WESTERNPORT
Tucked away in West Gippsland, this private residence on acreage was once the display garden for an exotic ornamental tree nursery. A collection of Crepe Myrtles, a handful of Maples, and a glorious Golden Elm welcome visitors at the end of a long driveway lined with Chinese Elm. The trees are well established now, but the understorey plantings were tired, their final moments spent vying for space in the garden beds against weeds.
The spectacular hilltop setting offers magnificent panoramic views over Bunurong and Gunaikurnai Country - from one chair you can see Mt. Worth, Mt. Baw Baw, and Mt. Dandenong. The exposed position offers good drainage but stronger and more consistent wind than we’re used to in the Big Smoke; and while annual precipitation is greater than in the city and more than enough to irrigate a garden, due to the local topography the site can get frosty.
The client splits their time between their city pad in Melbourne and this oasis far away from the hustle and bustle. This home and garden is an entertainer’s paradise with ample space for lawn games, music late into the night, and long tables of fine wine and even finer company. Understanding the client’s lifestyle and how they utilise this space decided my plant selection. Hardy groundcovers with bold summer colour were on the agenda. I wanted to delight the client and their guests with sweeping waves of yellow, orange, pink and purple - colours that mirror the vast sunsets, ready to explode when friends and family gather over the Christmas period.
