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Claude Monet's house and garden at Giverny. Image: Michal Osmenda, via Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence.
This month we enjoyed reading about:
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Read moreThe final in our Spring Hill month was this ramble round the back streets.
Read moreOne of the biggest challenges when designing your garden can be knowing where to start.
Do you kick off with some paths, or new garden beds? Should you concentrate on an outdoor dining area, or somewhere to grow herbs? Or do you just start planting things in the hope that something will emerge from the chaos?
Sometimes we’re so busy concentrating on what needs doing within our own backyard that we don’t even notice the really obvious starting point that’s staring us right in the face.
I’m talking about what designers call the ‘borrowed landscape’: things that look great from your place, but are actually in you neighbours’ gardens.
A classic example of a borrowed landscape is an amazing neighbourhood tree. Remember last week’s story about the Brisbane Quaker Arboretum? All the neighbours living around its perimeter are able to ‘borrow’ views, shade, shelter and more from the Arboretum, making their gardens feel somehow connected to this bigger landscape.
If you think that sounds like a good idea, here are four tips for incorporating borrowed landscapes into your garden.
1. Look Beyond Your Fence
Seems obvious now that we’re talking about it, but sometimes the best part of your garden is in someone else’s back yard!
Nope, nothing here...
...or is there?
If you can identify what’s around that makes an impact when seen from your garden, then you can make a plan that best incorporates it.
2. Don’t Crowd the Red Carpet
If you’ve identified something that can play a starring role in your garden, then let it be the star. If the most amazing tree you can see is in your neighbour’s garden, and it creates shade right where you need it, and has gorgeous flowers in spring and summer, then it’s OK for your garden to play a supporting role.
Hmmm, where did that amazing tree go?
More often than not, if you try and compete, you’ll lose the impact of the thing that was so amazing in the first place.
3. Ah, ah, ah, ah Stayin’ Alive
No point having an amazing borrowed landscape next door if you kill it, is there?
Remember that the things you do on your side of the fence can have an impact on the tree on the other side.
Depending on the species, that fabulous tree next door might have a root system that extends under your property. Be mindful of this if you’re planning work next to the boundary. Excavations for swimming pools or walls can cut into root zones and damage them.
If you’re planning something like this it can be worthwhile having an arborist provide advice on establishing a protection zone around the critical area.
4. Next Generation
Finally, if you really love your borrowed landscape, and it’s a critical part of the success of your garden, what do you do if the tree does become unhealthy and die, or a new owner decides he doesn’t love it quite so much and plans to chop it down?
This is always a risk with borrowed landscapes, but one way of future-proofing your garden is to consider succession planting. If you have the space, you could plant a young specimen of the beautiful tree on your side of the fence. Yours will be growing as the neighbouring one ages.
If the amazing tree is in a park or street verge, you could talk to your local council to see if they have considered a succession planting plan.
At the end of the day, good succession planting will be beneficial not just to you, but to local wildlife, and the rest of the neighbourhood.
Now it’s over to you.
Does ‘borrowed landscape’ play a part in your garden? Tell me one thing that contributes to your garden, but which is actually located on another property.
And in the spirit of borrowing, if you know someone who might find this story interesting, please feel free to share it.
Thanks for reading, and see you soon for more tips and stories.
In many places the city tree is becoming almost an endangered species. In city streets, trees have to compete for space with power lines, underground water, gas and telecommunications, car parks, building awnings and more. A desire for very large houses on not-so-large blocks of land also restricts the type of trees that can be grown.
We rely on trees to cool and clean the air, and provide shade, fruit and flowers. Australians love our outdoor lifestyle and unique native species, yet when it comes to trees, our actions sometimes don’t match our words.
So it was a real surprise and delight for me to visit a place right in inner-Brisbane where trees are held in high esteem.
This is the Brisbane Quaker Arboretum.
Located on a half-hectare site in Kelvin Grove the property was purchased by the Quaker community in 1972.
It had previously been owned by Storrie & Co., Joinery and Manufacturers, who had planted Hoop Pines (Araucaria cunninghamii) throughout the site.
Today 100 hoops remain, averaging in age from 80 to 90 years old.
The Hoop Pine takes its name from the textured bark, which peels away in ribbons, or 'hoops'.
When the Quakers purchased the site it had become overgrown with weeds and introduced species. The task of cleaning it up began in the early 1990s.
Over many years the non-natives have been removed and the hillside site revegetated.
The revegetation work is ongoing.
Tracks wind through, taking visitors up and down the slope, and offering numerous places to stop and sit.
The rockpool is near the bottom of the gully, surrounded by subtropical rainforest plantings.
The paths themselves are edged in stone, a material that also appears as walls and steps throughout the arboretum.
After crossing this bridge the path leads up to a play area that includes a flying fox.
This dry stacked stone seat is integrated into a retaining wall near the front of the property.
Amongst the planting are Lemon Scented Myrtles (Backhousia citriodora), a species named after Quaker James Backhouse, an English-born naturalist who travelled and worked throughout Australia between 1832 and 1838.
As I discovered, lemon scented myrtle can be used to make a bloody good cordial, a refreshment being savoured by many others enjoying their visit to the Quaker Arboretum as part of the Australian Open Gardens Scheme.
This is the third year the Arboretum has been open to the public, and a steady stream of visitors wandered the grounds, chatting to the people at the butterfly garden stand, and indulging in the holy grail of community events: homemade scones.
Learning about attracting butterflies to the garden.
Scone HQ.
Barely three kilometers from the city centre, the Brisbane Quaker Arboretum is both a calming retreat and an inspirational example of how we can slowly, diligently and persistently care for our environment.
Brisbane's luckiest neighbours look onto the Arboretum from their house and garden.
Solar panels on the carport roof. Water tanks collect rainwater from all buildings on site.
Marking the entry.
The inner-suburban street setting gives little clue to the oasis beyond.
Now it’s over to you.
What did you think of the Brisbane Quaker Arboretum? Did you know that such a place existed, or were you as surprised as I was to discover this hidden treasure? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
In the spirit of sharing, if you know someone who might find this story interesting, please feel free to pass it along.
See you soon for more garden, landscape and design stories.
The Brisbane Quaker Arboretum is at 10 Hampson Street, Kelvin Grove. It is open to the public annually for one weekend as part of the Australian Open Garden Scheme.
If this summer has left you more hot and bothered than hot and happenin’, then don’t despair.
As the season officially draws to a close it’s a good time to make some observations so you can plan ahead and be prepared for next summer.
While the sun is still high and the days are long, take a good look around the garden and bear in mind the following three questions:
Question 1: what time of day do you plan to use the garden space in question?
Seems obvious huh – the day time. But you mightn’t actually need shade throughout the whole garden from sunup to sundown.
If you’re an early riser who enjoys having your first cuppa and breakfast out in the garden, then it might be most important for you that there is shade then.
If you have young kids at home you’ll also be an early riser (!), but it might be more important that you have some consistent shade throughout the day. That way there’s always somewhere sheltered available for running around, playing with the hose and splashing paint about.
Maybe you have dogs, and you’re out at work all day. It’s also important that they have access to somewhere shady through the hottest part of the day and year.
But if you dream of having sunset drinks without burning out your retinas, then some late afternoon shade might be what is required.
Anyone for Pimms?
Question 2: what type of shade do you want?
Again, this might seem obvious, but there are many different types of shade.
Think of the huge fig trees you see around Brisbane. They create a pool of shade that is deep, dark and noticeably cooler (left below).
Other tree species have a more open canopy and form, and consequently they cast a shadow that is lighter and more fragmented (right below).
Deciduous trees, of course, seasonally change the amount and type of shadow they create. They can be a good choice if you're after summer shade and winter sunlight.
Remember that shadows also change with the seasons. In summer, the sun is higher overhead, so shadows are smaller and closer to the object casting the shadow (left below). In winter the sun is lower in the sky, resulting in shadows that stretch out a long way away from the source (right below). Your neighbour’s palm shadows for example, are close to the trunk in summer, but could be falling over your garden in winter.
Try and think about what type of shadow you’re after, and then consider the ways that could be achieved.
Question 3: how patient are you?
This might seem like a personal question, but it pays to be honest with yourself in order to get a result that fits. The two ways we can create garden shade are through live elements – trees, shrubs, climbers trained over arbors and trellises; and built elements – rooves, shelters, screens and the like.
Unless you can afford to import a mature tree, all plant material will require time to establish in your garden and grow. This is true even if you select the right species for your area and provide optimum growing conditions.
Until the plantings are doing their job, you might have to rely on some temporary shade solutions – maybe some cool umbrellas.
If the thought of waiting 5, 10, or even more years until the vines clamber over the pergola or the tree reaches full height fills you with anxiety, you might need to consider a built solution.
As well as the benefit of shade without the wait, this allows you to complement the architectural detailing of your house. You have to consider all the seasons carefully though, as there aren’t too many deciduous rooves around if you also need winter sun. And of course, structures require maintenance, just like the rest of your house and garden.
Often, a combination of built and growing shade solutions can be tailored to meet your exact conditions and requirements.
Pergola structure with newly planted climbers (left), temporary shading (centre) and fully grown (right).
Now it’s over to you.
Did this help you consider some of your garden shade options differently? Feel free to confess if you suspect you’re an ‘instant shade’ person or not, and how you might plan your attack in response.
If you think someone else might benefit from this article, please share it with them. If you liked it, then hit us with a big heart below.
Thanks for reading, and see you soon for more garden, landscape and design stories.
In the interests of providing you with the most accurate information possible, I have conducted an exhaustive survey of the city, and it seems that you can’t walk 20 metres at the moment without stumbling across some sort of frangipani.
Within an easy half-hour stroll of Landscapology HQ I encounted all the examples shown here.
Looking at the images, I think it’s pretty easy to see why the frangipani is such a crowd pleaser.
Firstly there’s the scale:
Sure they start off looking like a stick in the ground (which is pretty much what they are) but given time and half a chance, frangipanis grow into magnificent trees from 5 to 8 metres tall, making them perfect for residential gardens.
Secondly, there’s the form:
Frangipanis have the triple threat of a wonderfully sculptural trunk and branches, a perfectly rounded canopy, and elegantly pointed leaves.
Thirdly:
They’re tough critters, often thriving on neglect, and in less than ideal conditions. You often see them happily blooming away in an untended backyard, or, in the case seen below, next to a bunch of air conditioning equipment.
Fourthly:
They’re versatile. Frangipanis can be grown as a stunning single specimen tree, grouped to create the perfect picnic setting, or even planted close together to create a tall, shady grove. They create a lovely pool of shade in summer, and, if you choose a deciduous specimen, a welcome patch of winter sun.
But finally, when it all comes down to it, the flower is the frangipani’s knock-out killer punch.
From white to pale pink, yellow, orange and deepest cerise, the frangipani flower is a five-petalled, unfurling and twirling piece of pure delight.
People young and old will stop to pick up a frangipani flower from the ground like they do with no other tree: the scent of a good ‘un will put an easy smile on the grouchiest face.
Frangipanis (Plumeria) originated in Central and South America, so they generally go gangbusters in Brisbane’s subtropical conditions. To keep your tree healthy, and it set it on track for a long life, try to grow it in well-drained soil in the full sun. Established trees don’t usually need supplemental watering, but give them a drink while they’re establishing. They respond well to fertilizing during the growing season, with something high in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus – liquid seaweed or fishy solutions for example. They can be pruned, grown in pots, and easily grown from cuttings, a true garden superstar.
So…is the frangipani Brisbane’s favourite summer tree?
The votes are in, and the answer is a resounding yes!
Now it’s over to you.
Are you a frangipani fan? If so, which camp are you in? White or coloured flowers? Evergreen or deciduous? If you don’t have one at home, what’s your favourite specimen – the one you keep an eye out for every year?
I’d love to know – drop a line in the comments below.
Of course if you know anyone who’d enjoy this article, please feel free to share. There will be more from the wonderful world of landscape, architecture and design next week.
All images © Amalie Wright.