01 SEASIDE First in a series by Peter Fudge on how to transform an outdoor space.
Contents
INTRODUCTION
02
FRONT GARDEN
03
BACK GARDEN
07
GLOSSARY/ LINKS
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FURURE TITLES
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Introduction Our seaside bungalow had seen many transformations prior to us owning it and as recently as three years ago it had been a thriving company office. Fluorescent lights, bad layout, tired carpet and a seventies lean-to extension were amongst some of the characteristics these type of house possessed, and we were thankful! While many would view the soulless house and the equally derelict outdoor space as scary and untouchable -I can’t bring myself to call it a garden - we viewed it as a wonderful opportunity. An opportunity to transform the house, and the garden, to give the property the identity it deserved. Our aim was to respect the history of the house and some of its details, though add current mod cons so it reflected our taste. Internally, the modifications were simple with high impact. Rather than extend up and out we basically moved the kitchen from the south side to the north which in effect meant the kids had their own rooms and shared bathroom off a hall, whilst we had own space though separated from our kids .The new configuration meant that all the living spaces were on the north while bedrooms were on the south. Two large opening unified the lounge , kitchen and dining areas and gives the house its easy flow and our retro style ensures the mood is casual. Everything was removed from the garden, as there were no plants that held any visual value for my plan. We kept a large Mango tree deep in the back garden, whose umbrella canopy overhangs the pool. Before the pool was renovated the tree cast filtered light over a faux bush rock waterfall and bullnose brick coping. Added to this visual chaos was the fact that the pool was lined internally with pebblecrete. Our aim was to do the renovation well , though not over capitalise.
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Front Garden The front garden we inherited is small, 5 x4, with a neat though unattractive flat roofed garage takes up another 4m in width. Next to the garage , on the south boundary, a mature Crepe myrtle towers over the garage as if it was planted their intentionally. The front gardens only redeeming feature was the myrtle , as everything else went including the non descript planting that tried to hide the garage, the winding red concrete path and the concrete cut 70s front fence.
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Our aim was to respect the history of the house and some of its details, though add current mod cons
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The study/kids media room looks directly onto the ugly flat roof of the garage that abuts it. I decided to use the Crepe Myrtle as a connecting theme and planted three more in the 5x4 rectangle formed by the garage, house and front boundary. One of the Crepe Myrtles is planted in one of my ‘Trueform’ lightweight pots near the verandah entry. They are a smaller growing variety than the existing Crepe Myrtle and I keep them thinned out so they remain small though still retain their natural habit. I wanted the garden to seem as large as possible despite it being cut off by the garage that is raised above the main garden by 1.2m, so the roof of the garage was tanked , waterproofed and reinforced so that it could support a shallow garden. Under the groves of Crepe Myrtles , drifts of dwarf Westringea, Crasula Bluebird and Ovata, Kalanchoe tomentosa, Rosemary, dwarf Raphiolepis and Kalanchoe Silver Spoons form sculptural islands. Some drifts are pruned Japanese style and contrast with those that aren’t. Dichondra silver trails crawls and softens all walls. This grey green effect is planted not only on the garage roof and also in the main garden and both are unified by 20mm diameter decorative pea gravel mulch .This ensures the drifts visually pop and now the roof of the garage and the main garden are both planted in gravel garden, so despite there being a level change, the front garden now appears to be one space and map pears twice the size.. Oversized bluestone slabs stagger their way through the gravel and its drifts ,to the front verandah which is paved with a decorative concrete tile and abounds with my beloved assorted succulents in a multitude of pots , on pedestals, tables, on the flooring , on a painted crate, forming a great back drop for our teak Adirondack chair that comes with us to each new house.
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Back Garden Bluestone pool copping replaced the brick bullnose , a charcoal blue waterline tile eased and toned in the now natural looking pebblecrete , and we said goodbye to the bush rock fountain. The pool we inherited had dramatically yet simply gone from a nightmare that had evolved in the 70s, to a current , timeless and subtle body of water with a tree over it. The lawn area next to pool was made flush with it , and a wide set of four spotted gum steps leads from the pool level onto a larger level area.
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This area is retained by a concealed masonry wall which is located in such a way that the Mango tree is preserved and is 500mm from the other boundaries.A combination of lawn, and 20mm surrounding gravel broken by randomly placed Indian hawthorn spheres make up this area .In amongst the spheres and under the shade of the Mango canopy sits timber stools which surround a simple rusty metal fire pit.Perching on the stools provides a view of the lawn and pool at eye level. Both my lawns are contained by 5mm non galvanised metal edging which I use to contain gravel and lawn areas in most of my jobs. On the lower level I planted an informal screen of Podocarpus elatus , which provides a screen from neighbours and a backdrop to the spheres , gravel and lawn ,allowing them to visually pop. On the pool level Bouganvillea and Beaumontia grandiflora growth ether and strive for dominance on metal supports on both the north and south boundaries and cream leafed phalaris ,an ornamental grass planted in gravel beds either side of the pool,forms the necessary contrast this minimal garden needs. Groves of loquat trees, some in the lawn some in the beds of phalaris give the garden perspective and form a good connection with the Mango tree, which was my reason for choosing them.Their leaf colour and texture is quite similar to the Mango trees’.Their 4m high casually rounded form , which I encourage though ip pruning , also forms a connection to the Mango tree.
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The two tiered back deck at the back of the house consists of two decks , one smaller one immediately outside and flush with house internal floor level and the second one is larger and forms our entertaining space.Three gentle stairs connect the decks and beside the stairs the top deck forms a bench seat for a table that’s sits on the larger deck.150mm hardwood posts with pool glass panels between them separate the lawn/pool from the main deck and keeps the Certifier content. Where possible I try to avoid sterile looking ,four sided pool fences so they are broken up to look more organic. Its two steps from the main deck to the lawn , so a large timber landing forms the connection between these areas and is one step below the main deck and one step above the lawn.This landing has been designed larger enough so that a pool lounge for pool viewing spans across it. The top deck at the back of the house was designed as a mingling or orientation space and is only about 2m deep.Here I’ve continued ,from the front,my passion for collecting succulents in assorted pots and to give this relatively smaller space a larger scale three frangipanis are planted amongst the succulents.The pots range in from very large to small and are made of various materials , like ceramic, glazed ceramic, steel, bronze painted steel, brown terracotta,and funky hard plastic.Its also the space where the BBQ sits and works its tasty magic and a cluster of hanging ,self watering pots containing herbs hang from the ceiling. The eclectic collection of plants in pots makes the view from the house appealing and enticing while the feeling if abundance created by the succulents with their many forms and colours provides a stark ? contrast to rest of the garden which is quite green and simple. Both decks are generously shaded by and a charcoal and white striped retractable awning that makes this outdoor space become another room of the house.
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List of plants Common Name
Official Name
Climate
Fiducias spinosus
Agnascor vix adfabilis chirographi.
Dlaudabilis agricolae imputat
Optimus quinquennalis
Cathedras corrumperet
Adlaudabilis agricolae
Saburre
lucide senesceret
Pessimus saetosus zothecas
Fiducias spinosus
Agnascor vix adfabilis chirographi.
Dlaudabilis agricolae imputat
Optimus quinquennalis
Cathedras corrumperet
Adlaudabilis agricolae
Saburre
lucide senesceret
Pessimus saetosus zothecas
Links Peter Fudge Gardens PO Box 845 Woollahra NSW 1350 (+612) 9211 1336, peterfudgegardens.com.au
Future Titles Fiducias spinosus gnascor vix adfabilis chirographi. Dlaudabilis agricolae imputat mus quinquennalis hedras corrumperet. Adlaudabilis agricolae Saburre ucide chirographi. Dlaudabilis agricolae imputat Optimus quinquennalis thedras corrumperet Adlaudabilis Saburre lucide senesceret ssimus saetosus zothecas
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POTS
DECKS
Book 1 in a series lorem ipsum dollar sit amet consector elllibuim et regulator.
Book 1 in a series lorem ipsum dollar sit amet consector elllibuim et regulator.
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04 POOLS
SEEDS
Book 1 in a series lorem ipsum dollar sit amet consector elllibuim et regulator.
Book 1 in a series lorem ipsum dollar sit amet consector elllibuim et regulator.
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