A GARDEN OF COLOUR AND POLLINATORS

Alphington Street

Location Northcote, Victoria Scope Landscape design for front and rear gardens, planting, plant procurement, establishment maintenance  Land Size 399m² Collaborators Architect - Ben Callery Photography - Marnie Hawson Category Urban Supporting

AN OPEN GARDEN WITH YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITY

A succession of flowering species supports year-round pollinator activity, with hoverflies, wasps and butterflies often spotted moving through the layers of planting. Steppers and boulders weave through ground covers to the house, and spaced vertical timber posts keep the garden open and connected to the street.

A BUSY, EDIBLE GARDEN

Integrated into the front garden, the food cubes are often overflowing with abundant produce, becoming part of daily life and connecting the family to harvesting, food and seasonality.

OPEN HABITAT GARDEN

Layers of planting draw birds, bees and insects year-round, with colour shifting from Spring purples to vibrant Summer yellows, balanced by more the more muted tones of salvias, grasses and shrubs.

SHARING THE EXPERIENCE

“ Since the garden has matured, we’ve noticed it has become a real haven for native birds and bees, which has been a delight to watch. From our front study window, where one of us regularly works from home, we often see birds moving through the garden and bees actively working the plants. The garden has also thrived through the hotter summer days, remaining healthy and vibrant despite the conditions. It continues to attract attention from passersby, with people often stopping to admire the garden and occasionally taking photos.

The colours really pop, and the beauty and character of an Australian native garden is very evident. It’s been wonderful to see how well it has established and how much life it brings to the street, particularly as we chose not to enclose our front garden with a full fence. The addition of the timber sleepers has been really effective in inviting the street to the garden yet still creating a more natural and subtle front yard enclosure. Our productive garden boxes have also been amazing. This summer we've had an abundant harvest of cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes and strawberries.”
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SECLUDED FAMILY SPACE

The rear garden is a highly functional green space, with a spa, built-in BBQ and an undercover zone for everyday use. Ornamental grape vines provide summer shade, while ferns, Orthrosanthus and Plectranthus form a robust planting layer around the lawn, resilient to Luna the dog and two energetic kids.