Mel worked collaboratively with Simon Rickard on this 20Ha rural property after he introduced her for design direction, while Simon oversaw the plant selection, soil preparation and physical planting.
A long driveway (Acer truncatum x platanoides ‘Pacific Sunset’) leads through paddocks, past a massive spring fed dam and on to the elegant, vertical hardwood house and barn.
Two of the many boulders found on the property sit in greeting in front of a rectangular driving circle. Behind the boulders is a rectangular high hedge (all Ligustrum vulgare) screening a central planting of three trees (Malus Yunanensis). Along side the drive from barn to house, is a raised perennial garden bed and 5 trees (Malus spectabilis), fronted by a hedge that leads to the entry steps of the house and deck.
The view from the house is channeled along the deck by tall hedges highlighting the scattered boulders in the paddock that are then repeated beside the distant dam.
Raised vegetable garden beds designed by Simon sit on the upper ground between the house and barn.
