garden is an opportunity to impart care. “It remembers how you treat it,” Anderson notes, a gentle reminder of the reciprocity between gardener and earth.

Rule 3: Never Aim for Perfection

There is beauty in imperfection so, “let the mess become the magic,” she advises.

Rule 4: Tend Below the Surface

True work happens hidden from view, where roots twist and twine. Anderson urges attention to what lies beneath, where the foundation of growth is formed.

Rule 5: Stick to a Rhythm

Patience is a gardener’s most loyal companion. “Do not rush something that you want to last,” she observes.

Rule 6: Trust the Process

Let it evolve. “There is beauty in the becoming,” she encourages, celebrating the slow emergence of life.

Rule 7: Just Let it Be

“The differences are what make it beautiful,” Anderson concludes.

The post Pamela Anderson’s gardening guide is pure joy  appeared first on Homes To Love.

What triggers hay fever?

Hay fever is an immune system response, commonly presenting as a runny nose, watery eyes or sneezing, caused by inhaling airborne allergens like pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds, dust mites, and mould. Breathing these in can cause the body to produce histamines, which prompts the ever-so-annoying cold-like symptoms.

When is hay fever season in Australia?

While hay fever isn’t restricted to a certain time of year – symptoms can appear year round – but it’s usually at its worst during the warmer, dryer days of spring and early summer. Peak months are during October and November when trees drop pollen to reproduce, though it often wreaks havoc long into February.

Why is hay fever so bad now?

The combination of warmer, drier days, less rainfall to wash away irritants, and increased carbon dioxide levels is prompting plants to drop more pollen this year – irritating both you and your sinuses. So unfortunately, with the onset of climate change and rising temperatures, you’re more likely to face hay fever-related symptoms now more than ever.

Where is hay fever the worst in Australia?

Australia has one of the highest rates of hay fever in the world, with almost one in four people experiencing symptoms. But when it comes to the worst cities for hay fever sufferers, symptoms seem to centre around places with higher urban densities, including capital cities: Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Hobart and Brisbane. But regional areas are not completely immune – areas with abundant grassland such as rural Victoria and parts of NSW, can also experience high prevalence of airborne pollen.

What is the hay fever capital of the world?

You’re not imagining it: Melbourne’s hay fever is so bad, it’s often referred to as being the hay fever capital of the world – thanks to its variable spring weather (four seasons in a day!) and high levels of grass pollen. Coming in closely behind are other major cities like Wichita, USA; Milan, Italy; Zurich, Switzerland; and Athens, Greece.

What you can do to help reduce hay fever symptoms

Saving yourself from the perils of hay fever is all about reducing your exposure to irritants. Shower and change your clothes as soon as you arrive home, hang your freshly washed clothes indoors instead of on the line outside, and keep your windows closed during periods of high pollen – especially after hot, dry, windy days.

Do air purifiers help with hay fever?

Yes – if you’re finding yourself popping more Claratyne than cups of coffee, then an air purifier can help. These handy appliances work by pushing air through physical filters, trapping dust and pollutants, and recirculating fresh air that now contains significantly fewer allergens. There are plenty of options available, from budget-friendly to more premium options, so you can find one to suit your home and budget.

What Australian plants cause hay fever and allergies?

Wind-pollinated plants are the main culprits behind hay fever in Australia. These trees, weeds and grasses can wreak havoc on our sinuses when they release lightweight pollen that quickly becomes airborne. These include:

• Ash
• Birch
• Conifers
• Liquidambar
• Oak
• Pellitory/ Asthma weed
• Plane tree
• Poplar
• Rhus
• Sycamore
• Irritant plants such as daisies, euphorbia, grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon‘, marigold and privet. The sap in these plants can cause skin irritations.

Plants that don’t trigger hay fever

Plants that rely on insects or birds for pollination – or that produce heavy pollen that doesn’t travel far – are generally safer choices for hay fever suffers. These include:

• Begonia
• Camellia
• Chinese lantern (Abutilon)
• Citrus
• Coleus
• Cordyline
• Frangipani
• Hibiscus
• Firewheel tree
• New Zealand flax
• Flowering gum
• Lavender
• Pansy
• Petunia
• Rose
• Succulents
• Tea tree
• Glory bush (Tibouchina)

Top tips for allergy-free gardening

• Reduce your use of chemical fertilisers and sprays (herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides). Exposure to chemicals can increase your hypersensitivity to pollen, spores and other allergens. Opt for natural and organic products such as the Eco-Organic range of garden products.
• Wear gloves and a mask when turning compost.
• Replace lawn with groundcovers such as pebbles or Australian grasses.
• Garden in the morning on cool, cloudy days before the breeze blows the pollen and mould spores.
• Don’t hang washing on a windy day as pollen will stick to your clean laundry.
• Remove asthma weed and privet from gardens and lobby your council to do the same in public areas.
• Select non-pollen producing female trees. Some trees such as conifers come in male and female forms.
• Choose plants with large flowers that are pollinated by birds or insects.
• Encourage your local council to stop planting species from the northern hemisphere, such as plane trees and sycamores, and opt for native Australian trees such as banksia and firewheel trees instead.
• Ensure all lawns, shrubs and trees growing in schools are pollen free, as children are especially sensitive to allergens.

The post Why hay fever feels worse than ever this year & the sneaky plants to avoid appeared first on Homes To Love.

Whipping your timber deck back into shape may not be the quickest nor the easiest task, but it’s certainly one that will reward you come summer, when it’s time to start hosting those family barbecues. All you need is a little patience, a sunny weekend and these top maintenance and care tips from landscape designer and TV host Jamie Durie and woodcare expert Tim Orbell.

You might also like These 9 outdoor dining sets make alfresco dining a four-season affair

TIP: Protecting your decking from excessive moisture is key to longevity. It’s worth ensuring there’s proper drainage beneath your deck, so you’ll want to consider fitting a deck drainage system like those from Trex RainEscape, which uses an integrated system of troughs and gutters to divert water away – keeping the area below dry, usable, and protected from the elements.

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How often should you treat a timber deck?

“Typically, a timber deck should be treated every 12 months, depending on the level of exposure to weather conditions,” landscaping guru Jamie Durie says.

“If your deck is in direct sunlight or exposed to a lot of rain, it might need more frequent care,” he explains, adding that spring and autumn are a great time to treat your deck.

“For quick, in-between maintenance of the look, I recommend Cabot’s EasyDeck, as it allows you to refresh your deck in less than an hour, sprucing it up so it looks its best before entertaining.”

How to treat and maintain a timber deck

Although a yearly treatment is essential to extending the lifespan of your deck, it’s also important to regularly remove leaves and debris to prevent moisture build-up, and therefore mould or rot, Jamie says. It’s also worth ensuring there’s proper drainage beneath your deck, which can easily be achieved by installing drains. You’ll want to consider fitting a deck drainage system, like those from Trex RainEscape, which can be used for both composite and traditional timber decks.

But when it does come time for your annual decking treatment, here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Prep your deck: Sweep and wash your deck to ensure you’ve got a clean slate to apply treatment. Ideally, you’ll start the prep work on a sunny weekend to ensure your deck can easily dry after each step.
2. Repair any damage: “It’s important to inspect the deck for the four signs of deck damage, including loss of gloss or sheen, colour fade, cracking or splitting timber or water absorption,” Jamie says. “Also, be sure to keep an eye on loose boards or rot. Early intervention will prevent bigger issues down the line.”
3. Sand the deck: If your deck is in good nick, you may want to skip this step, but if you’ve got splintering or noticeable weathering, running a belt sander over your deck is a must.
4. Apply treatment: Mix the stain or paint of your choice thoroughly before applying it with a deck paintbrush attached to an extension rod using long, even strokes. Woodcare expert at Johnstone’s Professional Tim Orbell suggests working from one side to the other and coating the entire length of the boards. Don’t stop halfway!
5. Leave to dry: Follow the instructions on the tin and apply two more coats for maximum results.

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The post How to maintain and treat your timber deck, according to the experts appeared first on Homes To Love.

28 of the most beautiful country gardens in Australia

A dahlia flower farm on a heritage estate

In the summer, this historic Bathurst estate, known as Rainham, becomes engulfed in a riot of colour thanks to the more than 120 varieties of dahlias planted in the garden. “They are magnificent flowers, and they are all so different. The variety is just extraordinary,” one of the owners, Suzy, says.

A rambling, spontaneous country garden

Have a plan. That’s the first advice landscape designer Jason King gives clients when creating their own country gardens. “A master plan will ensure the spaces connect and co-exist in all seasons and at all times of the day,” he says.

But ask for a plan of Jason’s own half-hectare garden on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula and he replies, there isn’t one. It’s a fanciful ramble, the lovingly spontaneous result of both trial and error and his own fertile imagination. And it’s remarkable.

The elegant English estate

“Many people are moving to a wild, naturalistic garden style, but I feel it would be a crime to consider that here because it would not be in keeping with the home,” says Anita Todd, owner of Saddlewood, this picturesque property on New Zealand’s South Island. “We needed structure to complement the formality of the house.”

The enchanting botanical sanctuary

A mesmerising botanical wonder tucked away on the banks of the Shoalhaven River, this ‘van Goghian’ country garden invokes wondrous curvature and thoughtful planting. It features magnificent displays of topiary, fields of flora, myriad secluded nooks and shady glades, as well as a heritage rose garden that displays everything from ancient gallicas and damasks to the albas of the Middle Ages.

A rambling country garden

This rambling country garden in Boorowa is an utter delight, created by owner Joseph Corkhill as both a site to hold large gatherings and also afford opportunities for solitary escape. Here, the family enjoys afternoon tea under the 100-year-old radiata pine.

A whimsical, Arts and Crafts-style garden

Located in Chudleigh, Tasmania, Old Wesleydale is a heritage estate that has become known for its jaw-dropping topiary. And after returning to the English-style gardens some 13 years on from Country Style‘s first visit, it’s clear that the grounds only get better with age.

“We didn’t really have a plan,” one of the owners, Deb, says, “but we’ve tried to stick to the principles of the Arts and Crafts movement, and with how we are feeling, what skills we have acquired. And piecemeal over time it has come together.”

A wild garden sanctuary

“I wanted that feeling of deep immersion, head high, and for it to feel natural and wild,” landscape designer Jo Ferguson explains of her dreamy garden on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Located on six-and-a-half windswept hectares atop a hill in the coastal town of Flinders, the space is a refuge and inspiring haven for her green-thumbed family; husband Simon, a horticulturalist, and sons Rupert and Tucker, both fledgling plantsmen.

An experimental, family-friendly garden

Though previously left to the wayside, this rural garden had a stunning transformation thanks to the newly graduated landscape designer Sam Crawford, who lives in the attached property, dubbed Oak House. “I decided to use the Oak House garden as my experimental site, where I could trial plants – my passion – and work out my landscape ideas and philosophies,” she says.

A practical country garden

Located amid a thriving forest in the Great Dividing Ranges, this gorgeous two-hectare country garden takes inspiration from its lush surrounds. “We planted hornbeam trees to give the garden some structure, and added a fruit orchard,” recalls owner Natasha Morgan, who placed an emphasis on creating a both a beautiful and a practical oasis for her family.

A formal, coastal garden

At this country home in Wamberal, NSW, Bradford pears line the gravel-laden entryway to the home. Throughout the rest of the garden, texture plays a starring role, with a mature Chinese tallow tree, bog sage, delicate blue salvia, Lamarque Tea Noisette rose, and a sizeable bird of paradise featuring.

The drought and frost-resistant garden

This garden, which plays host to a variety of drought-hardy plants selected by its owner, Nicholas Scott, is the strikes the perfect balance between wild and formal, as many great country gardens do. Though contained within allotted garden beds, the rambing, wild plantings play to the home’s country location.

The colourful, cottage-style garden

The riotously colourful cottage-style garden of Leisa Rossignol (pictured) positively blooms in every possible way. Driven by her love of all things vintage, the garden has an incredibly quaint feel to it, with dainty florals, vegetables and herbs grown throughout the year.

The artistic haven

This gorgeous country garden, belonging to the restored home of colonial painter John Glover, is pure sunshine. Alongside the revamp of the home came a revamp of the surrounding landscape, which included a planting plan designed by Hobart-based landscape designer Catherine Shields.

An impressive topiary garden

It takes two to three days’ worth of pruning each month to keep this topiary garden in Central Victoria looking perfectly preened. Cypress trees have been trained into everything from corkscrew shapes to domes and pyramids.

A micro flower farm

Gorgeous pink ‘The Children’s Rose’ roses stand tall in the front garden of this renovated cottage and micro flower farm in Collector, New South Wales. It’s hard to believe the gardens were once a septic field.

The lush Tasmanian rose garden

When it comes to heritage roses, Brookhaven garden on the outskirts of Deloraine in northern Tasmania, has them in abundance. Not your tame garden varieties but wild and thorny shrubs, ramblers and climbers that cascade down the hillside or tumble from purpose-built pergolas.

A Southern Highlands retreat with towering trees

Positioned on a hill in the Southern Highlands, this country retreat boasts an impeccable garden shaded by towering, aged pine trees. Landscape designer Matthew Cantwell of Secret Gardens managed to transform an overgrown and neglected site into a relaxing and inviting garden full of movement.

A hidden hydrangea garden in Margaret River

Endless blooms of ‘something blue’ have unsurprisingly made this garden – filled with flowering hydrangeas and violets – a popular setting for weddings. Here, the central courtyard is framed by Wisteria sinensis. Pat Poynter began the garden from scratch in 1997 and is passing her passion for gardening onto her grandchildren.

The historic country garden

In 2011, Tony and Karen Heggarty purchased a 5000-hectare station — the site of the abandoned village of Goonoo Goonoo. Garden designer Adam Eurell, who was called in to work on the property admits, “It was daunting when I arrived. There were weeds and trees suckering in some of the buildings.” Today, however, the breathtaking results speak for themselves.

A sprawling, fire-resistant garden

When a large portion of Brackenhurst was destroyed by a bushfire in 2011, owners Anthony and Ruth Edgerton-Warburton did not dwell on their loss for too long. Instead the pair – and their friendly neighbours – set about planting fire-resistant trees, restoring the garden’s perimeter and bringing the property back to life.

An English-style cottage garden

Nestled in leafy Arcadia, NSW, this idyllic sanctuary is a piece of paradise,
in more ways than one. The English-cottage-style garden named Chanticleer, after the rows of Chanticleer pear trees planted in the formal courtyard, doubles as a wedding venue.

The garden that melts into the landscape

Garden designer Kathleen Murphy has created a water-saving oasis at her home in Gisborne, Central Victoria, where clients can see her work firsthand. Kathleen’s plant choices range from the towering vertical Beschorneria yuccoides with bright-red flower spikes springing from a nest of grey leaves and the yellow spires of verbascum flowers atop silvery leaves.

A painstakingly planted country garden

Brenton Roberts, a sales manager, moved into Ray Brodie Cottage in 2012, and since then has been cultivating his dream garden. Trial and error, along with a little ingenuity, have made this country garden what it is today – a marvel of drought-tolerant plants grown almost entirely from cuttings.

The succulent and cacti garden

Every inch of this front garden featuring a variety of succulents has been designed to make a statement. Sculptural leaves of agave and aloe are shaded by overarching date palms, while the trunks of towering eucalypts have been pruned to appear even taller than they actually are. Add flowering cacti and the yellow blooms of Verbascum and the end result is a very captivating tropical garden.

An artist’s floral garden

“Loose and rambling,” is the way artist and florist Morgan Allender describes her inspiring Adelaide garden. Her surroundings give her a sense of place and the landscape is her muse. “The views through the window and the hills are intoxicating — it’s my inspiration,” she says.

A flourishing country garden

A ‘fruhlingsgold’ rose sprawls over an antique statue at a manicured country garden in Newlyn, Victoria. The impressive garden of ornamental grasses, rambling roses and perennials is bordered by an immaculately clipped border of box hedge.

A world-famous wisteria garden

Nooroo Garden on Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains is renowned for its many wisteria varieties, including one wisteria floribunda ‘Macrobotrys’ that is over 90 years old. Here, the purple flowers are draped over a pergola at the rear of the home, providing colour and shade to the outdoor area.

An extravagant peony garden

Mac Barry had always wanted to be a farmer, but it wasn’t until his grandmother suggested growing peonies (a flower neither of them knew much about) that his dream was realised. Each year, during November, Spring Hill Peony Farm produces 10,000 of the romantic blooms.

The post Explore 28 of the most beautiful country gardens in Australia appeared first on Homes To Love.

The owners bought the property in 1996. “We loved its closeness to the beach, the bush setting beside a reserve, the jaw-dropping views and the constant sound of the surf,” says the owner. But occupied by a derelict home and untamed undergrowth, it required imagination to realise its potential.

Their plan was to build a home that would evolve into a weekender when the couple eventually returned to Sydney. But with the pressures of their professional lives and the arrival of two children, the site sat idle. “We thought about selling it, but we knew we would never be able to buy such an exceptional block again,” says the owner. In 2018, its time arrived. They enlisted local architect Dianna Thomas to design their long-anticipated weekender and she, in turn, referred them to Adam. The overriding brief for both was for the home to blend into the landscape.

“They wanted to create a sophisticated garden that connects with the bushland setting and ocean escarpment,” says Adam. “The garden had to showcase the natural beauty of the site and add to it, not detract or contrast.”
On such a sloping site, it had to include a series of levels, both open and secluded, to connect seamlessly with the home and bask in the panoramic views. And the garden had a further task. “The architecture was impacted by the fire-risk rating, with limited construction materials and no timber, so we needed the garden to do some aesthetic heavy lifting,” says the owner.

This site presented other headaches for Adam, such as salt-laden winds, sandy soils that would limit the plantings and the logistics of accessing the site by crane. Not to mention the wild lantana, cassia and “solid mat” of undergrowth, which would require removal by hand.

He created a series of spaces in a C-shape, with the home on the inner and the escarpment and cliff on the outer. Not surprisingly, considering the brief, the plant palette is almost entirely native and includes banksias (Banksia integrifolia/serrata/ericifolia), coast tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum), turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera), coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa), burrawang (Macrozamia communis), mat rush (Lomandra longifolia), grey spider flower (Grevillea buxifolia) and flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi).

“While the planting palette is restrained, the hardscaping brings boldness and strong lines,” says Adam. “The entire garden works on easing you through the landscape to arrive at a final destination at the top of the site, the final reveal, allowing full immersion in nature.”

At the front, a handsome Corten-steel gate in an off-form concrete wall interrupts a striking Corten-steel fence of vertical pickets randomly arranged in a curve. “I drew inspiration from a timber stake fence previously used to shut out bush turkeys,” says Adam. A sandstone flagging driveway winds up to a parking area defined by a mighty gabion retaining wall. From there, a marine-grade steel floating staircase, etched in steel and concrete and leading to the front door, hovers above the garden and passes through a canopy of soapbrush wattle (Acacia holosericea), underplanted with lomandra and dianella grasses.

PLANT LIST

TREES

• Saw banksia (Banksia serrata)

GRASSES

• Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra ‘Mingo’)

FEATURE PLANTS

• Native cycad (Macrozamia communis)
• Tall kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos flavidus)

GROUND COVERS

• Banksia (Banksia integrifolia ‘Roller Coaster’)

SHRUBS

• Coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa)
• Grey spider flower (Grevillea buxifolia)

SUCCULENTS

• Pig’s ear (Cotyledon macrantha)

Past the entry, the garden opens to a mid-level lawn. This area is surrounded by native flax, lime flowering kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos flavidus ‘Landscape Lime’), acacias and coastal tea tree. Then a boulder staircase flows up to a pausing point for soaking up the views, in brown granite aggregate.

Hardy plants, perfect for a windswept clifftop, include coastal rosemary, mat rush, heath myrtle (Baeckea imbricata), red spider flower, flannel flower, coast tea tree and hoary guinea flower (Hibbertia obtusifolia). Wide steps of Corten steel with sandstone flagging connect with the home’s verandah and entertaining area. Further steps lead to the ultimate destination, a clifftop fire pit.

The grassed area, offering blissful shade, is the owner’s favourite hideaway. “That enclosed space on such a steep site makes me feel grounded and gives me a sense of calm,” she says. By contrast, her whimsical “forest” of Corten-steel fence posts makes her smile. “When you walk past that and down to the beach, you feel you are going on an adventure!”.

The Design Team

Nature’s Vision Landscapes: naturesvision.com.au.
Dianna Thomas Architect: diannathomasarchitect.com.

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The post A Hardy Central Coast Garden Where the Bush Meets the Sea appeared first on Homes To Love.

If you ever find yourself travelling on the IndianPacific, keep your eyes on the landscape as the train scuttles through Bathurst in the Central Tablelands of NSW. You may just catch a glimpse of Rainham, an 1832-built Georgian manor with a faded kind of beauty, firmly planted within the gentle folds of desaturated farmland on the edge of a flood plain. Travel in the height of summer, and you will see the manor engulfed in a symphony of lush, towering blossoms.

When Suzy and Richard Miller bought Rainham in 2012, it was the first time the estate had been on the market for close to a century and a half. The Millers are a talented duo who have found success in their respective musical careers: Suzy as a flute player and teacher at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music; and Richard with his 43 years in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as a percussionist, culminating in the position of principal timpani.

Now both retired, their energy and focus is channelled into their garden and burgeoning dahlia flower farm. “Even though we had those very exciting careers, gardening – and flower farming in particular – has opened up a new world of natural beauty to us,” Suzy says.

The pair was more than happy to live with the crumbling charm of the manor’s rooms – “It’s straight out of the pages of The World of Interiors,” says Suzy – but the property’s 32 hectares had them determinedly rolling up their sleeves. “Moving from Stanmore [in Sydney’s inner west] to this old house was quite a leap as far as gardening was concerned, because we lived in a terrace before and only had a vegie garden to deal with. We liked gardening, but hadn’t worked with anything of this scale,” Suzy explains.

On the market!

After more than a decade at Rainham, owners Richard and Suzy have decided to say goodbye to the historic Bathurst estate. “We’re moving on. Time for a change,” Suzy shared in a post on Instagram.

Set on 31 hectares, the Georgian residence has stood for almost two centuries, and has undergone meticulous restoration work under Richard and Suzy’s custodianship. Rainham is currently scheduled to go to auction on November 6.

See the listing here.

A lifetime of musical training set Suzy and Richard in the right headspace to tackle the grounds. “The discipline and doggedness required of mastering a musical instrument means we have a fairly tenacious attitude to turning up in the garden each day with our shovels and hand trowels,” says Suzy. “We would spend at least six or more hours a day, every day, in this garden.”

Their 20 head of cattle graze on rolling paddocks of lucerne and oats, while closer to the manor, the pastures give way to densely planted garden beds and borders, with a custom-designed greenhouse (built in 2014) nestled in the herbaceous growth. Giant robinias, elms and pines are scattered around the property and gather in a grove at the back of the manor. Some of these trees are as old as Rainham, if not older. “We found a photo of the home from 1897 and the robinias were very large then,” Richard explains.

Rainham was built by Englishman Captain Thomas Raine, a mariner, merchant and landowner, and a historical figure of note. He engaged in wheat and dairy farming, ran a piggery and vineyard, and built the first flour mill in the district.

Rainham has an industrious past, and the Millers have continued this tradition. Their high-intensity, small-scale flower farm is young – the end of 2020 saw the first flush of blooms – but the pair is enjoying the process of experimenting with varietals and finding the dahlias’ rhythm.

“They are magnificent flowers, and they are all so different. The variety is just extraordinary,” Suzy says. There’s ‘Cafe au lait’ and ‘French Kiss’. The ‘Belle of Barmera’, with deep coral tips fading into a peachy salmon at the centre. The ‘Holland Festival’, with its explosive, dinner plate-sized blooms. “They would be the top favourites at the moment, but the list goes on. We grow over 120 varieties,” Suzy says.

Rainham’s dahlias are sold at local markets, via florists and retailers, or from the front gate. A sell-out season, and many happy customers, has the couple excited about the future of their flower farm. They are expanding the dahlia crops, carving out a sun-soaked bed measuring seven by 15 metres, positioned towards the train line that cuts through their lot. “We are working spade by spade, and trowel by trowel,” says Richard.

Having spent their working lives performing and creating joy for others, the Millers have discovered a new way to share a different kind of artistic beauty. “It’s one aspect you do miss, and it has been something that Suzy and I found particularly lovely about selling flowers at markets,” Richard explains. “Mothers come up with young children and the look on the kids’ faces is just wonderful. Having that connection is a great thing for us because we are sharing something we love, which is what we did with music. Our dahlia flower farm is an extension of that.”

The post This Georgian manor and its magnificent gardens in Bathurst are up for sale appeared first on Homes To Love.

Outdoors, flocks of cockatoos and parakeets fill the sky and soundscape, and long sunsets wrap the fecund setting in a golden gauze. “We bought the empty lot in 2017,” says Dean, 53, who works full-time for the Department of Defence in Canberra, 30 minutes’ drive away. He and Rachel, a florist and educator, were living in Australia’s capital when they started plotting a lifestyle change.

“I wanted to grow flowers, Dean wanted to grow vegetables, and we wanted to own our home,” explains Rachel, 54. “We loved the idea of saving and relocating a house because so many older houses these days get knocked over and become landfill.”

They worked with the Victorian-based home relocation company Moving Views, and after inspecting 12 dwellings, house number 13 in Mordialloc delivered on the wish list. After six months of planning and paperwork, the cottage was transported in 2018. “It then took four months to renovate the inside to what we have today,” says Dean, referring to several “hidden gotchas” they encountered. “We had to rewire the entire house because the electrical wiring wasn’t up to the current standard. We also had to tie all the trusses into the foundation because we’re in a high wind area.”

Settled into its new locale overlooking sun-kissed plains, the homestead’s interiors have benefited from Rachel’s formal training in floristry and interior design, and her eye for unique second-hand pieces. Sparkling vintage chandeliers illuminate botanical wallpapers, and the confident blend of antique and modern furniture harmonises with carefully revived period details such as the wide Baltic pine floorboards and ornate moulding.

Rachel’s signature vintage floral-femme style is displayed in two additional standalone dwellings on the property – Collector Cottage and The Flower Shed. They operate as holiday rentals, with one serving double duty as a creative space where Rachel, a former languages teacher for school students, holds flower arranging workshops and high teas.

Salvaged windows and doors add character to these new builds and tap into Rachel’s penchant for the preloved. “I think it comes from having resourceful migrant parents,” says the florist, who was born in Bondi, NSW, with Chilean heritage. “Mum would pick up things from the side of the road before it was fashionable to do so. I used to be so embarrassed by it as an adolescent, but I’m so proud of it now because I’m resourceful, and I see it as such a strength.”

Life in Collector has expanded Rachel and Dean’s resilience and provided many lessons about the land and climate. They arrived during a drought and bought water every 10 days to keep the dahlia tubers happy in the ground. Then came the Black Summer fires, followed by hail and floods, with an infestation of scarab beetles rounding out the challenges.

“It was three years of constant activity around the farm; we kept learning new things,” says Dean, who grew up on the rural western outskirts of Sydney. “Everything we’ve done here has been about being more self-sufficient and efficient.”

With the goal of total self-sufficiency by 2030, the duo has installed two 30,000-litre water tanks, a solar array, battery storage and a septic system. The walled kitchen garden – Dean’s domain – offers a seasonal rotation of herbs, zucchini, tomatoes, corn and more. Beyond the patch’s reclaimed brick wall is an orchard of young fruit trees spreading their roots. Chickens scuffle through the dahlia rows, plucking snails, while Blossom, the couple’s three year- old Boston terrier, races through the ever-evolving plot.

Dean retreats to the garden on weekends and after work. “Any time I get to spend outside, I enjoy,” he says. Rachel splits her time between Collector and her petite flower shop, Blooms of Braddon, in Canberra’s CBD. Opened in early 2025, it bursts with the floral bounty grown and hand-picked daily in Collector. “We very much treat our block as part of our lifestyle rather than just a place to live,” says Dean.

Rachel adds: “Every day, I look out the kitchen window with gratitude. Everything has come together like a puzzle, and it fits perfectly. We feel like we’ve come home.”

The post A resourceful couple turn a septic field into a blooming flower farm in Collector, NSW appeared first on Homes To Love.

“A well-planned lighting scheme encourages you to spend more time outdoors and, if you have windows looking out onto the garden, it can draw the garden into your living areas,” says Adele Locke, architectural lighting designer at Victoria’s Mint Lighting Design. “This is especially useful in an urban environment where space is at a premium,” adds Alexandra Donohoe Church, interior designer and founder of Decus Interiors.

From hanging lights, in-ground lights, wall lights, step lights, bollards, pedestals, poles, feature lights and submersible lights for pools, there are so many options when it comes to outdoor lighting. Read on for everything you need to consider, and the best outdoor lighting ideas for you to employ.

How to design an outdoor lighting plan

When it comes to outdoor lighting, Adele says that you should start with the basics. “The first thing we think about with outdoor lighting is: are we inhabiting the space, or are we looking at it like a picture?” she says. “If we’re looking at the outdoor lighting from inside, we actually need more light to see it and make it stand out. Whereas if we’re in the space, such as if it’s alfresco, we don’t want it to be too bright, because then we start feeling like we’re in this scary pool of light surrounded by darkness.”

Mandi Kontos, architectural lighting designer at Beacon Lighting, agrees that homeowners need to start with how they’re going to use the space. “I’d look at making sure there’s enough light for a barbecue area and for lounging – the seating area – and then pre-planning how they’re going to do the furniture and making sure there’s enough lighting to cover all of it,” she says. “That could be making sure there’s light over the barbecue so you can see properly when you’re flipping the sausages and stuff like that. Essentially, it’s just about making sure it’s future-proofing for the way that the house will grow with the family, and that there’s enough light to do what you love and have fun.”

Garden lighting

Adele says you really need to consider the size of your garden when designing outdoor lighting. “If you have a very large landscape and a few sitting areas, you will need some structural light on the building elements,” she points out. “However, with the planting, it depends. If it’s a plant that is going to grow really tall, do we need to plan for that early? Or is it something that’s supposed to be a low groundcover?”

“A spike light is best for illuminating trees or garden features, and I always use LED outdoor lighting,” says Myles. “For small trees I recommend using five watts; for trees taller than 15m, use eight watts. I love the Accento 5 in-ground bronze spike light by Gardens at Night – it’s well-made, LED, blends with the landscape and casts a warm light. And, a trick I like to use is to angle the light to reflect off the tree trunk into the foliage.”

“One of the things we really try to focus on at Mint when we’re thinking about outdoor lighting is avoiding too much skyglow,” adds Adele. “So, if we have a lot of big trees, we don’t want to be uplighting too many of them because all of that light lost into the sky, and gets in the way of bats, birds, bugs and animals at night. We want to make sure that we light things so we can enjoy them, but get a light high up in a tree and aim it down, rather than up from the ground and aiming to the sky. Not only does it give a more interesting result, it’s better for the environment, with less impact on the surrounding areas.”

“We also layer our garden lighting, much like we would layer interior lighting. And we rarely go very high with garden lighting unless we’re talking about a large garden area where children will be playing. Often, we’ll have beautiful garden lighting that’s all based around the planting and the furniture. And then we’ll have a light that comes off the back of the house that just allows you to see the kids in the pool and maybe playing out on the grass.”

Solar vs wired garden lighting

Both Adele and Mandi recommend organising electrical wiring for your outdoor lighting, perhaps only using solar lights for entertaining. Wiring helps to make the lighting more weather-resistant and reliable. They advise preparing a lighting design and consulting with an electrician.

Adele says that solar lights tend not to be particularly powerful. “And in the main, they use blue light and we’re not big fans of blue light in houses or gardens, because they can be very cold and not terribly welcoming,” she says.

“There are some very high-quality solar lights in the marketplace as well, but they start at $4000. You’re better off just channelling in some cable and putting a plug on it.” Adele also recommends including sensors and timers on all forms of outdoor lighting.

Alfresco lighting

“I recommend outdoor wall lights for dining alfresco; overhead lighting directly above a dining table can be too harsh,” says Myles. “A well-lit outdoor entertaining area will usually provide enough light for dining. However, if you’re lucky enough to be seated under a large tree, think about tree-mounted fittings to create pools of light, which can look very cool and casual.”

Pro Tip!

Lights come with an IP rating, which stands for Ingress Protection, that measures how well they are sealed against particles and moisture. Outdoor lights are generally rated between IP44 and the maximum of IP68. The first number (running from 0 to 6) relates to how resistant the light is to solid material like dust and sand, and the second digit (from 0 to 8) to its water resistance.

Entryway lighting

The front-door light is where you can have a little fun, according to Mandi. “It’s about looking at the house and seeing how the light will complement the exterior,” she says. “The home entrance looks great framed by light at night; you can’t go wrong lighting either side of a gate,” says landscape designer Myles Baldwin. “For this purpose, we use everything from wall-mounted coach lights to downlights and in-ground fittings.

“If you have weatherboards, you don’t want to put in something that’s too modern or doesn’t sit properly on the weatherboards,” says Adele. “Or if you’ve got something that’s quite modern, you don’t want to put a traditional-looking light on there because it throws out the balance.”

“As people see how their new exterior colour palettes are going and how their gardens are shaping up, I like to look at the lighting and figure out what complements everything. Depending on how big the door is, you could have something quite nice on either side of the opening or just on one side.”

Pathway lighting

“For a pathway, we really want the light to be below knee height and just lighting up the path,” says Adele. “We want to see where our feet are going, but not get any light in our face. On the approach to a home, we want the light to be nice and low so it doesn’t impact on our night vision when we’re going through it. That includes sending light across paths as well. Always, always down low.”

“To light up a pathway, I find bollards are usually best,” says Myles. “I prefer small, machined fittings made from bronze to blend with the plant material. Lots of people use spike lights for this purpose, but I find they produce too much light for paths, and often the light source is too much on display.”

Mandi says that this area of lighting can depend on the type of path you have. “If you are thinking of doing a path with concrete, I’d definitely get little step lights that can go across, or even sit on either side of the actual pathway, but it’s something that you have to pre-plan because once the concrete is poured you need to make sure you’ve got the allowances for it, which includes your wiring and any kind of casing so that the cement will go around it.

“There are lots of do-it-yourself options available, and you can install lighting with some spikes, popping them into your garden or lawn and pointing them towards the path. I like to see zigzag [patterns] with that sort of light.”

Weather-resistant lighting

It’s important to realise that all outdoor lights need to be specially rated for how well they will withstand rain and sun exposure. “With garden lighting, we want to go well beyond weatherproof,” says Adele Locke.

“We want to have lights that are basically submersible and will survive that. They don’t have to be rated for being submerged — they can be something called IP65, which is a rating about dust and water that doesn’t allow the water to get into the footing. And at 65, it’s okay, but gardens can flood and get a lot of really heavy rain. Sometimes fittings aren’t quite up to it.”

“With garden lighting, you’re better off to have less fittings but invest more money in really good ones. If you try and fill every corner with the cheap stuff, you’ll just have to replace it every year. Between the sun and the water, outdoor lights degrade so quickly. We’re always looking for designs that are made out of brass, copper or materials that are really going to last and are fully sealed, because the second you get water into one of them, it’s dead.”

Technical tips

Adele recommends installing timers to sensors as part of any outdoor lighting design. “If you don’t have a timer on your sensor circuit, then possums running around at two o’clock in the morning will trigger your lights as well,” she says.

“We’re also loving rechargeable lights for outdoor areas. Rechargeable lights are really great because you can buy ones like lanterns that you can hang in a tree. You can create that environment in 15 minutes by just hanging some lights outside, and then go and enjoy a lovely evening. Plus, they’re always water-rated, so it’s not the end of the world if you forget and leave them out overnight.”

The best outdoor lighting to shop in 2025

01

Portus Copper Garden Spike Light

from $189.99 at Temple & Webster

Best for: shrubs or pathway focal points

A boutique-look copper spike light, this is a low voltage accent light that easily illuminates pathways or small shrubs.

Material: Copper

Key features:

• IP Rating: IP67
• 40,000 hours bulb life expentancy
• 120° beam angle

Shop now

02

Zac Round Outdoor Step Light 12V

from $112.10 at MyDeal

Best for: step lights

With an 30° beam angle, 12V low-voltage, and made from cast-aluminium, this recessed step light is designed to light your path in style.

Colour: Dark Grey.

Material: Aluminium.

Key features:

• Minimalist fascia
• Available in round or square
• IP Rating: IP65
• Great for planter boxes or recessed steps

Shop now

03

Outdoor Festoon Lights

from $ at Temple & Webster

Best for: hanging lights

Adorn your backyard or alfresco area with these hardwired hanging festoon lights. With dimmable bulbs and two different cord lengths to choose from, you’ll add ambience in seconds.

Sizes: 10m, 20m

Colours: White, Black

Key features

• An average 4.9-star rating from 3816 reviews
• IP Rating: IP65
• Hardwired design
• Dimmable bulbs

Shop Now

The post How to use lighting to design your dream outdoor space appeared first on Homes To Love.

How to choose an outdoor umbrella

Traditional outdoor umbrellas are easily movable around your space, while cantilever or sidepost umbrellas are generally a bigger, more permanent solution. Both types come in a range of colour, finishes, and sizes to fit your outdoor design aesthetic.

Compared to a regular outdoor umbrella, cantilevered models can be angled easily to follow the sun’s path, providing excellent coverage throughout the day. Due to their weight, these are often bolted on, but (like a traditional outdoor umbrella) you can also weigh them down with concrete, steel, or granite.

Of course, picking the best spot for your umbrella is everything. “First off, consider how you like to relax,” says Jen Stumbles of Eco Outdoor.

“Choose your placement based on what sort of outdoor entertainer you are. Are you relaxed and casual with beanbags and scatter cushions? A nice nook of your garden where your guests can relax and enjoy the shade will work best. If you prefer a more formal style, umbrellas can be placed on a balcony or verandah so guests can sit around the dining table.“

To help you find the perfect outdoor umbrella, we’ve rounded up some of the best designs for backyard entertaining or days spent at the beach.

Best outdoor umbrellas to shop in Australia this summer

01

Aspen outdoor umbrella and base in Charcoal

$1199, Freedom

The Aspen is a summertime staple that will stand the test of time. Featuring a timeless charcoal finish, a quality hardwood pole, and a 2.5m wide canopy, you’ll be lounging in all shades of cool.

Size: 240cm H x 250cm W x 250cm D

Colours: Charcoal, Natural

Materials: O’bravia fabric, hardwood

Key features:

• Pulley/cord opening
• Generous 2.5m diametre
• Easy to assemble

Shop Now

02

Skyward Outdoor Living 2m Yellow and White striped sunny Marbella market umbrella

$329, Temple & Webster

Inspire a sense of European elegance within your summer halcyon with this statement outdoor umbrella made from 280gsm waterproof fabric and anti-rust materials.

Size: 253cm H x 200cm W x 200cm D

Colours: Yellow & White, Taupe & White, Red & White, Black & White, Cambria, Green & White, Navy & White, Blue & White

Materials: Polyester, FSC-certified wood

Key features:

• UPF Rating: 50+
• Umbrella base sold separately
• 280gsm waterproof fabric

Shop Now

03

Shade Master Rise cantilever umbrella in Taupe

$349 (usually $399), Amart

Breathe new life into your alfresco area with a chic cantilever like this one from Amart Furniture. With a 360-degree rotating base and 180G polyester canopy fitted with UVA50+ protection, you can use this umbrella all year – and even in rain.

Size: 300cm W x 300cm D

Colours: Taupe, Black

Materials: 180G polyester

Key features:

• 360 degree rotating base
• UV50+ protection
• Easy lift set-up

Shop Now

04

Basil Bangs premium umbrella in Salt

$319, The Iconic

Lounge in luxury all summer under this understated umbrella from Basil Bangs. Offering 1.8m of shade with its UV and water-resistant canopy, this outdoor umbrella is as protective as it is stylish.

Size: 210cm H x 180cm W x 180cm D

Colours: Salt, Defina, Field Day, Flowers by Kane Lehanneur, Ribbon, Sundance, Wildflowers, Nude, Sage, Spritz

Materials: UPF50+ premium outdoor canvas, corrosion-resistant steel frame, responsibly sourced oak pole

Key features:

• 1.8m diameter
• UPF50+ 
• Vented canopy

Shop Now

05

Milano outdoor 3-meter hanging and folding umbrella in Charcoal

$179.95 (usually $189.95), Myer

A staple of alfresco entertaining, a cantilever like this charcoal one will artfully provide shelter and shade for your guests – without its pole needing to be front and centre. Waterproof, UV resistant, and 3 metres wide, this outdoor umbrella is chic and reliable.

Size: 250cm H x 300cm W x 300cm D

Colours: Charcoal, Beige

Materials: 160GSM polyester, steel

Key features:

• Weather and UV-resistant
• Air-vented top
• Fast set-up

Also available at:

• $194.95 (usually $259.93), Catch.com.au

Shop Now

06

Basil Bangs The Weekend umbrella in Marigold

$199, Aura Home

As the second Basil Bangs outdoor umbrella to make the list, the marigold and white panelled design of this one was just too sweet to not include. Providing 170cm of shade, you’ll be having fun in (but out of) the sun all summer long.

Size: 210cm H x 170cm W x 170cm D

Colours: Marigold, Coral, Salt, Melon, Nudie, Sage

Materials: Weather-proof canvas, responsibly sourced timber, zinc-plated Steel

Key features:

• Two-piece, push-button connection
• Comes with a matching carry bag
• UPF50+ protection

Also available at:

• $199, The Iconic

Shop Now

07

Business & Pleasure Co Amalfi umbrella in Bistro Dusty Pink Stripe

$299, David Jones

Simple, strong, and elegant is the name of the game for Business & Pleasure Co’s Amalfi umbrella, which boasts a flatter, Mediterranean-style design that offers maximum coverage. Ideal for families, the non-hinged pole is durable and strong, and can withstand a windy beach visit.

Size: 230cm H x 183cm W x 183cm D

Colours: Bistro Dusty Pink Stripe, Rivie Green, Rivie White, Rivie Pink, Antique White, Rivie Mimosa, Rivie Black

Materials: Reclaimed timber, lightweight powder-coated aluminum pole, UV- and water-resistant canvas

Key features:

• Indoor storage recommended
• UPF 50+
• Comes with matching canvas bag

Shop Now

08

Ombrellone Visconti in Ecru

$1245.78, ISSIMO

Truly live la dolce vita lazing in the garden or by the pool under a made-to-order ombrellone by the Italian brand Issimo. These whimsical outdoor umbrellas feature soft shape flounces and come in ecru with red trimming and blush with white trimming.

Colours: Ecru, Pink

Materials: Nylon, zinc-plated and white varnished steel, “solution-dyed acrylic” fabric, white lacquered aluminium pommel, anodized lower pole

Key features:

• Soft flounce detail
• Made to order
• Base not included

Shop Now

What color umbrella is best to block the sun?

When it comes to colour selection, it all comes down to your design aesthetic and the feel you want to bring to your outdoor space. Moody, dark tones can bring a level of sophistication, while classic striped prints can give your entertaining area a European feel. Essentially, there’s no right or wrong.

However, one consideration you might like to make is the UV protection your new ‘brolly is going to provide. Generally, darker tones such as black, charcoal, dark blue or green, or even red are best because they absorb more UV rays, so your skin doesn’t have to.

Can outdoor umbrellas be left outside?

Whether or not an outdoor umbrella can be left outside depends upon its material composition. While some, particularly those that cantilever or designs with heavy bases, are specifically designed to be left outdoors 24/7, umbrellas built more for poolside days and beach visits are best stored indoors when not in use. At a minimum, it is recommended that you close outdoor umbrellas when not in use so they can better fare intense weather such as wind or rain.

The post The best outdoor umbrellas to keep you cool in style this summer appeared first on Homes To Love.

If you’re like us and a garden of cascading roses and blossoms makes you weak at the knees, you’re going to love this gallery of 19 landscapes in full bloom.

Be warned, the colourful gardensand rambling estates will soon have you in your own backyard with a shovel, spring cleaning your outdoor space and planting the perfect varieties for the season.

So be inspired by these heavenly gardens in all their spring-time glory.

Spring gardens to inspire

Floral garden

It’s a surprise to find this rambling garden in Western NSW’s harsh terrain – but that’s exactly why Claire Austin, of Gin Gin Garden Club, created it.

Country garden

A collection of fragrant, old-fashioned blooms and glossy hedging complements the verdant leafiness of this country garden. A trip to the UK in 2013 cemented owner Barb’s love of English gardens – “I think I was born in the wrong country!”

Flowering perennials

With lush beds filled with flowering perennials in the English tradition, a pool house evoking Californian cool and the langour of the Med, this garden is a potpourri of inspiration far and wide. Add a spectacular vista of coastal Victoria and it’s little wonder the owner often holidays at home.

Wisteria walk

This wisteria walk, planted in the 1980s by Jenni and Dick Evans, is a triumph produced by 16 plants. “Good old, tough wisteria,” says Jenni. “The perfume is lovely when it’s in full bloom in spring.”

Hydrangeas in bloom

Variegated Euonymus and climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) adorn this picturesque arch in the breathtaking gardens of historic Brickendon Estate in Tasmania.

Daffodil garden

Every spring, this property in western Victoria comes alive as thousands of daffodils dance at the feet of mighty river red gums. This is where Charles and Irene Fairbairn bred their daffodils in the 1920s and ’30s. Many of their plantings remain in the garden.

New Zealand wildflowers

The interior courtyard of this sun-drenched home in Wellington, New Zealand, is populated with wildflowers. “Our clients imagined a wildflower garden there, so for their housewarming present we gave them a lot of mixed seeds, which they scattered into the dirt,” says architect Tim Gittos. “Poppies, cornflowers, cosmos, marigolds all sprung up in the following weeks and now pop up seasonally.”

A country garden

This country home’s meaningful narrative flows through the garden, where the couple have made their most significant contribution to the story. “Jim’s mother is a brilliant gardener, and so was his grandmother,” says owner Emily.

Palm Beach villa

‘Renae’ climbing roses, hydrangeas, orchids and white crepe myrtle enhance the lawned central courtyard of this Palm beach villa with an Italian inspired design.

Monaro Plains

High on the Monaro Plains, a couple turned a hectare of their windswept property into an enchanting cold-climate garden. A hedge of pink ‘Bonica’ roses frames the lawn, while a circular bed at the end of the drive is filled with silver birches, which thrive in the rugged climate.

Sundial in hedged garden

A sundial in one of the hedged garden ‘rooms’ of the stunning formal garden surrounding a Victorian weatherboard cottage in the Central Highlands. The hedged rooms, borders and vistas are fast maturing.

Winery garden

Rows of riesling grapes grow beyond the blossoming front gate of this multi-generational winery’s lush gardens in country Victoria.

Southern Highlands cottage

In the front yard of this colourful weatherboard cottage in the Southern Highlands stands a flourishing cherry blossom tree and hedge of teucrium.

Hillandale country garden

This country garden in Hillandale is a wonderland of layered, flowering perennials and ornamental grasses.

Rural garden

In this rambling rural retreat in central Victoria, finding the perfect property opened up a world of possibilities for Gail van Rooyen, who embarked on a love affair with plants and flowers after studying botanical art.

Bluebells and maple tree

Bluebells flower under an old maple tree in this romantic country garden. It may be only an hour from Melbourne but this sprawling garden belongs in a fairy tale.

Mount Tamborine formal garden

Azaleas and agapanthus add to the lush layers of this cascading formal garden on Mount Tamborine. At just under seven acres, the gently sloping site is nestled into picturesque hills and is blessed with rich volcanic soil.

Stanthorpe garden with wisteria

This garden in Stanthorpe, Queensland is abloom with wisteria and rambling roses. The front garden boasts a gravel path bordered by mass plantings of roses. Lush wisteria softens the fence line.

Agapanthus in Southern Highlands

With its pin oak, silver birch and London plane trees, hydrangeas, agapanthus and bush roses — as well as a sparkling pool, orchard and veggie patch — this Southern Highlands garden is an indispensable part of life for Melinda, Tom and their three children.

The post 19 inspiring spring gardens in full bloom appeared first on Homes To Love.

Indoors and out, the only common ground was the formal rigid and boxy aesthetic – exemplified by a lollipop tree on the street ingloriously trimmed into a cube. In short, both garden and house had to let their hair down.

First, architect Pip Marston revitalised the home, which was originally built by the owners in 2001. Within the existing envelope, she flipped the interiors, shifting the living areas from the ground to the first floor to enjoy spectacular harbour views on one side and a seamless connection with the rear garden on the other.

Internal walls were removed to allow sight lines right through the home – now you can glimpse the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the pool area – while exposing the unique roof shape, which floats over the living areas.

The facade was simplified by removing awkward shapes and angles, and installing elegant cantilevered steps. Not surprisingly, the garden needed a similar reinvention, with Henry relishing the job ahead.

“It needed to be brought to life and loosened up by introducing informality and fun and whimsy to complement the lighter, loftier style of architecture,” he says. But it also had to offer privacy, as this is a built-up area.

Henry started from scratch, retaining just the pool and some concrete planters. He was faced with several challenges: the relative shallow soils on the west-facing site, which was also subject to harsh afternoon sun, and the backyard on several levels, exacerbated by the pool slap-bang in the middle.

Retaining the pool in its original location, he refurbished it with new coping and added a new floating hardwood deck. This creates a large level expanse and connects to a new walkway, leading directly to the living areas on the upper level, which enjoy wall-to-wall glazing.

Meanwhile, what was once a courtyard connected to the erstwhile downstairs living is accessed down a set of elegant cantilevered, precast concrete steps. “Like the deck, they give everything a wonderful floating feeling,” says Henry.

And a second entry from the back lane leads directly into the pool area then beyond to the upstairs living areas in the new layout. Timber batten screens add material warmth and protect the owners from breezes and any prying eyes.

New steel planters supplement the original concrete iterations to compensate for the lack of soil depth, while a drip irrigation system with rain sensors was installed to allow for parsimonious watering in a garden that is rarely thirsty.

For the shallow soils and unrelenting afternoon sun, Henry chose hardy, resilient plants, a mix of natives and exotics, with the emphasis on olive trees at the front, and grasses, cacti and succulents, such as agaves and euphorbias, throughout. Along the northern boundary at the back, he planted fast-growing Henkel’s yellowwood hedging for screening, chosen for its lushness but also its movement.

“We did not want anything rigid… this moves with the breeze for a looser effect,” he says.

On the opposite side sit low shrubs, such as Desert Star natal plum and dwarf pittosporum, while native Eumundi quandong trees form the lofty backdrop for the entire rear garden. In the lower-level courtyard beside the back of the house, three tough beaked yuccas add texture.

Similarly, on the street frontage, blue agaves “add a punch” while blue flax lily “fluffs out the sides of the concrete steps”. Front and back, trailing rosemary tumbles out of planters, tempering the white rendered surfaces and timber screens.

PLANT LIST

Trees

• Eumundi quandong (Elaeocarpus eumundi)
• Olive tree (Olea spp.)

Shrubs

• Dwarf pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira ‘Miss Muffet’)
• Henkel’s yellowwood (Podocarpus henkelii)
• Mediterranean spurge (Euphorbia wulfenii)
• Natal plum (Carissa ‘Desert Star’)

Succulents and Cacti

• Beaked yucca (Yucca rostrata)
• Cowboy cactus (Euphorbia acrurensis)
• Dragon tree (Dracaena marginata)
• Green giant (Agave salmiana)
• Silver spoons (Kalanchoe hildebrandtii)

Many of the plants were already mature when craned in and planted, allowing the garden to thrive from day one. What a difference a week made, with the spaces bare on Monday and lush by Friday.

“It was an immediate transformation, a light-bulb moment, with an instant difference in lushness and vibrancy,” says Henry. “That’s why I love this job.”

The Design Team:

Secret Gardens: secretgardens.com.au.
Marston Architects: marstonarchitects.com.au.

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The post A garden by the harbour finds new life in lush planting appeared first on Homes To Love.

The house and garden form a weekend retreat for a Sydney-based family with four energetic children and a dog. The entire property encapsulates 26 hectares, with the garden around the house amounting to about half a hectare. When landscape designer Matthew Cantwell and his team at Secret Gardens first visited three years ago, the grounds were overgrown and neglected, featuring an old, sludgy swimming pool and no prominent wayfinding elements.

Parts of the yard had been cleared for a single-storey extension to the south-facing rear of the home, and the homeowners and their architect, Emma Lee Architecture, had designed a garden wall made of local stone to complement the home’s stone frontage.

“Our client is relaxed and very trusting,” says Matthew of the couple who previously engaged Secret Gardens to work on their city garden. The loose brief for their modern country property encompassed “prettiness and seasonal colour”, with defined zones for large family gatherings and quiet contemplation. “A fundamental part of the overall design was to make sure we’re encouraging people to venture all the way around the garden,” says Matthew, describing the conceptual approach that underpins any Secret Gardens project.

The transformation was extensive, beginning with the main entry’s circular driveway, which features a carefully calculated turning circle to allow easy egress for a fire truck. Through the stonewall gate, a north-facing courtyard forms an inviting winter garden with a green outdoor table setting and a perfect patch of lawn.

The intimate, protected space is contained further by a series of deciduous ornamental pear trees that provide shade in summer and much-needed winter sun. Evergreen varieties such as the licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare) and Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) ensure year-round structure and lush texture. “The Indian hawthorn is bulletproof,” says Matthew. “It’s drought tolerant and easy to manipulate into many different shapes.”

A gravel pathway meanders to the western side of the home, traversing borders that spill with a bountiful combination of gaura (butterfly bush), Italian lavender, oakleaf hydrangea and Mediterranean spurge. This lively, densely planted scheme opens up to reveal spectacular valley views to the west and terracing that addresses the gentle slope while creating a series of functional zones.

The generous outdoor dining table sits below a hardwood pergola that will, in time, become engulfed in the cascading purple blooms of sweetly scented wisteria. “There’s also the outdoor kitchen and the fire pit, which we oriented in a way that encourages people to gather around it,” Matthew adds.

Six steps up from the garden’s social open heart is a kitchen garden with Corten steel-framed beds. Ornamentals and perennials, such as the aromatic agastache, grow among the herbs and vegies, attracting pollinators and filling the beds with colour and texture.

To spend time on this property is to commune with nature – especially on a breezy day when the array undulates and ripples with the wind. “I don’t want a static garden,” says Matthew. “I want one that moves and tells me what the day is doing before I even walk outside.”

I don’t want a static garden. I want one that moves and tells me what the day is doing before I even walk outside.

Matthew Cantwell, Landscape Designer

Strategically placed mounds of the tall ornamental grass Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’ do the trick here, with their elegant plumed blades waving dynamically and capturing the sunlight. “It’s captivating sitting in that garden, watching the whole thing sway and shift around you,” Matthew shares.

The outdoorsy homeowners embrace rural living when they escape the city and retreat to Kangaloon. The kids ride dirt bikes around the sprawling acreage beyond the existing Monterey pines (Pinus radiata) and they help their parents with maintenance jobs on the land.

“The property is far more extensive than the fences suggest,” says Matthew. “It was important to take advantage of the backdrop and work with this to blur the boundaries between the main garden and the surrounding mature trees and rolling hills.”

With the limits disappearing, the dialogue between garden and valley is clear for the family to tune into and enjoy on all sensory levels.

Visit secretgardens.com.au

The post A sprawling Southern Highlands garden surrounded by towering trees appeared first on Homes To Love.

The best pizza ovens in Australia 2025

01

Dome pizza oven in Olive

Gozney ($2999.00)

If you’re ready to splurge and looking to treat yourself (and your friends) to the best outdoor dinner parties ever, then you won’t want to look past the Gozney dome pizza oven.

Luxury is almost an understatement for this pizza oven as it boasts restaurant-quality specs throughout. Available in a sage green, an off-white bone hue, or a limited-edition off-black, this oven will match most alfresco dining spaces as well as your tastebuds.

Key features:

• Large capacity (660mm H x 630mm D x 732mm W), making it great for families
• Professional grade
• Dual fuel options
• Digital thermometer
• Innovative air ventilation
• Steam injector to add moisture back into the baking process when needed

Gozney ($2999.00)

02

Gozney Arc pizza oven

Gozney ($1079.00)

Gozney’s most advanced compact pizza oven, the Arc, features a lateral rolling flame and a revolutionary burner that replicates the flame of a traditional wood-fired oven. It distributes heat evenly and consistently so you can make the perfect slice every time.

Key features:

• Make restaurant-quality pizza in 60 seconds or less
• Features innovative lateral rolling flame that mimics traditional wood-fired ovens
• Thermometer, burner guard, stone adjustment tool, matchstick holder, and more included
• 5-year warranty

Gozney ($1079.00)

03

Breville The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo

The Good Guys ($748.00)

The Pizzaiolo is the first domestic countertop pizza oven that can reach 400°C and cook authentic wood-fired pizza in just two minutes. Replicating the heat that is traditionally generated within a brick oven – conductive, radiant and convective – every slice is guaranteed to be as mouth-watering as the next.

Key features:

• Element iQ system uses sensors to steer power to where it’s needed
• Conductive heat for base charring
• Radiant heat for a leopard-spotted crust
• Convective heat to melt toppings to perfection
• Made for pizza sizes up to 30cm

The Good Guys ($748.00)

04

MasterPro electric pizza maker

Harris Scarfe ($99.95)

If affordability is what you’re after, the MasterPro electric pizza maker will do wonders. You can have pizzas hot and ready to eat in just five minutes, and with its ceramic baking stone and dual cooking element, you’ll have crispy pizza bases every time.

Key features:

• Easy-to-use cooking temperature dials
• Dual cooking element
• Ceramic baking stone
• Includes two stainless steel paddles

Harris Scarfe ($99.95)

05

Ooni Koda 12 Gas pizza oven

Kitchen Warehouse ($529.95)

If you’re always finding yourself in a rush – don’t let that be the reason for sub-par food come dinner time. Make every second count with Ooni’s Koda 12-gas pizza oven that cooks delicious pizzas in just 60 seconds. This pizza oven has the convenience of being gas-powered and is ready to be used straight out of the box.

Key features:

• Pizzas ready in 60 seconds
• Gas powered
• Reaches up to 500°C
• Portable

Kitchen warehouse ($529.95)

06

Ooni Karu 12G multi-fuel pizza oven

Ooni ($699.00)

Boasting upwards of 2.6 million views on TikTok, the Ooni Karu 12G pizza oven is going somewhat viral. Cooking pizza in just 60 seconds is a perfect remedy for last-minute entertaining.

Key features:

• Borosilicate glass door to keep an eye on your pizza
• Can use wood or charcoal or attach a gas burner
• Maximum temperature of 500°C
• Reaches 450°C in 15 minutes

Ooni ($699.00)

07

Baccarat The Gourmet Slice pizza oven in Red

MyDeal($129.99)

Restaurant-quality pizza is easy to achieve if you’re acquainted with a Gourmet Slice pizza oven by Baccarat. Made from premium steel in a silver finish, this pizza oven will look right at home with your already existing kitchen appliances. Plus, if you love pizza toppings, you can adjust the height of the lid with its handy lifting brackets so you can fit more onto your pizza.

Key features:

• Dual heating elements both reaching 400°C
• Removable ceramic baking stone for even heat distribution
• Tempered glass viewing
• Lid lifter brackets for pizzas with extra toppings or other baked goods
• Includes two stainless steel pizza paddles

MyDeal($129.99)

08

Ooni Karu 16 multi-fuel pizza oven

Ooni ($1299.00)

Nothing says “authentic” quite like a stamp of approval from Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the acclaimed international authority on true Neapolitan pizza.

The Ooni Karu 16 is the first and only pizza oven to be ‘Recommended For Domestic Use’ by the aforementioned authority, and it’s equipped with multiple fuel options for maximum cooking versatility. Plus, its new hinged oven door design allows you to easily keep an eye on your pizza while it cooks.

Key features:

• Multiple fuel options for maximum cooking versatility
• Hinged door design for easy view
• Reaches 500°C in 15 minutes
• Digital thermometer display
• Fits up to 16-inch pizzas

Ooni ($1299.00)

09

Ooni Volt 12 electric pizza oven

Ooni ($1499.00)

If you’re short on space outdoors and looking for a portable electric option, for $1499 you can find yourself an all-electric, versatile pizza from Ooni. The Volt 12 pizza oven conveniently fits on your kitchen countertop and reaches 450 °C in 20 minutes.

Key features:

• 1600 Watts, 220-240 volts
• Lightweight for added portability
• Built-in timer, temperature control
• Boost function to help the stone to return to cooking temperatures quickly

Ooni ($1499.00)

10

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven

Ninja ($699.99)

You don’t need to be limited to pizza when it comes to outdoor ovens. Ninja’s Woodfire Outdoor Oven offers eight-in-one hybrid cooking versatility, whether you’re roasting, grilling, smoking or baking.

Key features:

• Temperatures that range from 25-370°C
• 8-in-1 versatility
• BBQ Smoker included
• Free shipping
• Two year warranty

NINJA($699.99)

Why buy a wood-fired pizza oven?

If you’re looking to up your dinner party game or simply expand your outdoor living capabilities, the gourmet addition of a pizza oven will give your home the prized outdoor living you could only dream of. Not just for dishing out delicious bread-based foods for the whole family, a wood-fired oven can transform any outdoor space into an entertainer’s dream.

Here’s what to consider:

• Size: Families should think big.
• Materials: Let your budget decide.
• Fuel: Keep your options open.
• Shape: Dome or barrel vault?
• Placement: Check council regulations.

Is a wood or gas pizza oven better?

After authenticity? You can’t beat the instantly recognisable scent of a wood-burning oven. With the added benefit of being freestanding and not beholden to utilities, the result is pretty much the ultimate at-home luxury.

Contemporary gas or electric styles will work well in an indoor or enclosed kitchen and can also be hooked up to a gas bottle if you want to keep things outdoors. They are also easier to clean than charcoal-burning models.

Alternatively, have the best of both worlds with a gas-assisted wood-fire oven.

Are brick pizza ovens better?

Choosing the right material for your pizza oven will impact its efficiency and price. Cob, or clay, is the most cost-effective material and is incredibly fuel-efficient; however, building a clay oven yourself can be tricky due to the risk of cracking if it’s not fired properly.

Another popular choice is brick. Both fuel-efficient and relatively inexpensive, it can be rendered to ensure a smooth, Mediterranean-style aesthetic that will suit most homes. Natural stone is also an option, with similar qualities to brick but a higher price point. If you like the look of natural stone but not the hit on your budget, consider a stone facade with a less expensive material for the body. Steel is a sleek, low-maintenance choice that suits more contemporary dwellings. It also looks great when incorporated into an outdoor kitchen beside a gas barbecue.

What is a good size for pizza ovens?

It’s okay to get fired up about installing your pizza oven, but think about how you will use it. The amount of food you plan to cook will determine the size you need. As a general rule, go for the biggest size that your space, and budget, will permit.

If it will only be used sparingly, or for two people, a small oven — say 60–80cm in diameter — will do.

For a family of four to six, a medium-size oven will cook two to three standard pizzas at a time.

Those planning to feed a big family or large groups of friends should consider an oven of 100–130cm in diameter. This will allow you to cook up to five pizzas at a time, along with a range of smaller sides.

What is the best shape for a wood-fired pizza oven?

Now the focus shifts to ambience. If you want to create a villa-like feel, then a traditional dome shape (also known as the Tuscan or Pompeii style) will transport you to the glorious Italian countryside without leaving your backyard. The chimney rises from the top, so the heat is more consistent and easier to maintain.

Another great shape for a pizza oven is the barrel vault. This creates a larger baking chamber, making it a top choice if you want to use the oven for cooking anything other than pizza.

A barrel-vaulted oven may be slightly trickier to master, as the elongated shape means it is prone to hot and cold spots and needs regular monitoring — but that’s nothing a bit of practice can’t fix!

Where is the best place to put a pizza oven?

Do you like to entertain indoors all year round? Or spend most of your entertaining time outside? It doesn’t really matter, as long as the location of your oven is where you like to cook most, to guarantee its full potential.

If you decide on an outdoor spot, make sure it meets your local council’s setback requirements (i.e. the distance of the oven from a property line or a structure). Also, to maximise its use, consider a location that’s at least partially protected from the elements.

Pizza ovens that are going indoors are ideally specified at the renovation stage when the necessary additions can be applied without having to alter the existing kitchen too much. Indoor ovens are usually smaller to fit into the average kitchen, so keep that in mind.

The post 10 best pizza ovens to suit your space and your taste buds appeared first on Homes To Love.

Does your garden need some serious TLC? Before you roll up your sleeves this weekend, take some inspiration from 34 of the most beautiful gardens from Australian House & Garden. From romantic country retreats to urban escapes, treat yourself to a virtual stroll through these beautifully manicured lawns.

Collette Dinnigan’s enchanting gardens

When designer Collette Dinnigan purchased her homestead in Bowral, NSW, in 2018, the garden wasn’t at all remarkable. “There were a few hydrangea bushes and some well-established trees,” she recalls of the two-hectare property. However, while she wasn’t well-versed in garden design at the time, she ploughed ahead and tapped into her intuitive style to create her own Eden, striking a balance between chaos and order. “I wanted my garden to be charming, enchanting, whimsical, kind of effortless, and to feel just natural.”

The manicured gardens of Lancemore Lindenderry

In the 1960s, Jan Clark, spent idyllic childhood summers at her parents’ beach house nearby on the Mornington Peninsula. She wanted to relive some of that fruit-tree-filled, sun-soaked past, and her dream came true when she visited the future site of Lancemore Lindenderry: three hectares of young vines, towering eucalyptus, a triangle of bushland and two rows of elms beside a small lake. “The only sound was twittering birds. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. It was as if I had come home to my special place,” says Jan.

A family-friendly garden that fits its home perfectly

A “traditional, pretty landscape with seasonal flowering interest” was the plan for the 1940s home on Sydney’s North Shore’s frontage; with “a low-maintenance design with a balance of hard surfaces and greenery” for the modern pavilion at the rear.

A Sydney family gives their heritage home the garden it deserves

The vibrant, bell-shaped blooms of foxgloves stand out in this Sydney storybook garden imagined by landscape architect Hugh Burnett. “In the front, we wanted to hero the heritage of the existing building and create a beautiful garden that is a gift to the street,” says one of the owners. At the rear, lifestyle was key. “As it is a family home, it was important to have a truly functional garden that enhances the way we use the house as a whole.”

A flowering perennial garden in NSW

Sarah Ryan is a maestro of border planting, creating a wonderland of layered, flowering perennials and ornamental grasses. Covering 2.4ha of a 69ha property at Yetholme, this flowering garden is a popular destination for visitors from all over the world and has been featured in several garden books.

Mayfield Garden in Oberon is an expansive, formal masterpiece

Mayfield Garden is the grand vision of Sydney-based businessman Garrick Hawkins, who bought the property in 1984, attracted to the pretty rolling countryside. He originally purchased 800ha but, as more surrounding land became available, he increased his investment in the area.

A tropical garden in the heart of Melbourne

This Melbourne garden is a tale of the unexpected. From the street, there is little hint of what lies beyond the tall front fence. But push through the gate and you open a portal to another world, a tropical garden full of lush, emerald foliage that transports you to North Queensland or Bali. It’s hard to believe it’s a suburban block in the southern city’s south-east. “I get a jaw-drop reaction from everyone who walks in,” says owner and landscaper John Couch. “No one has ever seen another garden like it in Melbourne.”

A layered green-on-green palette has transformed this garden into a shaded sanctuary

The garden is truly a private oasis, with plenty of vantage points and places to enjoy being in the space. Benches are sprinkled throughout, encouraging the owners to sit and immerse themselves in the space – an activity they do often.

Romantic country garden transports visitors to another world

This enchanting entrance proved a major attraction when the owners, Tom and Sophie Cooper, were looking for a country retreat for themselves and their children. Since purchasing the 15ha property, the Coopers have enjoyed watching and learning the rhythms of rural life here and transforming the country garden into something truly special.

A traditional front garden with a contemporary twist

By using traditional plants in unexpected ways and mixing manicured with wild elements, Melbourne landscape architect Bethany Williamson has produced a character-rich garden.

A country-style garden in suburban Melbourne

A green-and-white palette and enveloping masses of tiered planting helped shape this suburban Melbourne “country garden in the city” by landscape designer Inge Jabara.

A garden of contrasts that works harmoniously

This Melbourne garden is so abundant and established it looks as though it’s been the life-long companion to the Victorian-era weatherboard home it surrounds. In fact, it’s a recent development, installed in tandem with the home’s renovation two years ago.

A naturalistic inner-city garden inspired by the Australian bush

The request was for a naturalistic garden, and so garden designer Sam Cox created a slice of inner-city bushland that thrums with life.

Ripe for the picking: a productive urban garden

Beauty and bounty are perfect bedmates in this suburban Melbourne produce garden created by an avid horticulturist Hendrik Van Leeuwen.

A small tropical garden with low-maintenance plants

This small tropical garden features award-winning design in the way it transformed a petite patch into an inviting, tropical-themed outdoor room filled to the brim with low-maintenance plants.

A family-friendly heritage home with a Mediterranean influence

Peter Fudge reorganised the outdoor areas of this heritage home into a series of relaxation zones. In the front garden, there’s a beautifully landscaped pool area, a cosy conversation spot with firepit, and wide sandstone paths lined with layered greenery.

A semi-formal garden restoration reflecting a historic home

Once a barren stretch of lawn, this large Melbourne garden has been expertly shaped into a lovely, layered wonderland befitting a special historic home. A bronze sculpture, Chimpanzee Hands by Melbourne artist Lisa Roet, is a focal point of the front garden, where tulip trees form the tall canopy layer and lower beds contain Liriope muscari, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and Clivia.

Sophisticated family backyard revamp in Melbourne

Making an evergreen garden a top priority in the reinvention of their home has paid off in spades for this Melbourne family. The leafy outdoor dining area is partially shaded by a cantilevered pergola covered in silver vein creeper, while the view extends past a canopy of lime-green Gleditsia foliage to a row of dwarf spotted gums.

A former Macadamia farm provides a lush escape

Gem-like flowers, verdant lawns and towering foliage combine in this tropical Queensland garden. A pathway laid with local river rocks leads through this lush garden and flowering cordylines and rows of aloe trees (foreground) run the length of the path.

An inner-city terrace garden

Clever use of space and a green-on-green palette has transformed this inner-city terrace into a private oasis thanks to designer Lisa Ellis. The journey from the dining area to the sitting zone, is enveloped by lovely layers of green.

A private European-style courtyard garden

The outside world disappears in this private European-style courtyard garden of luminous greens and wondrous shapes. The space is deceptively expansive. “We’ve enhanced the sense of depth by layering the plants – mixing climbers, shrubs and lower ground covers,” says Kate Seddon. “I particularly love the way the solid paving dissipates into steppers dotted through the garden. It helps enhance the amount of greenery and make the space feel bigger.”

A show-stopping sustainable garden

Horticulturist and founder of The Greenwell Company, Mark Paul, created his sustainable Sydney garden out of a sandstone base, using zero soil. Fascinatingly, most of the plants grow in a 200mm-thick, soil-less growing medium patented by Mark consisting of “waste material that would otherwise be destined for landfill.”

A coastal home’s luscious front garden design

This Sydney garden has been elevated in more ways than one, with a mix of circular lawn, modern coastal planting and a wonderful palette of silver and green. Flowing over the wall is Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’. A cardboard palm (Zamia furfuracea) can be seen on the left.

A lush and layered Launceston garden

Layers of textured foliage give this evergreen Launceston garden its sense of magnificence perfectly suited to the regency-style home. Rich bursts of colour from Magenta gladioli and white dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis) peek through the green in many areas of the garden.

A 19th century garden pays homage to its heritage

For owners Marg and Rob, this restored 19th Century garden has been a 30-year pursuit. The magnificent garden features an ever-changing display of fragrant roses, azaleas, lavender and camellias along with citrus trees, potted herbs and strawberries.

A bushland retreat 30 minutes out of Melbourne’s CBD

A soothing soundscape is created by this basalt waterfall in a bushland retreat 30 minutes out of Melbourne’s CBD. When the owners purchased the property in 1997, it was a bare paddock without a single tree on it. These days, the bush garden has the atmosphere of a national park.

A formal cottage garden filled with earthly delights

This stunning edible garden on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is textures, fragrant and dotted with colour. Rosemary, mint and the pink flowerheads of Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ mingle with citrus and roses in tones of white and lemon.

A rambling rural retreat in central Victoria

This rural garden in central Victoria, named Laikithi by its owners, features an abundance of plants which constantly change depending on the seasons. In this image, a bird house peeks out from the garden bed which features mauve Ajuga ‘Caitlin’s Giant’, silver-blue Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, golden feverfew, purple Lophomyrtus ‘Black Stallion’, Cotinus ‘Grace’ and Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’.

A manicured garden on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula

Designed as “a journey of interconnected zones” this minimalist, manicured garden on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula provides the perfect spot for the homeowners to meditate. Clipped balls of Westringia and Buxus give this garden its sculptural appeal.

An exceptional 19th century garden at Bronte House

The 19th Century garden at Bronte House was restored by custodian Anna van der Gardner, pictured strolling along one of the historic pathways under arches laden with roses and other sweet-smelling climbers.

An English-meets-Australian garden in northern NSW

A gravel path winds past statice (Limonium perezii) in this gorgeous biodiverse paradise that attracts an increasing range of bird species each year. The English-meets-Australian garden in nothern NSW was started from scratch by its owner Carolyn Robinson.

South Australian garden bristles with life

Some of the loveliest gardens are those shaped by years of dedication and gentle persistence. Evandale, in South Australia, is one such garden, having been nurtured for decades by fifth-generation graziers Jenni and Dick Evans.

A tropical oasis on the NSW north coast

Working with a large sloping site, landscape designer Claudia Nevell shaped a many-layered tropical wonderland at her home on the NSW North Coast. Towering palms and vast thickets of tropical plants stretch out in every direction, giving the impression that the garden occupies a luxurious tract of natural rainforest.

A grand garden reinvented for the 21st century

Uniting a house and its garden in a harmonious composition is at the heart of all good landscape schemes, says Melbourne designer Lachie Anderson of Lachie Anderson Garden Design. It was the underlying aim of his reworking of this garden. in the historical goldfields city of Ballarat.

The post 34 of the most beautiful gardens featured in Australian House & Garden appeared first on Homes To Love.

“I wanted my garden to be charming, enchanting, whimsical, kind of effortless, and to feel just natural. But on the other hand, I’m quite structured. I like borders and I like the lawn to start where the garden ends. So, I contradict myself, actually!”

Read More: Step inside Collette Dinnigan’s rambling Bowral homestead

Collette’s dear friend, the late Harriette Conway, helped carve out some order early on. “She was a garden designer,” says Collette. “She drew a plan so that, initially, when I wanted to plant roses, we had some structure to work from.”

On her friend’s advice and aided by gardeners, Collette removed an old gravel road that once ran past the house, along with a layer of clay, then aerated the earth. “We made a worm farm and added new topsoil – we really started from scratch.”

While making tasteful updates to her late-1800s weatherboard, Collette slowly transformed the entire grounds, replacing a tennis court with a pool and a wisteria-laden cabana. She converted a barn into a guesthouse, and a garage into a cottage for her daughter Estella. “Around her little cottage, I’ve put in stepped-down garden beds and planted English lavender and rosemary,” says Collette. The main house is wrapped with a wisteria-framed verandah. “It’s absolutely stunning in spring!” An outdoor pizza oven, an orchard and a vegetable garden complete the romantic scene.

While, sadly, Collette and Harriette never finished many of the plans they’d discussed before Harriette’s passing, her friend’s legacy lives on in the seasonal cycle of Collette’s flowerbeds.

“I wanted the garden to be flowering all year.” Harriette shared her knowledge so that the designer’s dream could come to life. “In February all the windmill daisies come up and suddenly the garden is all white,” says Collette. “There are so many different layers – she was excellent at that. I now know what flowers when.”

PLANT LIST

TREES

• Birch (Betula)
• Ornamental pear (Pyrus ussuriensis)
• Pencil pine (Cupressus sempervirens glauca)
• Plum tree (Prunus domestica)

SHRUBS

• English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• Roses (Rosa)
• Salvia (Salvia)

PERENNIALS

• Winter rose (Helleborus)
• Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
• Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota)

CLIMBERS

• Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
• Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)

These days, Collette’s garden is ever-changing, each season bringing different colours and varieties, many of which she loves to gather and display in vases indoors. “In winter, I’ll cut a huge bunch of rosemary and put it in the kitchen. When I have to prune the plum trees, I’ll keep some of the blossoms for the house in spring,” she says.

While June and early winter is quiet on the flower front, mid-winter sees an abundance of jonquils (Narcissus jonquilla) blooming, with winter roses (Helleborus) arriving in July. Tulips breakthrough in August, with daffodils, ranunculus and delphiniums flowering next.

The garden comes alive in spring. Foxgloves line the driveway with blossoming apple, plum and pear trees. Then October brings a burst of colourful poppies. “Over summer the house is filled with roses and hydrangeas,” says Collette, of her favourites. As autumn sets in, gardens are cut back and the cycle begins again.

“I try to plant for all seasons,” she says. “There’s so much to be said of harvesting seeds – you end up with the most beautiful, organic garden. For instance, on Anzac Day I plant poppies. I harvest all their seeds in November-December. I do the same with fennel, Queen Anne’s lace and catnip, and throw the seeds back into the garden at the beginning of autumn. In summer, every year now, it becomes so congested. But it is so beautiful.”

After dabbling in broccoli planting (Collette found invading caterpillars hard to vanquish with her regular stints away), she’s found success in herbs, celery, rocket, artichokes, leeks, spring onions and broad beans. Bringing “a touch of the Italian life”, basil and tomatoes thrive in summer.

On rotation on her kitchen-garden menu you’ll find celery juice, fennel tea (made from dried harvested seeds), broad bean bruschetta with goat’s cheese and thyme, pasta with passata made from harvested tomatoes, and a particular favourite, anchovy-sage leaf: “I dip it in rice flour and soda water and fry it, then put salt and saffron on top – it’s so delicious!”

Collette has created an enchanted, rambling wonderland. “Every time I leave I think, ‘This is so much work!’” she admits, as she often travels. “But each time I arrive I think, ‘This is home.’ It’s just so beautiful and extraordinary.”

Read More:

Collette Dinnigan: collettedinnigan.com

• Step inside Collette Dinnigan’s rambling Bowral homestead

• Tour 7 luxurious homes renovated and owned by Collette Dinnigan

Shop the look

Take inspiration from Collette Dinnigan’s effortless country garden style to create your own paradise at home.

Icon Chef Hand Woven Carry Basket
Kitchen Warehouse, $109.95

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Barebones Artisan Pruning Shears
Amazon, $73.51

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Woodfire Outdoor Pizza Peel
Ninja, $49.99

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Sophie Conran Garden Fork
Aura Home, $55

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Deb and Scott came from Coolah, New South Wales, a town that is, according to Deb, “hot and dry”. Chudleigh, with its temperate climate and an average annual rainfall of 112 centimetres, is neither hot nor dry. So they packed up their lives, their teenage daughters Kaitlyn and Sally, and left New South Wales.

As we are introduced to their property, we discover how extraordinary it is to stand at the centre of someone’s dream come true. It’s every bit what you might expect – scented and warm, meaningful, colourful, fascinating, ambitious, masterful and very, very beautiful.

First impressions of Old WesleyDale begin with an avenue of poplars, hawthorn and linden trees, and a pale pebbled driveway leading to an imposing stone building with narrow windows. Passing through a gate set into a high stone wall, we find an expanse of lawn, dotted with native hen sculptures, which are the work of Tasmanian artist Folko Kooper. They dart along, parallel to a sunken stone fence known as a ha-ha, used to keep a view unbroken. It works; the house’s contented gaze rests on waving pasture, a lake and the mountain views beyond.

We make our way past the stone barn and through gates to the back of the house. Spring is rampant and precocious here, singing with life, scent, colour and bees. Deb, who greets us from the humming midst of it, is a quietly spoken, unassuming master gardener.

“We didn’t really have a plan,” Deb tells us, “but we’ve tried to stick to the principles of the Arts and Crafts movement, and with how we are feeling, what skills we have acquired. And piecemeal over time it has come together.” True to Arts and Crafts form, built elements are incorporated into the garden. The entire back garden is divided into outdoor rooms by borders, hedging and structures.

One of the more immediately striking elements is the high brick wall behind the house. It was one of the first things Deb and Scott did for the garden, giving the whole half-hectare curtilage a Misselthwaite Manor, The Secret Garden feel, but more importantly, a shelter from Tasmania’s prevailing westerlies.

Stay at Old WesleyDale

Want to explore Old Wesleydale and experience the beauty of Mole Creek, Tasmania? For information and bookings, visit Old Wesleydale’s listing on Booking.com.

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The wall forms the external cladding for the outdoor rooms and their passageways, including Deb’s double borders, a ‘hot garden’, a potager, raised beds for dahlias, topiary beds, a shaded garden and an arbour. The garden structures include a hot house, a potting shed and arguably the world’s most luxurious chook house. And of course all pathways lead to the heritage homestead. There’s also a garden pavilion, which Scott uses to work on his leadlighting practice.

Deb takes charge of planting and weeding in between running the Old WesleyDale cottage as guest accommodation. It is clear she has a natural flair for colour. Golden philadelphus is set against dark greens, soft swathes of perennial astrantia colour over the lines, Annabelle hydrangeas and huge gunnera leaves set a grand theme, while humble buttercups dot the lawn. A featured pot contains a red lupin – proper lipstick red – which Deb spent years searching for. “I mentioned it to a friend,” she explains, “and he said, ‘I have one of those’, then sent me some seeds.”

Scott’s precise drystone walls and shaped hedges are almost impossibly perfect. On a fence post sits a wooden cat, sculpted from a fallen branch of a heritage oak. “He has a good eye,” Deb says, but this surely cannot fully explain the topiary feats Scott can achieve. Like Deb, he seems bashful about his talents, which are evident everywhere but particularly in the topiary. Twisted edges, a Celtic knot, a cubist hedge, a “wedding cake tree”, spheres, cloud pruning, a top-hat bay tree, a rugosa hedge, 12 giant snails… all of it lends structure, curiosity, humour and formality to Deb’s generous planting. It is easy to see why his courses in hedge-laying, walling and topiary are so popular.

At the front of the house, Deb and Scott have restored the original verandah and to the side they’ve added more garden. Prior to these additions, the house was partially obscured by Old WesleyDale’s famous elephant hedge, the removal of which was a difficult decision but typical of the ruthless editing all the very best gardeners are capable of. “We wanted to enhance the view from the house to the lake,” says Scott simply.

Back towards the barn is another hedge, this one freewheeling and wild, left for the birds to nest in undisturbed. This is a kindness but also another Arts and Crafts feature – the further away from the house, the less formal the design. This is also true of the front aspect with pasture and lake, a 10-year-old arboretum to one side and, behind us, the towering eucalypt forest, the perfect Australian motif for an English garden in Tasmania.

It is hard to say goodbye to Deb and Scott, who are beguiling in their modesty. And it’s hard to leave the garden, because this is surely a place for every season. This garden will hum and burst, becalm and rest and wake again. “We won’t add anything else,” Deb assures us. “We’ve closed the garden to the public and we’re just maintaining and tweaking now, enjoying what we have.”

But we have an inkling that Deb and Scott’s ‘tweaks’ are another’s grand gestures, and that dream-weaving at Old WesleyDale will never quite be done.

The post The pretty garden of this historic Tasmanian estate only gets better with age appeared first on Homes To Love.

And there are plenty of options on the market, from electic heater solutions, built-in outdoor fireplaces, and DIY fire pits. Even pizza ovens can help heat your outdoor space! There are plenty of ways to ensure your outdoor areas are enjoyable no matter what the night-time temperature.

Of all the options, though, fire pits are the most budget-friendly outdoor heating option, and can be the easiest to install. They come in a range of different sizes and styles, so you can find one that looks great in your space, and even makes a feature of your backyard.

What should you put at the bottom of a fire pit?

When setting up a fire pit area in your backyard, it’s best to put a layer of fire-resistant material at the base to ensure the fire pit doesn’t overheat the ground and is stable. Something like gravel, bricks, concrete or sand would work. It’s always safest to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing a fire pit.

What is the cheapest way to make a fire pit area?

There are plenty of ways to make a DIY fire pit if your budget doesn’t allow for something pre-made. Fire Rings can be purchased from most hardware stores and are typically made of steel and very affordable.

Old bricks, concrete blocks or large rocks can also be recycled and used to create fire pits in your backyard for less. Visit your local tip shop or have a look in the streets during council clean-ups for materials.

Once again, when constructing a fire pit it’s important to consider safety. Contact your local fire department or council for help, and ensure you clear out any flammable objects before lighting your fire.

What do you put in a fire pit to make it burn?

Unlike gas heaters that only require pressing a button to turn them on, with fire pits, you actually have to start a fire! You can do this with firewood and kindling — hardwoods like oak, maple, and birch are the best. It’s important that the wood is dry and old to avoid creating too much smoke.

Alternatively, you can use things like fire starters and other accelerants, available at your local supermarket and hardware stores.

22 fire pit area ideas to inspire

A coastal escape

A custom concrete bench curved around a gas fire pit in this compact coastal backyard creates an intimate atmosphere for relaxed conversation.

Off-grid

Being completely off-grid, this mindful home in Kyvalley is all about reaping the free benefits that the environment can offer. Run off solar panels and built using a carefully selected array of materials (including recycled timber and concrete for its thermal properties), the home works entirely with nature, rather than against it – glasses of wine enjoyed alfresco by the fire pit included!

Layered landscape

In the yard of this modern farmhouse-style home on the Mornington Peninsula, a perfectly landscaped fire pit zone invites gatherings. Shaded by a bay tree and further enclosed by the surrounding pines and bushland, the area feels intimate and private.

Charming homestead

Sitting nestled into a valley outside the village of Buckland, Tasmania, the historic Twamley homestead has been handed down through a total of six generations. Out in the garden, simple log seats surround the communal fire pit, which provides sweeping views across the valley.

Classic country style

This restored 1880s cottage in country Victoria is like something out of a fairytale. While the interiors, full of antiques and charm, are absolutely gorgeous, the surrounding gardens, designed by Darren Spiller, are equally magical. Here, nestled within the pear garden, a fire pit purchased in Bendigo offers the most picturesque spot to sit and relax.

Rustic charm

This stunning holiday home in Tasmania has been lovingly named Whale Song, and when it’s not hosting countless Airbnb guests, it’s also home to artist Ingrid Daniell. In the creation of Whale Song, capitalising on stunning natural views was a must for Ingrid, so it’s no surprise that the fire pit is the perfect place to gather and view the ocean.

Mid-century modern

This lovingly revamped mid-century home embraces sculptural design and smooth curves, so it’s no surprise that this ethos extends even to the outdoor entertaining area. A bespoke curved in-built bench arcs around the firepit, creating a natural gathering space.

Cute and compact

This Queensland pool house may be small, but it’s filled with clever design details that have made it the perfect holiday rental. In the beautifully landscaped backyard, a fire pit takes pride of place.

Modern farmhouse

This former sheep property in the Southern Tablelands is home to an eco-friendly rammed earth farmhouse that has been designed to be the perfect home for this family that sought the “simpler, more authentic life” as farmers. The fire pit at the rear of the house is perfectly placed between the primary residence and the guest house.

Zen style

In the courtyard of this modern family home inspired by Japanese design, grey pavers are paired with grey gravel to create a relaxed, zen-style outdoor entertaining area. A beautiful curved fire pit is nestled in the heart of the courtyard, and a timber bench provides ample seating.

Outdoor lounge

Inspired by gardens that usually accompany Italian villas, this dual-purpose holiday home features a sophisticated outdoor entertaining zone complete with generous lawns, a fire pit, and an outdoor sofa to boot.

Lawnside

Designed as a passion project for creative couple Johnny and Claire Greig, this relaxed dream home in Freshwater has been lovingly designed with ample stylish and creative touches. Perched on the lawn just beside the outdoor dining area is an elevated fire pit.

Tropical style

Packing a whole lot of function in a compact space, the outdoor entertaining zone of this tropical resort-style home features an outdoor shower, fire pit, ample seating and lush tropical plantings to create the ultimate retreat.

A dash of greenery

When it comes to creating the perfect outdoor entertaining zone, a fire pit is an easy way to make sure the area is trans-seasonal. Choose a fire pit with a sculptural shape, like the one in this verdant courtyard, to make a bold statement.

Built-in seating

The heritage-listed terrace in Sydney was given a brand new outdoor entertaining zone complete with ample built-in seating and lush plantings. A statement EcoSmart fire pit is the crowning feature.

Balcony fire pit

In the creative home of artists Vicki Lee and Ted O’Donnell a cast iron fire pit has transformed their balcony into an entertaining zone that remains cosy all year round.

Nature escape

A trio of country cottages were joined together to create the incredible Bowfield abode. Making its home on the generous acreage, this fire pit has “Bowfield” laser cut into its side, adding a truly personalised touch to the entertaining zone.

Log stools

This old farm cottage in Tasmania has been transformed into a dreamy holiday home, complete with the perfect outdoor entertaining zone. Log stools and outdoor chairs make gathering around this sculptural fire pit the obvious choice at nightfall.

Sleek and modern

A more modern take on the fire pit, this modernist home in Sydney features an in-built sculptural fire pit that has become the centrepiece of the outdoor entertaining area.

Laid back living

This renovated river cottage was designed to make the most of its stunning natural surrounds. Nestled under soaring palm trees, this outdoor entertaining area features rustic timber benches surrounding a fire pit that’s perfect for relaxing around throughout the year.

Beachside living

A Robert Plumb fire pit makes a bold statement in the backyard of this family-friendly beachside home that allows the residents to entertain all year round.

Boho flair

Creating a cosy living space is easier than you think! This outdoor room boasts all the creature comforts you’d usually find in the living room, but a fire pit helps to take it to the next level in indoor-outdoor living.

The post 22 fire pit area ideas that make outdoor entertaining easy appeared first on Homes To Love.

Space-saving solutions, such as leafy screening, statement pot plants and climbing vines, are all perfect for pushing the boundaries of even the smallest yard. All you need is a bit of imagination and these small garden design and landscaping ideas to transform a humble patch into an urban oasis.

How do you make a small garden nice?

Working with a small garden space can be tricky, but with the right approach, you can create a garden that feels like a private oasis, regardless of its size. Expert landscape designer Grant Boyle of Sydney-based Fig Landscapes shares his top tips on creating a beautiful small garden:

• Maximise green space by utilising vertical surfaces or hanging gardens.
• Mix different foliage textures and colours to create interest: try combining fine-leafed species with glossy plants, or succulents with grasses.
• One large potted plant will have more impact than lots of small ones.
• Built-in seating will maximise ground space.
• A strategically placed mirror will amplify greenery and give the illusion of more space.
• Think about how big the plants will be when fully grown: you don’t want to overwhelm the area.
• Try to provide a habitat for local wildlife – hardy natives such as Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’, grevillea and Callistemon (bottlebrush) are ideal.

Here, we explore 13 clever small garden design ideas informed by a number of landscaping and gardening experts in Australia, so you can transform your courtyard or patio into something special.

13 clever small garden design ideas

Screening plants

If you’re looking to make your garden a little more private, consider creating your own leafy screening. Dwarf magnolias, lilly pillies, elephant ears and palms are great for adding height to your garden and creating a lush extensive of your fence.

Bamboo is another favourite screening plant, but beware of which species you choose. Bambusa textilis ‘Gracilis’ (slender weavers bamboo) is a non-invasive, clumping variety, and a good pick according to landscape architect Sophie Greive from Think Outside Gardens.

“It grows 6-8m high and gives you maximum height and screening in tight spaces,” she says. “It also has a rapid growth rate – from 1m high to 6m in 18 months.”

Use the council verge

The owners of this striking new Perth residence wanted an equally eye-catching front garden, so they enlisted Tim Davies Landscaping to “add interest to a usually uninteresting council verge”.

Tim met the brief by creating densely planted ‘islands’ of garden flanking a cobblestone pathway to the front door. Arching over the path are two established trees – a Poinciana and a frangipani – creating a shady canopy at the entrance. Plants underneath include Agave attenuata, Senecio mandraliscae, Japanese box and Zamia furfuracea.

“It’s a mix of vibrant, hardy and striking foliage of varying textures, repeated in an informal way to make an inviting entry,” says Tim.

Create layers

The owners of this Federation home in Sydney’s inner west wanted a semi-formal front garden to complement the home’s pretty facade.

“Mainly, though, they wanted a lovely space to look at,” says landscape designer Julia Levitt of Sticks & Stones Landscape Design, so she planted a layered garden of “soft and gentle” plants with mixed foliage textures. The result is a quaint, privacy-giving garden befitting of a heritage home.

A plunge pool

Intentional planting, textural finishes and a space-saving plunge pool set the scene for a holiday at home in a contemporary coastal Sydney backyard.

Maximise natural light

The most important thing when designing a compact courtyard or small garden is to understand how the light works in the space, says garden designer Richard Unsworth of Garden Life.

“Consider the light at different times of year, as well as different times of day,” he says. “Select plants that thrive and adore those conditions.”

It’s also crucial to understand how the plant behaves over time: how big will it get? What are its water requirements?

“All plants can fail – they are living things. And that’s why it’s paramount to give them what they need and love.”

Mix and match

Layering plants of different heights and leaf sizes creates the illusion of space and imbues a sense of grandeur, as seen in this multi-levelled Melbourne front garden. The bluestone pathways are flanked by lovely layers of Portuguese laurel, English box, lamb’s ears, German iris and seaside daisies.

Plant groundcover

Anyone who has ever tended to a lawn will know just how water-intensive and time-consuming they can be. Instead of opting for turf, consider creating a natural carpet with native groundcover plants like native violet.

In this European-style courtyard garden in Melbourne, landscape designer Kate Seddon has “enhanced the sense of depth by layering the plants – mixing climbers, shrubs and lower ground covers“.

Create a leafy canopy

The journey from the dining area to the sitting zone of this inner-city terrace garden is through a lush side garden dappled with shadows.

A vertical canopy of leafy foliage adds drama to the side space that might otherwise have been simply a pathway, while also casting shadows and softening the heat of the sun.

Diamond climbers

In this garden, star jasmine is trained to climb up a grid of stainless-steel wires to soften the surrounding architectural features.

“It also makes the courtyard feel more enclosed,” says the designer, Jane Jones of Jane Jones Landscapes. The wall is painted Dulux Monument, to make the wall visually recede and the green foliage stand out.

Add statement pot plants

Add greenery to a porch or small paved courtyard by bringing in statement pot plants. On the verandah of this restored Victorian villa, two potted fan aloe plants (which are incredibly low-maintenance and hardy) sit on either side of the front door while tall hedging creates a privacy screen along the fence line.

Choose hardy shrubs

For many of us, growing a garden means being ready for some harsh Australian weather conditions. To ensure your garden thrives throughout the seasons, choose hardy shrubs to form the basis of your garden beds, such as Miss Muffet (Pittosporum) which is a robust evergreen shrub that has a naturally tufted shape, glossy green leaves and fragrant cream flowers in spring.

“This is a fabulous bedding plant for small gardens,” says Janine Mendel from Cultivart . “It looks good all year-round and can withstand sun or shade.”

Create a tropical garden

Incorporating tropical beauties in varying heights can help transform any small outdoor space into an immersive, jungle-like oasis. In the garden of landscaper John Crouch, a variety of palms tower above a flourishing garden bed full of clivias, bromeliads and philodendrons.

Miniature manicured garden

When short on space, clearly defined structure, geometric shapes, repetition and a largely evergreen planting palette can make a statement. Opting for stone or gravel over lawn can also create a visually appealing contrast against manicured hedges (and also save on water) as seen in this gorgeous front garden in Melbourne.

How do you arrange pot plants in a small garden?

Angela Thomas, a horticultural expert at Yates, shares her top tips for using pot plants to create an instant garden courtyard on a patio, or balcony:

• Choose the best-quality potting mix you can afford. You get what you pay for and a quality potting mix will help your plants grow better for longer.
• Potted plants lose moisture much more quickly than in-ground plants so monitor moisture levels regularly. If the top layer is dry and dusty, it’s time to water; if it feels moist and sticks to your finger, leave it a day or so. Self-watering pots are a great idea as plants will draw on the water supply as needed. Reduce the amount of moisture loss by applying a few centimetres of fine bark mulch.
• Well-fed plants look healthier, are more productive and are also better able to resist pests and diseases. You can either use liquid plant foods on a regular basis or controlled-release fertilisers that release nutrients slowly over time. Choose a method that best suits your gardening style.

What is the cheapest ground cover for a garden?

If you’re looking for an affordable and low-maintenance ground cover, your best options are gravel or wood chips. If you’d like to opt for something green that isn’t as high maintenance and water-intensive as lawn, consider planting Australian native groundcover plants such as native violet.

The post 13 small garden design ideas that maximise space and greenery appeared first on Homes To Love.

This beachside Sydney garden was designed for a family of three – very much a grown-up space. “The family love entertaining so they wanted a crossflow between their interior dining space, the courtyard and the bar in the converted garage.”

The big question was, if you live this close to the beach, do you actually even need a pool? Adam was pro-pool from the start. “I was like, ‘look, you pop down to the beach in the morning for a swim, enjoy that space, and then you come home for lunch. If you have a pool, you’ll hang around the house for the rest of the day in your swimmers’,” he says. “It makes being at home quite different if you’ve got that body of water in the backyard – your behaviour shifts and you go straight into holiday mode.”

But a full-sized pool in this tiny space didn’t make sense. “Once you put a pool fence in there it just cuts an already small space up into silly dimensions.”

The solution was a plunge spa with a lockable lid to keep it cool in summer and with heated jets for warming the water over winter, making it usable all year round. The locked lid on the spa is important here because it also means that in NSW a pool fence is not required.

When choosing exterior materials, a little bit of contrast was required to bring texture and earthiness to the backyard to play against the white render of the home. “The stone was a nice way to ground that, and we went with crazy paving on the ground to bring an organic feel out there,” says Adam.

A custom concrete bench curved around a gas fire pit creates an intimate atmosphere for relaxed conversation. “This fire pit is excellent – it throws great heat and the semi-circle bench allows people to sit closer to the heat all the way around, so no-one misses out and there’s no cold spot,” says Adam.

But deciding exactly where the bench should sit was a bit of a challenge when working with the shade in the backyard. “We definitely had to work out where that seating was going to go and where the spa was going to go. We chose this spot for the spa because it gets good afternoon sun.”

The plant-selection process had to start with establishing an instant canopy. “A canopy is important because sitting under one brings a feeling of protection and seclusion, all safe and snug.” Adam went with mature Kentia palms to create a canopy without throwing too much shade.

“I love a palm and Kentias are a beautiful native. There’s a real elegance to them. They don’t get smashed by the wind and end up looking tatty. They give beautiful shadowing, with light streaming through the leaves, and you get attractive movement on the ground, which is lovely,” he says.

Kentias are notoriously slow-growing palms, so Adam had mature, established trees craned in – a straightforward process organised through the local council. “You can’t just grow one of these palms because you’d be growing it for the next generation. So you need to bring it in at the maturity you’re happy with because the growth rate is so slow that they won’t move much in the next 10 years.”

“If you’ve got a body of water in the backyard, your behaviour shifts and you go straight into holiday mode.”

ADAM ROBINSON, LANDSCAPE DESIGNER

The jaunty candelabra cacti that hug the bordering wall offer more than a bit of fun in the garden. “This spot was high against the boundary so we needed something quite narrow there. We originally had olive trees planned, but discovered a huge footing for the existing wall underneath. It was a great last-minute change once the project was in construction, so we went for a bit of architectural play with the cacti, which are interesting, modern and sculptural,” says Adam.

“And they give a big visual impact for a small amount of soil.” Which kind of sums up Adam’s whole strategy – creating the biggest impact possible in a small space.

TREES

• Coastal banksia (Banksia integrifolia)
• Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)

SHRUBS

• Felt bush (Kalanchoe beharensis)
• Pittosporum ‘Miss Muffet’ (Pittosporum tobira)
• Lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus)\

SUCCULENTS AND CACTI

• Flap greens (Cotyledon Macrantha)
• Mason’s Congo (Sansevieria masoniana)
• Candelabra aloe (Aloe arborescens)
• Candelabra cactus (Euphorbia ingens)

CLIMBERS

• Madagascar jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda)

THE PLANT LIST

Adam Robinson Design: adamrobinsondesign.com.
Red Cedar Constructions: redcedarconstructions.com

The Design Team

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Many trees featured on Ian and Sue’s land can be traced back to the original Sorensen family nursery in Leura, where a cool-climate arboretum inspired botanical designers and home gardeners alike. Sue, 69, and Ian, 70, now educate gardening professionals and hopeful green thumbs through the Millthorpe Garden Nursery, which sits on their property.

“We don’t have all the bells and whistles that a suburban store would have, but people like it because it’s an old-fashioned sort of nursery,” says Sue, who says their approach is ‘boots and all’.

That throwback feeling spreads across the friendly service the couple and their two long-serving staff members offer. “We try our best to stock good-quality plants that are well suited to the soils and climate of our region, and we’ve had consistent positive feedback from our customers,” says Ian.

A grove of silver birch (Betula pendula) trees provides a buffer between the house and the retail area, but the Rogans and their staff invite customers to explore the half-a-hectare of landscaped grounds around the homestead. “I often see people wandering around the garden if I’m in the house, which doesn’t worry me. It’s a good way to showcase and sell the plants and trees,” explains Sue.

The most dominant trees in the array include the Himalayan cedars (Cedrus deodara) and the red oaks (Quercus rubra). An avenue of tortured willow (Salix matsudana) leads into the garden, and a variegated silver elm (Ulmus minor ‘Variegata’) with magnificent dappled foliage signposts the home’s main entryway.

The pride and joy, however, is a majestic 30-year-old Wollemi pine that reaches 20 metres high. The Wollemi is a prehistoric conifer varietal discovered in a rainforest gorge in a Blue Mountains national park in 1994.

“The previous garden owners bought it at one of the first auctions of the propagated seedlings that were grown after it was discovered,” Sue shares. The Rogans sell young Wollemi trees and often bring customers up to their specimen to demonstrate its grandeur. “It’s hard to go past the Wollemi pine without thinking about its unique place in our botanic history,” says Ian.

The couple has gently intervened with their garden over time, adding hedging and developing the hardscaping and entertaining spaces around the house. “We’re not fussy gardeners, but I did want structure,” Sue explains. “For the trees’ understoreys, we’ve planted perennials and evergreens that don’t need a lot of work and are cold-climate friendly.”

Some beds and borders overflow with a cottage-style, all-season mix, including shasta daisy, yarrow, scabiosa, iris, lavender, echinacea, wormwood, and gaura. “This combination gives a ‘meadow garden’ effect as the gaura sways in the wind and looks a little unruly,” says Sue.

To minimise the running jobs list, they avoid ‘overgardening’ and experimenting too wildly with the planting. There is no built-in irrigation system, so hand-watering is necessary during February, the driest month. “The trees are very well chosen, so the property otherwise maintains itself,” Sue says.

The Rogans’ move to Millthorpe from their home in Narromine was part of a long-term retirement plan. Sue was a high school teacher and careers adviser, and Ian, who comes from a farming family, has worked in the sheep and wool industry for most of his career. “As we got older, we decided to change our pathway. Fifteen years later, here we are!” says Sue.

The nursery is open five days a week, but the demands spill over seven. Sourcing large orders has become a key component of the nursery operations. Garden clubs visit the property, and the Rogans participate in Millthorpe’s annual Garden Ramble.

Sue and Ian are also doting grandparents who cherish time spent with their two children and four grandchildren. Living among the trees and running Millthorpe Garden Nursery keeps the duo active and connected to the community. Slowing into retirement is on the cards, but Sue and Ian will do it their way. “It wouldn’t have been in our nature to stop working and play golf. That’s not who we are,” Sue says.

Visit millthorpegardennursery.com.au.

The post A charming ‘old-fashioned’ nursery with a strong connection to community appeared first on Homes To Love.

How to grow and care for cyclamen indoors

Indoor potted cyclamen plants have been bred from cyclamen persicum, which is a much smaller flower but also considerably more fragrant. While they have the potential to last for years, due to environmental factors and watering, they will often only last a few weeks at home.

They like living in light, airy places, so being in a dark spot on the coffee table quickly leads to problems. When deprived of light, new leaves are smaller and grow on longer stalks. Also, older leaves turn yellow, and the new flowers become pale. The ideal temperature for a cyclamen is about 10ºC, so it’s best to leave it in an unheated room as much as possible.

As cyclamen plants are highly susceptible to rot, it’s important they don’t sit in too much water. Unfortunately, plants are often potted with the tuber below the soil, making them impossible to water correctly. This allows rot to set in, especially in a stuffy room, so the plant collapses. The best way to water is to wait until the plant is almost dry, or starting to wilt, then stand the pot in water for 30 minutes or until the soil is soaked.

Avoid cutting dead flowers and leaves, but give them a sharp tug instead so they break off cleanly at the base. Any stumps left behind will rot, and this can spread. Every couple of weeks, apply a liquid fertiliser that’s high in potassium, such as a tomato feed, to aid flowering.

How to grow and care for cyclamen outdoors

Cyclamen are loved not only for their vibrant hues but also for their sweet fragrance. They are great value and do well as a compact flowering annual in pots and hanging planters. Unfortunately, unless you live in an elevated, cool southern region, it’s a bit optimistic to plant your nursery-bred cyclamen in flower beds.

They cope with light frost, but need the right conditions to thrive. Ideally, plant your outdoor cyclamen in a sheltered spot under deciduous trees for dappled shade in summer and sun in winter.

In temperate climates, potted cyclamen plants flower for months, from February right through winter. Just make sure you ‘twist and tug’ off all yellow leaves and dead flowers to keep the plants clean. Protect plants from heavy and continued rain, high humidity, and also foggy, cold conditions, which tend to ruin them.

With cyclamen care, the main enemy is botrytis (grey mould), which is caused by overcrowding and water at the base of the leaves, as well as rotting, yellow leaves and dead flowers. In crowded conditions this rot can spread through plants at great speed and kill them in just a few days.

How to propagate cyclamen

Cyclamen are grown from seed. So, to propagate cyclamen, you’ll need to soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing. Once the plants have produced two leaves, they have a tiny tuber at the base. Position them in a cool spot with good light. The larger cyclamen varietals generally take longer to reach flowering size.

Like all cyclamen, the seeds tend to fall on the main plant and often germinate on top of the mature plants. Any seedlings growing this way are best carefully dug up and transplanted while small.

Dry tubers are available but don’t always sprout well, so it’s best to buy plants. The advantage of this is that you can see the colour of the leaves and flowers, and check its perfume.

TIP: To get plants in bloom for Mother’s Day, sow seeds between February (15 months before) and September.

What type of climate does cyclamen need to survive?

Cyclamen thrive in a cool, shady position, like beneath a mature tree, and tend to become dormant in the summer. Avoid placing cyclamen in full sun.

If you’re growing cyclamen indoors, keep in mind that the ideal temperature for a cyclamen is about 10ºC, so it’s best to leave them in an unheated room as much as possible.

How often should cyclamen be watered?

Cyclamen can be watered around once a week or so. As cyclamen plants are highly susceptible to rot, it’s important they don’t sit in too much water. The best way to water is to wait until the plant is almost dry, or starting to wilt, then stand the pot in water for 30 minutes or until the soil is soaked.

What type of soil should I use?

To prevent root rot, plant cyclamen in well-drained soil with compost and high-quality potting mix. You can apply a liquid fertiliser to potted cyclamen every couple of weeks to add flowering.

When will cyclamen bloom?

In temperate climates, potted cyclamen plants flower for months, from February right through winter.

Common mistakes to avoid when growing cyclamen

• Watering cyclamen with yellow leaves. This is a sign the cyclamen has become dormant, which tends to happen in summer.
• Buying potted cyclamen that are packed in plastic sleeves and/or have wet foliage – they are more likely to have rot.
• Not providing cyclamen with well-drained soil.
• Overwatering your cyclamen.
• Putting them in full sun.

What to do when your cyclamen leaves turn yellow

Cyclamen become dormant in summer. As the weather warms, flowering stops and the leaves turn yellow. This is a sign that the plant wants to rest, so it’s time to stop watering it.

To keep it dry, sit your plant on a windowsill or on a covered balcony. When the plant sends up new leaves, it’s time to start watering it again. Re-pot the plant, making sure the upper half of the tuber is above the surface of the potting mix.

That said, if your plant keeps flowering all summer, keep watering, feeding and enjoying it as usual.

What are the main types of cyclamen?

There are about 20 species of cyclamen, all of which are native to the Mediterranean area. Not all of the species are frost tolerant, but these three are tough, so they make excellent outdoor garden plants in Australia.

1. Cyclamen hederifolium

This is the easiest and best frost-tolerant cyclamen plant to grow. The tubers, which can reach 25cm across, send up masses of pink or white flowers on 8cm stems in autumn. When flowering finishes, the marbled green and silvery grey leaves appear and remain as an evergreen groundcover throughout winter.

Leaves collapse in frosty conditions and turn almost black, but they recover as they thaw. The plant is drought tolerant and, although it thrives in full sun, it also grows in dry, dense shade, though more slowly.

2. Cyclamen coum

Cyclamen are great planted in rock gardens, flowering when there’s not much colour elsewhere. They’re also excellent under deciduous shrubs, especially any that flower in winter such as viburnum and witch hazel.

The silver-leaved forms are striking contrasted with dark-leaved heucheras and black mondo grass. Take care not to dig them up or put a fork through them in summer when they’re dormant.

3. Cyclamen purpurascens

This is a less common plant, and its rather plain green leaves and deep pink flowers are not as attractive as the other two species. But the drawcard is the wonderful perfume of the flowers, which is stronger than in any other species.

Where and how to buy cyclamen

Cyclamen plants are readily available at your local garden centre. Visit during autumn and you’ll find scores for sale in every colour from white to deep purple and scarlet. Choose plants that have a few flowers open but lots of buds coming up through the leaves.

Another thing to look for is a plant with strong green or patterned foliage – avoid any cyclamen with yellow leaves. Also, try to buy plants that are planted so the top of the tuber is evident above the potting mix. This plant will be less prone to developing rot such as botrytis.

Take a sniff of the flowers when you make your selection. Some cyclamen are strongly perfumed, adding to their desirability. Flowers that are pink, purple or white tend to be fragrant, while the bold red-flowered varieties have less scent.

Never buy plants that have wet foliage or are packed in plastic sleeves. Rot may have set in and the plant is unlikely to survive. Likewise, cyclamen plants tend to go on sale in winter, but be wary that these discounted flowers may be too far gone.

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