INFINITY and beyond
Blurring the borders between sea, sky and earth, this garden delivers intimate, meditative spaces along with a sense of affinity with the limitless.
The panoramic view of the Tasman Sea enjoyed from
the infinity pool.
Once they glimpse the giant cacti and succulents soaring skywards from the garage roof, visitors to this seaside garden in Sydney’s east know to expect the unexpected. And they are never disappointed. Matt Cantwell of Secret Gardens has delivered both the dramatic and the unconventional in spades. For him, this passion project was a dream come true. He knew the previous owners and had long yearned to work his magic on the garden, which was looking a little scrappy and unresolved. When the current owners, Matt’s clients from an earlier job, bought the property in 2014, he finally fulfilled his wish.
Perched on a steep incline soaking up views of the Tasman Sea, the property had obvious assets but also challenges. Plunging 12m from street level to the bottom boundary, the garden is often brutally buffeted by gales and salt-laden air, while the thin, sandy soil takes no prisoners. Matt’s brief for the spectacular site was something equally showstopping. “The clients wanted something architectural to complement the house design, something modern, with good structure and lots of drama in unusual combinations, and, yes, perhaps a bit confronting,” he says.
Matt levelled the garden, retaining a frangipani on the eastern (ocean side) and an olive grove in an intimate walled courtyard on the western (street side) of the house. He created a series of discrete spaces: the first with architects Milieu Creative, who masterminded the home renovation, involved building decking on the lowest level near the sea, with an array of succulents and natives spilling over the boards. Above it, Matt planted out a tiered garden. A smart solution to the steep site, terraces step down towards the ocean from the house.
Just below the infinity pool, lush lawn encircles the established frangipani. Beyond are two massive masonry planters, rows of cacti and succulents, including wheel cactus (Opuntia robusta), blue torch cactus (Pilocereus azureus multi) and red aloes (Aloe cameronii); the cacti stand in striking contrast to the concrete supporting walls behind. These areas are connected by concrete steps along the relatively sheltered north boundary, where Matt planted an eclectic mix of asparagus ferns (Asparagus densiflorus meyeri), mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) and creeping fig (Ficus pumila), the intriguing interplay of foliage creating contrasts of colour and texture.
This page, clockwise from top left A native fan palm retained from the original
garden, now underplanted with asparagus ferns, stands sentry at the top of the steps. The lower deck is flanked by an array of succulents and natives,
many in glaucous shades. The tight silver groundcover spilling over the deck is cotton lavender, with a bluebird jade plant and red aloe behind it. The green mounding shrub with small leaves nestled in with the succulents is Indian hawthorn.