The owners of this small garden in West Brunswick, VIC specifically asked Garden Designer – Emmaline Bowman from STEM Landscape Architecture & Design – for a front garden without a fence. They wanted it open to the neighbourhood so they could sit and chat to neighbours and locals as they walk past.
The east facing front garden includes 3 large metal curved sculptural pieces which hint at a “boundary line”, but certainly don’t block anyone out or in. The plant choices for the front garden are all Australian native plants, including some locally indigenous plants too. Large basalt boulders were brought in for seating and to be the primary “hard” landscaping in the space. Protecting and honouring the very large, and old eucalyptus in the front garden was also extremely important – so it’s been underplanted with ground covers, small shrubs and grasses so as not to disturb it’s roots.
A herringbone recycled redbrick path way leads you down the northern side of the house and into the backyard where the brick paths turn to decking. The large deck takes up most of the backyard and is edge with a nice curved timber seat made by ID Landscaping Design & Construction that also doubles as a herb planter. The family use the deck for outdoor entertaining and will often bring out their table tennis table too.
Alongside the backyard deck is a lovely planting of strawflowers and salvias which attract beneficial insects and pollinators to the garden. A large 30+ year old fig tree stands in the north-western corner of the backyard and provides much needed shade in the summer months. The northern fenceline has been greened with the addition of “Happy Wanderer” vine creeping up some reo that’s been attached to the fence for vertical greenery.
This is a really pretty small garden that’s loved by both the owners and the local neighbourhood alike. It’s a welcoming garden for wildlife, insects and humans!
Perhaps the answer to your garden design questions are in this video! Let me know your favourite part in the caption 🙂
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GARDEN DESIGN
🌱 STEM Landscape Architecture & Design – https://www.stemlandscape.com/
LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION
🌱 ID Landscaping Design & Construction – https://www.idlandscaping.com.au/
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5 Comments
Chloe, this is such a beeUutiful video! I wouldn't have ordinarily thought too much of this garden on first look (as a non-gardening person myself), however you've really educated me to see all the intricate thought and detail that's gone into this beautiful space, how it has invited in and supported nature in the most magical way, right in the middle of suburbia. How clever!! Thank you for creating this. I look forward to seeing more!!
That side deck garden is divine!
I’m loving these garden tours, sticky beaking into others’ gardens is so inspiring
I love the ideas that people have. That fig tree must be so old, which gives you an idea of the age of the house. Great native garden in the inner City is nice to see.
These are great Chloe. Brunswick West represent! ❤
Hey Chloe haven't been 😢 here much lately.. busy with life things. BUT wow you were in my neck of the woods. Missed see you. Hh😮
Love the video though. Quite inspiring for us little home owners in the inner north. ❤