2020 Garden Visit - Scotsburn - Anne and Berry King

 

Our extensive rural garden at the foot of Mount Buninyong, near Ballarat in Victoria, was designed to reflect its time and place. 

We are both retired architects and farmers, and had rare good luck in finding this special property, then being able to design house and surrounding landscaping as one project to produce a cohesive whole. 

We bought the site in 2006, moved to the area from South Gippsland in 2008, and into the new rammed earth house in March 2010.

The starting point was an irregular eight hectare paddock (including four hectares of lake). We had fertile red volcanic soil, but also rocks, very strong winds and some frosts. The previous owner had done some planting, mostly of Eucalyptus globulus and Acacia melanoxylon on boundary lines, but much of this had been chewed back to sticks by the cattle. All livestock were excluded after our purchase, and most trees then recovered. The picturesque lake, created by a dam on ‘Back Creek’, is leased to the Millbrook Trout School for private ‘catch and release’ trout fishing. A further 18 hectares of paddock is leased to a neighbour for grazing. 

From the start we looked at the project as ‘landscape’ rather than ‘garden’. The general layout was conceived at the house design stage, with views from inside the house being very much part of the design, and we detailed most of the landscaping and plant selection before any work commenced. The house site is cut into a north-facing slope overlooking the water, with steep embankments in front of and behind it. 

We aimed to incorporate

- flowing curved lines reflecting the sensuous natural local land forms

- transitional hard landscaping elements to help integrate the strong rectilinear lines of the house into the natural landscape

- gravel / paving / local rocks / trees / grasses / minimal house-lawn areas

- simple bold scale with swathes of repetitive planting

- a broader landscape of trees and slashed/mown grass beyond the house

- plants chosen for their colour, form and texture – and toughness, so that they would require minimal watering / pruning / maintenance  once established

- orchard and vegetable gardens

- some deciduous trees, to emphasise the changing seasons

- sculpture

Sources of inspiration and ideas included the Royal Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne and some early discussions with sculptor/landscaper Mel Ogden.

Old cattle yards and some large old cypress and pine trees on the north side of the lake were removed in 2008, and we planted curving rows of eucalypts and acacias above the ‘meadow’ which is now mown in stripes. We had outside assistance with the major earthworks and rock placement, and with labour for concrete block garden walls, planting of advanced trees and laying of large concrete pavers and turf.  

The dry-stone walls, ponds, most mulching, gravel spreading, raised vegetable beds and general planting we have done ourselves. Experience shows that nothing with soft leaves thrives in the wind. The fruit trees are productive but must be netted if we want any fruit. Curly leaf is an ongoing problem in spite of spraying.

Four Prunus ‘Shirotae’ (white flowering cherry) and a Pistacia chinensis north of the house, and the Angophora costata in the south courtyard, were planted as advanced trees in August 2010. The cherries were placed on mounds to allow views under them from the kitchen; we now sit in their dappled shade for outdoor meals in summer, on chairs or low walls. Parrots eat most of the flower buds. Formal lawn is minimal.

Most planting around the house was done from October to November 2010, much of it as tubestock.  Some of the trees in the broader landscape, including the orchard, were planted in 08-09. 

We were extraordinarily lucky with the weather during the 2010-2011 summer. The drought broke and rain fell, giving plants every opportunity to establish.  Most are thriving, though some advanced trees with poor root development blew over, and Eucalyptus caesia did not survive. Maintenance now mostly involves dead-heading euphorbias, echiums and agapanthus, and cutting back miscanthus and pennisetum grasses. Blackberries, thistles and capeweed require regular attention. And the amount of grass mowing can be daunting in the spring.

The bird life on and around the water is prolific, and hopefully you saw some during your circumnavigation of the lake as well as the view of Mt Buninyong. We have recorded about 90 species, including the ever-present blue wrens, New Holland honeyeaters and coots. Musk ducks nest regularly and the males entertain with extravagant displays. Wedgetail eagles are regulars, and pelicans are occasional visitors. There is always great excitement when something new appears.  

We hope you enjoyed your visit.     

Anne & Berry King