SERIES 36 | Episode 36
Jane visits a hidden garden gem in a shared courtyard space of inner-city Melbourne.
The garden sits behind a group of townhouses in Carlton, offering residents a quiet retreat from the bustling streets. There are three courtyard spaces, and Neil Ray has been helping to maintain them all since he moved there eight years ago.
Each courtyard has its own atmosphere and theme and Neil works alongside the property’s professional gardener, Liam Haylock, who has worked there for three years.
One is full of colourful, sun-loving flowers that change through the seasons.
The next courtyard is a relatively new garden of native plants. The area is sunny and open but used to be very shady with two large trees – an ash and a maple – sheltering azaleas underneath. The trees were impacting the infrastructure so had to be removed.
To suit the new microclimate, a native garden was planted, with two small-growing Eucalyptus caesia ‘Silver Princess’ trees, correas, grevilleas, and westringias that Liam has pruned into balls. Children living in the development helped plant the groundcovers, which include common everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum).
There are raised beds, built by one of the residents, that are now planted out with lots of different herbs.
A major challenge in this area was a large pile of clay and builders’ rubble left over from a sewer repair. Liam added lots of mulch and organic matter plus fertiliser and now the soil is easy to dig and full of worms.
The compost used in the gardens is all home made from residents’ kitchen scraps, collected in communal bins. Neil turns this over every day.
In the final courtyard there is a small woodland of elm trees, making it perfect for shade-loving plants such as camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, and some newly planted dwarf abutilon. The garden has been described as natural air conditioning by some residents, and views from the homes are a lovely mix of colour and shade.
Liam says the key ingredient for these gardens’ success is the soil. Neil says the garden has helped built a harmonious community as well as friendships.
Featured Plants GUNGURRUEucalyptus caesia ‘Silver Princess’NATIVE FUCHSIACorrea cv. Grevillea cv.COASTAL ROSEMARYWestringia fruticosa cv.ELMUlmus cv.CAMELLIACamellia japonica cv.RHODODENDRONRhododendron cv.CHINESE LANTERNAbutilon cv.* Check before planting: this may be an environmental weed in your area
Filmed on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country | Carlton, Vic
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