Back yards

Even since I was a child I have loved to look at gardens. Usually over the fence as I walked home from school or even from the train as I travelled on the Shorncliffe line to Brisbane.
Looking over the fences you could see the plants and so much more. Many people went to great lengths to make their gardens useful and there were vegetable gardens, flowers, bbq areas, car ports ,clothes lines , pathways and low chain wire fences. Every home seemed to have a point of difference and there were people who obviously took great pride in their garden spaces.
Naturally there were others who couldn't care less and cursory lawn mowing may be all that was done or not.
The garden is a reflection of the owner and making a home can extend into the outdoor space.
Roy Strong in his book ,'The Lasket' states,"Gardens are not created in limbo. How few books I have read on particular gardens have ever spelt out the social,political and economic climate against which they were conceived."
When I think of those suburban Brisbane gardens in the late 60's and 70's there was a definate mend and make do aspect to gardens suggesting the economic restraints. I remember one garden right near the Sandgate station that was quite flash because it had so much concrete and fancy balustrading. It all seemed to be home made and someone obviously put time and money into that garden. People didn't seem to spend money on gardens when we lived. There might be one or two people who had lovely lawns and a sense of design. Often the arrangements looked like the Yates Garden Guide cover and the fashion for gerbras and low brick fences reminds me of that time.
Most people had gardens that were grown from cuttings . Plants that were shared over the fence mean't that certain hardy plants became the common staples of everyones garden.
When you were riding home on the afternoon train during summer the sea breeze would get into full swing at about Nudgee. The wind would rush through the carriage and you would forget the heat of Brisbane and the stillness of the inner city suburbs.
The houses with their back yards up against the rail line would begin to become shady and the dry clothes flapped wildly on rotary hills hoists. The green lawns looked subdued and welcoming. Sometimes there would be children and dogs playing there. Waving hands stretched up at the train and gone in a flash.
I love that domestic garden space and I like that there are people doing diffent things in every garden. Someone might be building a boat, fixing a car, arriving home from work, someone is watering the garden, mowing the lawn, bringing in the washing. It is that the space outdoors has a use that intrigues me. It may be the home made trellis , uneven paving, obviously repaired fences and repainted letter boxes that make the space unique. It may not be a work of art or classic garden but it tells of the social and economic time.
Kyleigh

Gardening Australia ? Blow, Blow thou winter wind

We expect in Queensland to get a few cool days over winter. This year the uneasonal heavy rain all over a cool summer has extended to an almost cold winter here at Montville. I'm cuddling up with the heater on near my legs as I write this!
Our open garden on 17th 18th september has us concentrating harder on preparations in 2011 than we did in 2010. It's wet as I write this, otherwise I'd be outside.
The old house has had it's long overdue repairs and is being repainted externally after twenty years. The restoration with new cedar sash windows has really enhanced the houses appearence. Pic. Justicia rizzinii
We are gathering coral, clam and other shells for our rustic fountain to recapture a garden feature once popular in the 19th century.
The local foundary is manufacturing he steel frame for our gate house and materials are being gathered to bring back to life the partly dismantled 'plough Inn' near our Northern Boundary.
Horticulture wise the annual rose pruning has been started, and cuttings material potted up in the cuttings house shelves.
Rain this weekend has helped along our Pansys, Violas, patiolas, Primulas, Kale, Chard, Peas, Queens Anne's Lace, Baby's breath, Statice, helichrysum, sweet Williams and Allysum. We have sewn Sunflowers and have many other seed packets to sew. Hell!
Last weekend the guys from the car club; Joy and John, Norm, Graham, Ross, Bryce, Wendy and Ken helped us trim back some ragged corners and edges of Brugmansia, Photinea, Duranta, Ficus, Waterhousia, Syzygium and tons of Tradescantia (2 utes , 1 dual axle trailer). This weekend our friends Tracey and Chris came all the way up from Brisbane to help clean out our shed of demolition, windows, paint tins, tyres, batteries and other flotsum and jetsum (1 ute load).
From this point our plants can afford no more heavy pruning. from tomorrow it's light pruning, spraying and feeding and a concentration on garden structures.
Dr Michael Simpson

house and garden

Camellia 'Julia France', Montville Uniting Church (where we also garden)

Tis the season for repairing.
The poor old house has received a fair bit of long overdue repair and we took the opportunity to replace sliding windows fitted in the 1960s. Now our century old house has cedar sash windows all around and the painter has been called to freshen things up (after 20 years).
In the garden our september 17th -18th open garden preparations continue.
With the removal of some trees whole vistas and opportunities have opened up.
In a lovely clearing surrounded by Red cedar (Toona ciliata) , Barklya syringifolia, Melaleuca, Banksia integrifolia (Coastal banksia) and palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamii) we have planted red cordyllines , various Crotons, Deiffenbachia and Begonias to boost the populations of same and add to the Blue ginger lilies (Dichorisandra) and other interesting plants throughout this area.
Also to take advantage of this wet year we are planting lots of bedding annuals; Snap dragons, Patiolas, Petunias, Primulas, 'Johnnu Jump Ups', 'Sweet Williams' and Helichrysum.
Friends from the car club, the Blackall Range horseless Carriage Club and friends from Brisbane, Tracey and Chris Colley are coming to help with the last of our big scale cleanups.
All we need are the regular wet days throughout our lead up and fine weather in september.
Pray for us
Michael Simpson

Wintering Over

Kyleigh and Susan johnston worked hard for Montvilles 'Royal wedding"







Some cooler weather 10-16' C, has finally arrived in June with a cold, dark and wet Queen's Birthday weekend to keep us inside. Fortunately we were not signed up for the "Gardens on the edge" local open garden weekend at ths time.
A merry occasion with the Montville Community "Royal wedding" of a local "Prince William and Kate" was a lot of work for Kyleigh and I played in the band. It went off with a bang.
In the garden the removal of trees and intensive cutting back of hedges has been going on at the same time as some house renovation of damaged eastern wall (age and weather) and restoration of new cedar sash windows both sides of the house. Out with sliding aluminium!
Camellia japonica 'Great Eastern' has been added to 'Tabbs', 'Helenor' and 'Fimbriata'.
Camellia vernalis 'Yuletide' was given to Kyleigh for all of her work at the above event.
Tiny dormant mail order specimens of Kolwitzia, Forsythia and Deuzia gracilis have been potted in larger pots in the paved area at the front of the house where tea rose cuttings have so successfully been raised and maintained. 2 x Salvia 'Meigans Magic' has been planted out near the front gate and two varieties of mail order lace cap Hydrangea macrophylla arrived and for their own safety were planted out in the Hydrangea walk shaded by our big Camellia japonica 'Aspasia Macarthur'.
Projects now considered are some sort of rescue and renovation for the "Plough Inn", an old packing shed on our northern boundary and for the construction of a coral and clamshell fountain or font.
We'll have quite a bit that's new in September for our own open garden
Michael Simpson
Lovely

Large scale changes and Preparations

Picture: Grandbaby Leo helping in the garden

Plant Inventory Addendum april/may 2011. The warm wet weather has only just given way to cold windy days and so the following additions were made when we were still enjoying good planting weather.

Transplants Roses 'Anna de Diesbach' and 'Reine des Violettes' specimens were quite miserable and were placed in front garden for one more go. Rose 'Winchester Cahedral' has gone into a pot to attempt to save it. Rosa Banksia alba x2 into pots pending final placement east of house.

Chaenomeles (red flowering ornamental Quince) from a spot bullied by much more vigourous Kerria japonica and Philadelpus mexicanus into a better place where it can be seen with Chaenomeles 'Apple Blossom'.

Large clumps of Oncidium and soft cane Dendrobiums orphaned by tree removal attached to large trees in an 'orchid walk' west of the house.

New Plantings.

Alsobia 'Cygnet', a hybrid of A. dianthiflora and A. punctata low growing , trailing plant.

Blechnum gibbum (Silver lady Fern) into fern collection North garden

Dendrobium moschatum yellow flowering orchid, South Asia, potted for now on table

Heliconia stricta var 'Jamaican Dwarf', on trial although I fear that we are too cold for it.

Pedilanthus tithymaloides syn Euphorbia tithymalacoides (zig zag plant, devils backbone)

Euchomis comosa var. "Chocolate pineapple lily' South Africa Garden hybrid

Hibiscus mutabilis var. "Tony" single crimson. Horrible colour. To contrast with the double form.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'maiko'. An addition to walkway west of house, just commenced.

Hydrangea macrophylla variegatum. As above . More lace cap Hydrangeas are on order.

Otocanthus caeruleus (Little Blue Boy, Brazilian Snapdragon) . Another attempt to keep this.

Pandorea jasminoides variegatum Planted on trellis near back stairs where we gave up on roses.

Pandorea pandorana var. 'Golden Chimes' Transplanted to the trellis with P. jasminoides.

Kays Apricot china rose may be Mme Jules Thibaud

Camellia japonica 'Helenor' planted west of C. japonica 'Aspasia Macarthur'

Camellia japonica 'Tabb' Planted south of 'Aspasia MacArthur'

Camellia japonica 'Fimbriata' Planted in criss-cross garden.

Trees removed or heavily reduced .Anona (Custard Apple) , overshaded in an area dominated by Red cedars and other trees. Delonix regia (Poinciana) , very tall, brittle and has not flowered in 15 years. In an area already fully occupied by Brachychiton acerfolius, Bolly gum, Red cedar. Tibouchina 'Noelene' An area to be redeveloped to illustrate Michelia and very old fashion Camelias with variegated or mottled flower patterns.

The front hedge of Duranta repens and Ligustrum has been heavily reduced in height and width and a large pile ? 2 meters chippings produced for mulching. When used as mulch 'blood and bone' and 'dynamic lifter are added.

Michael Simpson

Book launch and afterward

APRIL 17 Australian Garden History Society Launch of "Australian Gardens Making History"

Picture: Tea Rose "Monsieur Tillier" , South rose garden at "The Shambles"

Kyleigh & Dr Michael Simpson's new book AUSTRALIAN GARDENS MAKING HISTORY – The Vital Role of making and Keeping Garden Inventories, ISBN 9780-080430455 was launched at an Australian Garden History Association gathering at Noosa Botanical Gardens on 17th April 2011.

This book is of 86 pages with 6 pages of illustrations. The soft cover has been designed to resemble an old fashioned mail order nursery catalogue. It includes a 2 page liftout suggesting techniques to start a garden plant catalogue. The book was written in an attempt to record evidence for the "heritage credentials" of a large number of hardy commonly grown garden plants, using 19th century Queensland and other Australian references.

The early references are used a bit like archeological stratigraphy to demonstrate the earliest availability which the authors could find for Australian gardeners.

Also this book records the inventory of plants in a modern garden as one model of how other gardeners interested in garden history may catalogue their own garden, or record a garden of historic interest. Kyleigh and Michael Simpson contend that recording historic gardens plant inventories is a vital task for members of the Australian Garden History Society according to the aims of the association. This sort of evidence gathering is required by various articles of the "Burra" charter when researching and maintaining heritage places, including gardens..

Michael, whose enthusiasm and humour always shines through, gave an interesting and thought provoking presentation on the importance of documenting Queensland gardens. Methods of obtaining information and user friendly means of keeping records were discussed and it is something which we could all consider for our own interest and the interest of others in the future. How often have we taken over gardens with wonderful, hardy plants that we can't identify? Also plants may no longer be available in the ever diminishing nurseries of today which seem to churn out only what is 'the flavour of the month'. If new owners see that a garden has been worth documenting they may be less inclined to destroy it and they may even discover that it actually is 'easy maintenance' as it has stood the test of time usually without the help of irrigation.

Other contentions were that gardeners who have written garden plant inventories need to do three more things. These vital documents for future horticultural, social and historical researchers need to be detailed, interesting and readable. Secondly, garden inventories need to be published and distributed in print, online and via website links to all who may or may not be interested. Lastly, garden inventories should to be maintained, edited, criticized and discussed especially by members of the Australian Garden History Society.

Lake Macdonald [Noosa] Botanic Gardens was the site for our Book Launch and lunch attended by 17 members and friends. We enjoyed a wander through the sub tropical gardens containing a wide variety of plants, on the shores of Lake Macdonald. The gardens are extensive with lots of paved pathways, picnic shelters and lawns which were being enjoyed by many groups. Unfortunately, the Fernery which looked interesting with a large collection of plants, could only be viewed from the outside on week-ends. Another attraction was the amphitheatre overlooking the lake which provides a spectacular venue for a variety of events. This garden is a great public asset provided and maintained by the local Council on Water-board land.

Local Heritage Rose Society and Cooran Garden Club members, Hazel and Ron Treloar, then led us on a tour of 3 gardens on a relatively new estate at Pomona. The area had originally been dairy farms with some orchards of mangoes, custard apples and lychees on the red soil sections.

A few eucalypts were all that remained on the acidic grey/black soils over clay which were bounded by remnant wet lands near the gardens we visited. Needless to say, all gardeners were having drainage problems which they were dealing with through the use of raised beds, lots of compost and appropriate planting which has been trial and error after the drought. All gardens [1.5-2 acres] rely on rainwater or bores and were owned by passionate, hands on gardeners and each provided refreshingly different approaches.

We began our tour at the home of Val, Noel and Mark Sweeney. The garden is 8 years old with lots of colour and a wide variety of plants including many of the well known cottage favourites. Visitors were envious of the growth of the plants with the Camellias and the Tibouchinas being quite large and spectacular in flower. Another plant to attract interest was the large shrub Carphalia kirondron covered in rusty red, ixora type flowers. Fruit trees and veges were also flourishing.

The next garden was more of a 'green' garden with splashes of colour being provided mainly by foliage. Owners, Chris and Lance Crowe came to this garden from Adelaide 4 years ago. At that stage the garden was six years old and the previous owners had put their stamp on it with palms and neatly clipped plants. It is hard to believe that the new owners were non gardeners who are educating themselves and now addicted. This is a garden in transition as Chris is enjoying the Queensland tropical look and gradually removing those plants that are more at home in the southern states. The relaxed tropical planting which forms a backdrop to the pool behind the house is where they have begun to experiment and it is a credit to them. It is lovely to wander along the shady paths bordered by interesting and colourful understorey plants. It is good to see people taking time to get to know a garden and making changes to suit themselves gradually. After all isn't this what the evolution of gardens is all about? Recording this evolution by recording changes in the garden plant inventory and mapping and photography is one of the emphases of Michael Simpson's book and talk.

The last garden owned by Jeanette and Kevin Rae for 9 years, borders the wet forest areas and so they have faced quite a challenge with drainage. Large, curved raised gardens sweep through the lawns with a lovely, natural transitional edge between the two which not only looks good but enables easier maintenance. The backyard has the added bonus of a 'borrowed landscape' providing a backdrop and some shade for this lovely area. Paths meander through the tropical style of planting and you are enticed in all directions. A wonderful stand of the clumping Bambusa ventricosa, 'Buddha's Belly' bamboo is a great feature. The use of the very large inground concrete tank as an outdoor sitting area with a roof being constructed over it at present, is a wonderful design idea that is not used enough.

It is good to see that gardening is still alive and well as we go through this period of great change that began with the combination of the dry weather and the busier lifestyles of today. Hopefully the importance of trees and gardens will be recognized and not lost so that they continue to provide the welcome retreats of past eras. These modern gardens, with plants maintained to a high standard, are certainly examples which require cataloguing and description of their plant inventories to assist researchers of early 21st century Queensland gardens.

For more details of "Australian Gardens Making History, the Vital Role of Making and Keeping Garden inventories" see Kyleigh and Michael Simpson's website www.montvillegarden.com or contact then at shambles@bigpond.net.au

Wendy Lees AGHS

book launch and afterwards