T
he first thing that strikes you on entering Lee Sullivan’s garden is the series of trellises and arches that form lush, green cascades above raised beds. Here, in the suburb of Blacksmiths, south of Newcastle on the New South Wales coast, Lee has made the most of her 650m2 corner block by making these vertical planes a feature. “They’re a big thing for me, because they can double your growing space – especially in a small garden,” she says. “I also think they add a nice dynamic.” Lee started out gardening in her previous home – a townhouse with a small concrete backyard. “I’d always toyed with the idea of growing my own food, but didn’t think it would be possible with our limited space,” she says. “But after my first son was born, knowing about the food he ate and where it came from became a priority for me. I realised the only way to know was to grow my own, so we started out by putting in a raised bed.”
meet the grower
LEE SULLIVAN For this avid home gardener, the only way is up, writes SALLY FELDMAN
62 J A N U A R Y 2 02 2
G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
Starting a food garden was a life changer in other ways, too. “At that time, I was feeling a little lost – only discovering later that I’d had mild postpartum depression,” Lee explains. “As I was gardening, I realised ‘Wow – I feel great’. My garden gave me back a sense of self when I felt a little overwhelmed by my role as a new mum. It became a place of calm and quiet for me, a place I could go to refocus and recharge. It wasn’t something I was seeking out, but I started making that connection. I have a psychology degree, so I should have worked it out sooner! And, while it wasn’t the reason I’d started, growing our food played a huge role CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Lee and her Japanese heirloom Manpukuji carrots, which were so big they had to be dug out of the ground; this partly shaded garden is the perfect place to grow winter greens; Lee’s favourite way to eat Chioggia beetroot is roasted with olive oil, salt and thyme.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LEE SULLIVAN
lost & found
