CULTIVATING joy

NO STRANGER TO PLANTS AND GARDENING, SHIRLEY PHELAN HAS TRANSFORMED A BLANK SPACE TO A HAPPY PLACE IN HER ECHUCA BACKYARD.

STORY: GREGOR MACTAGGART & SHERRIL FRANCIS. PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVE HUNTLEY.

You get a glimpse of what awaits when approaching Shirley Phelan’s Echuca home.

The suburban property is impeccably maintained, with a couple of hints about her love of gardening at the front.

But it is not until you are greeted by Shirley’s friendly demeanour at the front door and walk inside on the way to the backyard that a garden even Eden would be proud of, comes into view.

Shirley is 83 years ‘young’ and her passion for gardening stretches back more than seven decades.

“I grew up in Colac as one of seven children,” she said.

“We were living with my grandma (Elizabeth Harvey) and she had a beautiful garden.

“She taught my sister Amy and I about plants, as well as where and when to plant them, and how to care for them.”

For many years Shirley and her husband Bill lived with their six children on Service St, across from what is today Echuca Regional Health. That was the scene of the Bill and Ben nursery, set up to help put the couple’s children through their schooling and university.

The nursery, which was well-known throughout the twin towns for its wide variety of plants and seedlings, operated for more than a decade.

“It was a lovely home and the nursery was just tremendous, but the time came for us to move,” Shirley said. Following Bill’s death, Shirley moved to her current home and explained what greeted her there.

“There was nothing here, it was a blank canvas,” she said.

“That was about 14 years ago.”

The blank canvas did not last as Shirley quickly set about transforming the garden of her new home.

“Most of the plants came over from Service St,” she said.

“I had some help from my sons, who set out the garden beds, lawn, fernery and automatic watering system.”

Today, Shirley’s garden features many roses, flowers, succulents, geraniums, climbing clematis, palm trees, statues, footprints and a whole lot more.

One thing there’s not any weeds.

“I spend every day in the garden weeding,” Shirley said.

“I get bored if I’m inside, especially if it is a nice day, which we have a lot here in Echuca.”

A member of the Echuca Horticultural Society, Shirley and her beloved pet dog Billy share the garden with the guests who visit her home when opened to the public.

So too, Shirley’s 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Asked what her favourite part of the garden is, Shirley paused before giving her answer.

“I love the fernery.”

Right on cue, a little bird flies into one of the indoor plants, and nestles comfortably.

Like Shirley, this is its happy place.

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