Australian Natural Landscaping and Driveways

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL LANDSCAPING and DRIVEWAYS

Our Colorado Tuscan toppings are mixed with a special stabiliser that makes it 75/80% stronger than all other countless toppings available.

Rather than sleeper walls, alternatively our outstanding Rockeries look fantastic, and last forever with no maintenance.

(see page 17) If

Dear friends, this brochure shows the work we have done in transforming the landscaping and driveways of some of our clients. FOR

www.australiannaturallandscapingdriveways.com.au

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL LANDSCAPING and DRIVEWAYS

If it’s It’sNatural! good!

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL LANDSCAPING and DRIVEWAYS

An introduction on how to achieve the best garden and driveway; some handy hints on what we strive to do.

If you’re placing rocks they should be at a good size. Here is a little formula that we have: 1 rock in a garden is lonely, 2 rocks they may fight, the 3rd rock keeps the peace and 7 they have a party.

In other words, nature is unpredictable and it’s beautiful.

Rocks should be one third buried to create the sense of being there for a long time and this adds to their stability.

With shrubs and trees, start off with a high tree and work your way down right down to the lowest plants such as creepers, etc, which creates its own family environment.

Garden beds should have definite curves, create softness about them around the house. Driveways should be done naturally with compacted rock and curved edges bringing your garden to your driveway (there is many varieties of rock to choose from).

Steps can be a very prominent feature in your garden if you combine them with natural sleepers or rocks and plants. Try not to have them running straight, breakup the angles where possible and make them part of your garden.

Some of the people I would like to thank for influencing me: Ellis Stone who is the father of natural landscaping and driveways, Kevin Hall VFL Premiership Player, Leonard Long famous artist, Bruce Dench Channel 9 and Channel 10.

Thanks to our numerous clients who have now become our friends.

“The space between the notes makes the music”

All of the above ideas are in the following brochure for you to enjoy.

Driveways

BADGER CREEK

Thank goodness for the gum tree at the back in this Before and After, otherwise no one believes it is the same property... but it is!

TESTIMONIAL FOR THE COCKATOO - WALKABOUT CREEK

23 hours later, this was complete from clients who have become good friends. DJ, Gary, Alexandra and hundreds of other clients and friends.

My partner Gary and I met Nick by chance when we were looking for land. We came across a beautiful piece of paradise that consisted of a rockery retaining wall and rock staircase that led up to an amazing country view. We. Fell. In. Love. This is not like us as we are about financial investment and pride ourselves on not falling for an emotional one.

This led me to call Nick , whose sign - “Country Express Homes” was proudly displayed on the frontage. To my surprise he also relocates used homes. Sustainability and up-cycling are passions of mine along with the added advantage of cost savings. This seemed too good to be true!

The icing on the cake was that after chatting with Nick, it was decided he would come and have a look at our property and see what he could do with it. I can honestly say that Nick is a true artist! Our yard is now a beautiful, serene bush landscape that we cannot stop gazing at....our neighbours and passers by slow almost to a stop in their cars to admire it and our real estate agent (we’re selling) literally drove past our house, not recognising it! He had a beaming smile that literally conveyed a price increase and he commented on how relaxed he felt in our yard, taking pictures for his colleagues as he shook his head in amazement.

When we sell our home we will be purchasing a home off Nick and asking him to create a new piece of paradise just for us. We can’t wait! The whole process was extremely easy as Nick and his team are not only capable but very experienced, friendly and efficient. It was a pleasure to watch such a passionate artist at work! . Two very happy home owners - DJ and Gary :)

January 2021

Every aspect of your home should express your personality, and your driveway is no exception to the rule. But what does your driveway say about you?

Australian Natural Landscaping and Driveways was founded in 1980 by director Nick Florio, and his company has become a leader in driveway design.

The company’s revolutionary new product is made from stabilised Lilydale toppings, is exceptionally durable, value for money, extremely versatile and creates a natural stone look for your driveway.

It’s a fabulous alternative to concrete or asphalt as driveways are not always flat, the revolutionary mixture copes extremely well with slopes and

is formulated to suit your specific driveway and garden design requirements.

Even driveway maintenance is a breeze - only a blower is requires to move leaves so no other maintenance is required.

To incorporate the natural look of your garden and new driveway,

Australian Natural Landscaping and Driveways also offers a landscape design service.

Contact Nick Florio on 0414 783 218.

BEFORE BLUE GUM DRIVE

We rendered the house Grey, and put a garden window at the front, then combined its natural beauty of the river at the back and its trees, with a Tuscany toppings driveway. Including a herb garden across the front of the house, and removed the front fence in front of the pictured ute, re-did the fence, which opened it up visually to the end of the block, providing depth.

Before

This is what you see once we removed the gate and landscaped the front yard. Some renovation to the house to compliment the garden, to make two become one.

My opinion is: The house should be the main feature, and the garden should compliment the house and become one.

After

Herb Garden facing the house marries into the landscaped driveway.

- Blue Gum Property

Underplanting - from high to low - fully usable - no maintenance. Walking through your garden with a cup of tea.

Blue Gum Property

Blue Gum Property

Blue Gum Property

About the Donvale Project

I met Denise and Paul to discuss their driveway, but when I approached their property, I noticed the maze of bushes and non-appealing shrubs surrounding the area.

So I suggested to them that we remove all of the bushes that were cramping the driveway before the work commenced, which had amounted to three truckloads of green waste.

The features of the design:

• To highlight to the beautiful trees already there

• Showcase the lovely view.

• Provide a small lawn

Comments from Paul and Denise

After 13 years our driveway was looking tired and needed a face lift.

We did not want concrete or asphalt as we wanted to keep the “bush block” feel, although living on the edge of suburbia.

We went onto Google to search for practitioners of natural landscaping and driveways in the eastern suburbs.

Result: Australian Natural Landscaping and Driveways!

We looked through the on-line catalogue and were impressed with what we saw. Read the reviews and were impressed with what we read.

Next step: made contact with Nick Florio to organise a visit and quote.

• Complimented the area with some natural rocks, which were all hand-picked.

• New shrubs and natives

• Natural gums to help consolidate the driveway and provide the edges with some long-lasting strength.

The main point of the design as you drive in, is to provide the impression that you are driving through your garden.

I enjoyed doing this project for Denise and Paul, and they have great coffee! I make a point to drop by on occasion just so I can see the garden and enjoy a cuppa.

Out came Nick, clipboard in hand and he surveyed our property. We had inherited a native rain forest, overgrown and ugly, in the middle of our circular driveway. We asked him what he thought.

“Get rid of it! I have a vision. Trust me,” he said.

And so we did, and so it began. Excavation, rock selection, preparation, plant selection - and the result is amazing.

In 3 weeks Nick transformed our tired, ugly duckling driveway and front garden into a beautiful open bush setting, highlighting our two magnificent gums.

We are extremely happy with the result and have acquired a new friend who pops in every now and then for a coffee …… and to check on his vision.

MOOROOLBARK

WHAT will WE DO WITHOUT ROCKS?

MOOROOLBARK STAGE 2

BADGER CREEK (HEALESVILLE) BLUE GUM BEFORE and AFTER

We at AUSTRALIAN NATURAL LANDSCAPES and DRIVEWAYS, take this attitude to get the best results for your property:

If you want to pick the best fruit you have to go out on a limb.

If it’s nature It’s good!

All of our friends that we do landscaping and driveways for, we notice they have a smile as their project takes shape. ‘And that’s a good thing, because, if you don’t use your smile, it’s like having lots of money in the bank with no credit card to use it.’

WOODGATE CONNECTION

Thanks Annette for the privilege for doing your stunning landscaping and driveway (2021).

We thank Nick for his work.

We had been thinking of enhancing our driveway for many years and due to its vastness and our lack of imagination we delayed. Nick encompassed all our ideas immediately and came up with the design that suited us and our farm. The result is natural and timeless. We are very happy with the result.

Annette Woodgate

Landscaping and Gardens

BADGER CREEK

Life on the Ranch

On a country property near Reefton, Victoria, we built this ranch all out of natural timber, including log stepping stones, old farm equipment, and even built a chimney out of river rock to create a natural retreat. This was one of my favourite projects, every time we went to work there, we felt like we were stepping back in time.

I liked it so much, I bought the property!

Riverbeds

We take pride in designing and laying down these beautiful riverbeds. Although they are fully planted, these attractive features allow for future planting. You can introduce other flowers and shrub favourites to develop the look you want over time.

BEECHWORTH BAKERY HEALESVILLE

After relocation from Chirnside Park - Healesville, Badger Creek (2021)

Dench THE GROUP

20th February 2006

Mr Nick Florio

Australian Natural Landscaping and Driveways

24 Main Street

Lilydale 3140

Dear Nick,

I write to thank you and to congratulate you on the absolutely amazing transformation of my front garden, from a barren, uninteresting space to the wonderland I asked you to make it.

In 1970, Ellis Stones designed the garden for our then new home, and made it a place of natural beauty; with rocks, sleepers, Lilydale toppings and sensitive planting.

Whilst the internal courtyard gardens have survived virtually intact, I have for some years tried to find someone sympathetic to, and knowledgeable of, the way Eilis Stones saw the landscape, so that my front garden might be restored to something like its original beauty.

How glad I am that I found you, Nick! How interesting that, whilst my initial contact was only to enquire about your stabilising process for Lilydale toppings for my problem driveway, it led on to the discovery that you not only design and build gardens, but also have studied and used Ellis Stones’ methods and philosophy for years.

So I now have, not only a driveway of stable Lilydale toppings, but also, a brilliantly, restored front garden which actually surpasses the design, beauty, and interest of the original. The transformation is stunning, and it has become a place of peace and respite for me. I believe Ellis Stones would have been delighted and impressed - as l am, constantly!

Thank you again, Nick.

Yours sincerely

BRUCE DENCH Managing Director

After recent heavy rains ravaged our driveway (yet again), depositing most of it at the bottom of our court, we needed to find a driveway specialist who could cope with the length of our sloping block.

A search of our local community directory and of the internet, led us to Nick Florio and his Australian Landscaping and Driveways company. We believed that the natural landscapes and “Colorado” toppings driveway surface would complement our style of garden and the need to blend in with the environment and to stabilize our constantly rutted surface.

Right from the very first meeting with Nick it was clear that he understood what we required. He enthusiastically and creatively outlined the possibilities and suggested ways to further enhance our native garden.

Plans were drawn up so that we could share the vision. Nick’s passion for natural gardens, with fantastic rock and sleeper features were included to enhance our already established garden.

Nick and his team effectively and efficiently put the plan into action. The transformation began right from the first day and continued at a fast pace. Through all of this process, Nick kept us completely up to date and included us in all of his evolving vision. The final result is absolutely stunning. We have always loved our garden, which we created from scratch, however, we now have a garden and driveway, which have been fully landscaped and have become as one. We have every confidence we will be able to enjoy our new garden for many, many years to come.

Nick followed through on every detail of the project and his team worked very well together to achieve a wonderful outcome. Nick is a perfectionist and each and every rock, sleeper, plant, etc. was placed with attention to detail and with great care. We want to thank Nick and his Australian Landscaping and Driveway team for everything. Their creativity, effort and loving care have given us a new garden and driveway of which we are immensely proud. We just can’t stop looking at it.

Yours in appreciation

Bill and Barbara Woods

Healesville, Victoria

March. 2011

Garden Design for Bushfire Zones

Nick makes extensive use of Colorado toppings - a combination of Lilydale toppings with natural colourful rock textures. It’s a significant improvement on regular aggregates. It’s durable, more attractive and serviceable than driveways made out of asphalt or concrete, and is able to withstand any traffic. It can provide an important non-combustible barrier to fire around your home. Colorado toppings compliment your garden, driveway and home with a soft, natural appeal.

We hope to hear from you,

www.australiannaturallandscapingdriveways.com.au

For quotes

Nick Florio: 0414 783 218

Email: nick@anld.com.au

Website: anld.com.au