Wild at heart

Named ‘Tugurium’, the garden feels wonderfully wild. Snaking gravelled paths allow easy exploration around the thoughtfully designed 0.5ha property. The paths wind past the picture-book cedar cottage and around two ornamental ponds, a vegie patch, a quirky shed, a perennial border and a small lawn with fruit trees.

“Most paths are circuits, as I dislike dead ends in a garden,” says Stephen (pictured above), a horticulturist and previous host of Gardening Australia on ABC TV.

It’s hard to picture the original block that Stephen bought in 1985. It had no topsoil, plenty of weeds and a handful of scruffy blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) and messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua) trees.

He knew he wanted a “wild woodland garden” featuring plants from all over the world. However, to sustain the types of beauties that he wanted to grow, the existing hard clay first needed drastic improvement. Using a crowbar, Stephen dug a series of 40cm-deep trenches across the entire block, filling them with kitchen scraps, lawn clippings, deciduous leaves, manure and spent potting mix.

Next, he mapped out the paths, which provided the position and shape of the large beds. Eventually, the experimenting began. “I used to be fanatical about azaleas and rhododendrons, but my taste changed – maybe, in part, from all our travelling – and now I prefer an exotic, tropical look.”

Climate change, the Millennium Drought, plant maturation and Craig’s invaluable input all played a role in the garden’s evolution. Nowadays, various species of palm, bamboo, Sambucus, Acanthus, Berberis and other strong foliage plants are thriving, as are cyclamens, hellebores, a diversity of dainty bulbs, and a plethora of other gorgeous woodland plants.

To develop such an intriguing garden takes expertise, judgement and some risk-taking audacity. “I love the concept of zone denial,” laughs Stephen. “I want my garden to flourish, but I’m prepared to push the boundaries with what I can grow. I don’t want to grow the obvious and predictable, so I often have failures, but they provide gaps for something new.”

Although the avid collector perfectly understands the design ‘rules’ of mass and void, he sees the latter as a waste of space. “My single rule in the garden is to grow only one variegated plant within an area or the space becomes too busy,” he says. “I also believe that we should all remember to enjoy our gardens. In the mornings, I’ll wander around with a cup of coffee, and in the evenings with a glass of wine. I might pull the occasional weed, but I try not to engage in a job. I use all our seats and simply sit and contemplate!”