Keith Bush and Glenda Briggs

Wheelchair access, Dogs permitted on leads

Located: East Maitland

This garden will host the Rotary Club of East Maitland food van – Food and Drinks available

This garden features an eclectic blend of traditional cottage borders combining hardy flowering shrubs, feature plants and spring bulbs, all of which have been selected to handle the extremely heavy clay soils, limited water and competition from adjoining large trees. There is also an extensive series of raised vegetable garden beds and multiple espaliered fruit trees. Meandering paths connect distinct garden areas and there is plenty of shade.

The property dates from a crown lands grant in 1859 and the residence is circa 1926. The much newer garden is still an evolving work in progress with a focus on productivity, affordability and year-round flowers.

Inspiration for one of 3 ferneries traces back to Florence Forster who lived here for 58 years until her death in 1997. Unfortunately very little of any early gardening efforts remained by the time Keith and Glenda found the property in May 2003.

The small front lawn featured a picket fence that subsequently collapsed, an uneven line of mixed hedge plants and mini circular beds surrounded by lawn that struggled.

A rose border was planted but failed to thrive in the heavy clay soils and severe competition from large nearby Eucalypt trees. Two remain. The front garden now features spring bulbs and hardy flowering shrubs in a cottage garden style with a new hedged border.

In the late 1990’s native trees had been planted in long narrow borders along both side fences to provide shade and screening, but these rapidly outgrew their situation and needed to be removed or relocated. The rear lawn was a highly compacted car park that needed a complete renovation.

Raised irrigated vegetable beds, berry plants and fruit trees have been established at minimal cost. But there are also a swag of flowering plants and remnant bromeliads and orchids that provide colour across seasons.

The gardens extend onto the steeply sloped verge and the adjoining ‘Cooney park’ where larger feature trees have been planted to provide shade along with hardy shrubs and ground covers that provide year-round flowers for park visitors to enjoy. Maitland Council subsequently added local Eucalypts.