Sri Lanka - Bawa

By far, the highlight of 2012 was a three week trip to Sri Lanka.

Travelling around this tiny island is done on Sri Lanka time - slowly!  Luckily, time was something we had plenty of.  We spent several unforgettable hours at Geoffrey Bawa's stunning landscaped estate - Lununganga, near Bentota in the South East of the country.

There are no words to describe this heavenly garden of earthly delights.

Let the pictures tell the story......

Geoffrey Bawa
1919 - 2003

Read more.....

Bellevue Hill

In conjunction with Luigi Roselli Architects and Landscape Architect, Susan Miles, this garden in Bellevue Hill incorporates many different elements. Cascading plants soften the appearance of the walling, Frangipani create a canopy over the front stairway and a selection of low balled shrubs and native species border the sunny lawned area. The end result is a garden with which the owner's are thrilled.

Agave attenuata and Dracena drago form a crown above a trailing Acacia baileyana (a prostrate form of Cootamundra wattle). The coastal rosemary Westringia fruticosa has been clipped to a ball to create defined structure next to a feathery Grevillea.

Native grasses such as Pennisetum alopecuroides and trailing Grevillea and Acacia soften the Western Australian limestone retaining walls, creating a delightful hanging garden. 

Metrosideros Thomasii , New Zealand Christmas Bush, displays a showy red flower and silvery new growth. This dwarf variety bursts with colour.

At the top of the stairs is a bell pot with small succulents and Strelitzia juncea.

Crucible pot on the verandah with Strelitzia juncea underplanted with Dichondra var."silver bells"

For a consultation with The Butchart Gardens contact

James Butchart 0408 264 964

james@butchartgardens.com.au

Point Piper

The first day of July was overcast, with a soft intermittent rain falling. Perfect light for photographing one of our established gardens in Point Piper.

These water gum, Tristaniopsis laurina are loving the view. At their base are sturdy native grasses, Lomandra var. 'Tanika', framing a stretch of Sir Walter Buffalo.  The fireplace, a mild steel design, could also be used as a shallow planter. Not a bad spot for an outdoor get-together.

Dracena marginata provides a sculptural screen. The planter is a hardwood trough with galvanised steel insert.

Banksia serrata, adds another sculptural element to the garden. These trees are great for attracting native birds. They are fast-growing and withstand the harsh Australian environment.

Raphis exelsa are thriving in their hardwood trough. These palms are slow-growing, great for indoor and low light situations.

Raphis prefer a shady position and grow in a variety of soils.

Raphiolepsis indica is a salt-tolerant shrub. A hardy all-rounder, great for underplanting or as a border shrub. This variety has a small white flower.

In summer, Frangipani add a burst of colour while Tristaniopsis laurina create a formal entranceway.  It's encouraging to see native varieties being used for formal hedging in place of more traditional hedging plants.

For a consultation with the Butchart Gardens contact

James Butchart   0408 264 964 

email   james@butchartgardens.com.au