Dreamscapes

Landscape dreams

My dream landscape for the new house has these characteristics: low maintenance, predominantly native, blends with the Sydney bush, low maintenance, no lawn, low maintenance, drought resistant. Did I mention that it needs to be low maintenance?

Dream landscape: no mowing [source]

However, living as I currently do with the big blue gums and stringybarks of South Turramurra, I know that cleaning up leaves and branches is going to be a given for a house near bushland. So the ‘low maintenance’ goal is only going to be achievable up to a point. But I’m keen to avoid the lawn thing: no mowing, please.

Drought resistance and low water needs are also an obvious wish-list item, if the goal is a sustainable house.

So what’s the vision? What’s the dream landscape?

Despite what I said about the Sydney bush, I’m drawn to the architectural lines of desert plants like yucca, with its sword-like leaves. There are many varieties of yucca, a plant native to the hot and dry regions of North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Fun fact: yucca is known in the Midwest United States as ‘the ghosts in the graveyard’ because as it’s commonly found growing in rural graveyards, its blooms appearing like floating apparitions.

Desert dreaming [source]

In fact, the landscaping of mid-century houses in the dry climate of, say, Los Angles of Palm Springs is a vibe I like: gravel, rocks, the solid shapes of cactus and yucca, the low-water demands. Could be some ideas there.

Wow! This would be perfect if I had a stream and a bridge. [source]

Keeping it native: local plant options

I have a steep learning curve ahead on the subject of plant varieties. There are plenty of local plant options, as these gorgeous designs from Fig Landscapes of Byron Bay show:

Rocks, gravel, grasses [source]

Paths and courtyards?

I’m keen on flagstones. And gravel. Love gravel.

Nice flagstones (river optional) [source]

There’ll be internal courtyards to consider too: so many gorgeous possibilities. My Pinterest board is overflowing.

Internal courtyard dreams too [source]

The trees: how many are my responsibility?

I visited the block recently to check out how many big trees I might have on my hands. Trees need looking after. They can be as demanding as pets. There’s a stand of three or four healthy looking specimens at the front boundary, which will have to stay—even if the driveway needs to have a slight curve in it’s design.

At the back of the block there are two very large trees—I think they are stringy barks (also known as messmates). They seem in good condition, and are fine to look at. There are two or three other skinny trees dotted about. The rest of the back area is made up of an unattractive tangle of scrub and a few dead stumps. I see a landscaping clear-out first on the to-do list.

My Normanhurst trees *responsibility*

How could the backyard be landscaped, if there’s no lawn?

The back area—which will be at least 20 metres deep, because of the bushfire exclusion zone—can be filled in with native grasses, gravel paths, a seat or two. Something made of sandstone, perhaps, though we probably should avoid a fire pit.

Backyard: sandstone, gravel, grasses and trees [source]

The house will have a rear deck looking over this back garden, and views into the protected bushland beyond the boundary fence. Perhaps a garden sculpture made of rusty iron?

Sculpture, perhaps? This one is in an English garden [source]

How about a stunning centrepiece for the front garden?

Margaret River Trees is a company that supplies beautiful mature Australian grass trees (Xanthorrhoea Preissii), harvested under licence from areas that are being cleared for urban development. ‘Your purchase saves these ancient trees from the bulldozer for you and future generations to enjoy.’ Not only do these trees look fabulous, they are pitched as ‘virtually maintenance-free’. (If the company installs the tree, they guarantee it will live.) They’ll even help you go out into the Western Australian bush and harvest your own, though that’s not on my wish list.

Margaret River Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea Preissii) [source]

However—there’s always something, isn’t there?—these trees come from Western Australia, which is practically Mars as far as Normanhurst is concerned. Luckily there are grass tree suppliers on the east coast, such as Bruinsma at Yamba. The trees sold on the east coast are Xanthorrhoea johnsonii

Xanthorrhoea johnsonii on its way [source]

I learn that this species is widespread in NSW and QLD, generally a single trunked tree with diamond shaped green leaves approximately half metre in length. Xanthorrhoea johnsonii takes about 8 years to form a trunk and then has an average trunk growth of 1 centimetre per year. (!!) [source]

It’s also possible to buy grass trees which have been grown from seed, though I suspect these are not the impressive big guys. ‘The Xanthorrhoea Glauca hybrid has been grown from seed. This not only is a benefit for conservation of native grass trees but also a benefit to the purchaser. Pot grown grass trees do not have the transplant issues (if any) associated with reclaimed trees.’ [source]

So many ideas. Back to Pinterest.