Photography: Allie Aszodi
When inspiration strikes, execution often follows close behind. But sometimes, it doesn’t. Such was the case for the owners of this new build farmhouse on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, who knew what type of garden would complement their home but were at a loss as to how to achieve it. “We felt that a less formal, wild lower kind of garden would suit the barn-style house we had built,” explains the owner. “But we had no idea where we would even start with that.”
bonariensis bring gentle movement and colour to the drifts of pretty perennials, Agastache ‘Sweet Lili’ and yarrow. (Credit: Photography: Allie Aszodi )
Happily, she knew exactly who to turn to: garden designer Ashley James. “I’d been following him for quite a while on Instagram,” she says, which was where she familiarised herself with his signature style, featuring “softer shapes and a far more organic-looking garden”.
This concept suited the new build, which would benefit from abundant and romantic plantings to complement the sweeping rural vistas beyond. This in turn would help to create an illusion of maturity.
When Ashley came on board, the site at the entrance of the 0.4-hectare block was ready to plant. The property is on a steep slope and the builders had installed retaining walls with Corten steel on the access side of the house, punctuated by an elegant stepped path to the front door. With the garden beds in place, the way was clear for Ashley to select the right tapestry of perennial flowers, grasses and trees.
“Although it does look rambling and wild there is structure to it,” says Ashley, who layers planting combinations in groups of three, five or seven. “I plant in those groups so that they’ll grow into large clumps that give the full effect of mass flowers.”
To provide height, Ashley included ‘Moss White’ birch trees, Japanese maples and tall ornamental grasses that add soft texture and movement. Groundcovers, shrubs and perennial flowers such as hydrangeas, salvia, verbena and echinacea fill in the understory, giving an established garden look within just six months.
From there, a difficult climate, that’s at once dry yet frosty, was catered to. Keeping this and the owners’ tank water in mind, Ashley leaned towards plants native to Mexico and South Africa, such as Agastache and Miscanthus.
The garden is designed to evolve throughout the year. It explodes with pink, purple and peach flowers in spring and summer, while in autumn and winter the colours fade and seed heads dry on the stem. “There is that storytelling element to it where everything changes with the seasons,” says Ashley.
While the owners enjoy spending time in the garden itself, attending to tasks such as weeding, pruning and planting, they’re also thrilled to be able to bring the garden with them indoors. Every window of the home now enjoys a beautiful garden aspect and can be filled with an abundance of blooms.
“One of the great joys of the garden is enjoying freshly picked flowers, especially hydrangeas,” the owner says. It’s exactly the happily ever after the owners were looking for. Every time they return home, they are filled with gratitude at the beauty that surrounds them. “There’s a very romantic softness to the garden,” the owner says. “And it’s in colour all year round. That was another beautiful surprise.”
SOURCE BOOK
Garden design & installation Ashley James, ashleyjamesgardens.comBuilder Montique Construction, montiqueconstruction.com
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