The Garden

THE GARDEN

In 1999 Jo purchased a 1.2 hectare paddock with a dam. Before the house was even built, she started the initial planting of what is now a species rich garden. Her landscape design was driven primarily by the need to position the house, sheds, fences, trees, and the rest of the plants on the landscape in such a way that they "worked" in relation to each other.

The house was designed to be energy efficient. It faces pure north and is built on a polystyrene enclosed concrete base designed to absorb the suns rays for warmth. The double glazing and wood burner maintain human comfort levels all year round and help heat the water. Solar panels are next on the list.

The older parts of the garden are now self managing. Nature's ecosystem has taken over and doesn't need Jo to mulch and fertilise any more; the leaf litter is doing the work for her. The plants were flowering, fruiting and seeding. With food and nest foundations at hand the insects and birds have arrived. Greenlake Estate is now visited by most native bird species. 

Jo’s pantry is also full of home made preserves and bottled fruit, and the vegetable garden and glass houses are chocker.

In the early days Jo imported truck loads of bark mulch to cover the new garden beds.  This substantially improved the soil texture and as a result the nutrients are now able to be freely released to the plants and trees in a form that they can use.  Rain water trickles through to run off down to the lake instead of forming marsh lands. 

For any keen gardener this would be a humbling experience.  So it was for Jo.  Her role as "the gardener" continues.

Today, Jo has a fabulous assembly of plants and animals.  Everything relates well to everything else - most of the time.
  

This is a great example of a new garden being established in a very challenging location.

Garden Visits

HOURS - By appointment only.

GARDEN SIZE - 1.2 hectares. Allow 1 hour with a cup of tea of coffee.

PRICE - $9 per person, $7 for groups of 10-20 (Includes a tea/coffee and a muffin).

BROCHURES AVAILABLE

PARKING - Off street for up to 8 cars or a bus. There is no parking on the Road.

FOOD - Morning, Afternoon teas and Lunch by arrangement.

SEATING - Yes

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS - only when the ground is hard

DOGS/CHILDREN - Sorry no, we share our garden with chooks, geese, Guinea Fowl and ducks and our dam is very deep.

ACCOMMODATION - Sorry no

OTHER FACILITIES/FEATURES - A lean to glass house, potting shed, Kune Kune pig, free range chickens, geese, Guinea fowl, cats,
dogs and ducks, restored racing cars to view.