HIGH ACHIEVER

Mount Irvine, 11 kilometres down a tree-flanked road from Mount Wilson, is a quiet and picturesque pocket of the Blue Mountains. Its rainforest, rich soils and secluded location make it the perfect retreat for landscape designer and author Michael Bates (left and below). He’s owned his property, Tallawong, for 17 years, and regularly heads to the hills to spend time pottering in his mountain garden. “Doing physical work in the garden — planting, pruning, building, making art — helps me relax,” he says. “It’s very important to me to have this kind of respite in my life.” Michael loves the Mount Wilson area and the sense of community. “People move to the mountains for the peace, but the strong, close-knit community really takes it to the next level,” he explains. “Because so many of the residents in the area are keen gardeners, there’s plenty of shared ground.” The garden is a family affair. It’s a place where Michael can test grand ideas — like creating a landform (below) inspired by Charles Jencks’s Garden of Cosmic Speculation in Scotland — and his wife, Sophia, can indulge in her love of perennials and bulbs. “She’s all about flowers!” After creating gardens for clients all week, Michael’s mountain retreat is ultimately a place of rest. “There’s nothing like the virtuous relaxation coming from a full day of gardening. There’s great satisfaction in it — knowing that you’ve made the world a better and more beautiful place.” (02) 9818 6666; bateslandscape.com.au