Art of living

George and Sue Corke moved to their property on the edge of Mount Barker in Western Australia 15 years ago. They have slowly carved out about half a hectare of garden ‘rooms’ around their home, which sits on 8ha of land, with views to the Porongurup and Stirling ranges.

“There was no garden here, just some mature trees: a jacaranda, a pin oak and a Cape lilac (Melia azedarach),” George says. These form the backbone of the garden, and a paved walkway leads you under their boughs from an open dining area to a paved fire pit.

“We started with a Mediterranean-type garden that’s walled-in around the house, then developed Japanese-inspired areas, with a tea house looking out over a display of bonsai trees,” he adds. The Japanese influence is pervasive. “I was fascinated with Japanese joinery so I made some Japanese-style furniture, then I studied bonsai. I’m always looking for something challenging that takes me to the next level.”

Sue and George (pictured above left) do all the gardening themselves, helped by some smart choices. “I love plants that self-seed every year,” says Sue, who creates sewn, embroidered and woven artworks. “I can’t be bothered with things that don’t want to live here. We do a couple of hours of gardening in the morning, then have a coffee and go off to do our art. We might be retired, but now we have six Saturdays and one Sunday!”

While they each have their own workshop, they come together in the garden. “I’m the labourer and Sue does design and layout,” says George. “We have different ideas,” adds Sue. “I’m more permaculture and he’s more straight lines!”

Integral to the garden are the eclectic artworks found at every corner, whether as a feature or blending with the plants. Artistry can be seen in the wrought-iron gates at the entrance to the walled garden, and the circular moon gate leading to the Japanese garden, where the Japanese tea house has roofed walls on either side to give the impression that it’s part of a larger village. Then there’s the bright red metal goat outside Sue’s studio, The Goathouse, and the hoof prints in the concrete path leading there. Trees are festooned with Sue’s cocoon-like free-form weavings made from prunings and garden material.

The couple love the daily joys of their garden – watching the sun rise over the Porongurups or winding down in the tea house where, George happily admits, they drink more wine than tea. “We just love spending time here, and we love other people enjoying the gallery and garden.”

Header image credit: Italo Vardaro