DATE WITH DESTINY

What was once a forlorn vegetable patch has become the seasonal centrepiece of a heritage home on Sydney’s north shore

A date palm presides over a stunning circular garden in Sydney’s north, which sprang from the ashes of a vegie patch, bringing the owners plenty of seasonal colour

When Linda and her husband David purchased a sprawling estate in northern Sydney a decade ago, they had grand plans for its extensive grounds. “We had three young boys,” Linda explains, “and wanted them to utilise the open space.” That meant installing footy posts on the property’s main lawn and sprucing up the swimming pool to create a recreational wonderland for the young trio. Linda and David also worked with a landscape architect to replant existing garden beds and construct a large kitchen garden that formed a buffer between the main house and the street. “We planted the vegetable patch with the best of intentions,” says Linda. “But it was huge. It got very messy and out of control.” The busy family simply didn’t have time to maintain it – and there was another problem. “The first landscape architect we contracted specialised in commercial and industrial properties.We ended up with a lot of hard surfaces and very boring planting that didn’t show the seasons.”

The family turned to Sydney landscaper Julian Bombardiere from Ballast Landscape to help with replanting. Through Julian, they were introduced to landscape architect Hugh Burnett, and began making some structural changes around the grounds. By 2019, Linda and David decided the time had come to let go of the vegie patch. “The site of the kitchen garden and its relationship with the house and outbuildings made it too important to go to waste,” says Hugh. “The family were keen to improve the visual outlook from inside the bedrooms while also giving the area a better purpose.”

They also wanted to continue the good work that Ballast Landscape had begun. “While taking care of the other parts of the garden, they had added new layers of seasonal interest – perennials and flowering plants – to a very clipped, formal environment,” says Hugh. “Linda and David really enjoyed the softness of this. When it came time to redesign the front of the property, they were very keen to see even more layers and softness through the planting.”

“Linda and David wanted more layers and softness through the planting” HUGH BURNETT, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Canvas chairs from Ici Et La provide extra seating. Hand-shaped sandstone flagging from Sandstone Sales contrasts with the house’s Federation brickwork. The groundcover between the sandstone steppers is Caitlin’s giant (Ajuga) and the surrounding plants are (on left) Salvia and lamb’s ear and (on right) Persian shield (Strobilanthes), Buxus rounds and oyster plant (Acanthus mollis). Purple Mexican sage (Salvia leucantha) was chosen for its foliage texture and long flowering time.