When Linda arrived at Kerrie's villa, she was a little perturbed to see that there wasn't much to do but marvel at its splendour! From the blue-themed garden, complete with blue wrens darting from bough to branch to colour-themed cushions, the home was a sanctuary, despite the fact Kerrie had moved in only two and half years earlier. Linda quickly decided she'd better sit down over a coffee and chat to Kerrie about how she achieved just so much in so little time.
When Kerrie, a member of the Garden Clinic since 2005, downsized from a very large garden to a small villa in 2003, she knew she was in for a change. The villa was brand new, located behind a highway wall, and the garden was basic – it consisted of a lillypilly hedge and a single murraya. As an avid listener to the Garden Clinic, Kerrie realised she needed to address the heavy clay soil first, so she started a small compost heap to recycle kitchen scraps, lawn clippings, lucerne hay and leaves. Gradually the clay broke down and the time to get creative arrived.
Creating a new garden Kerrie gathered advice from all corners. Sue from Greenshade's Nursery at Galston, in northern suburbs of Sydney, suggested she create pictures from certain angles. The view from the back door was deemed important so Kerrie stood there to design the garden from this perspective. From the radio show, she picked up the idea of using plants that flower throughout the year. And on top of these ideas, Kerrie added another: she wanted an inside/outside room that could be used for entertaining, dining and relaxing with friends. She had a large pitched-roof pergola built over an already-existing paved area. Light filters through the smoky Perspex panels in the pergola roof so Kerrie was able to move in large potted figs and peace lilies from her other house.
Kerrie's husband, John, had the brilliant idea of adding a chandelier to the 'room' – the crystals hang and sparkle beautifully. As a result of Kerrie's makeover, the pergola became the central focus of the garden – and when the garden's hedges grew into green walls, Kerrie had pretty blue arbour constructed. Next, the lawn was laid and seasonal flowers, attuned to a blue-white-green colour theme, were planted. Kerrie planted white flowers including Eucharist lily, impatiens, alyssum, and petunias to "make the green stand out better" while summer brings the sights and smells of gardenia and pale pink and iceberg roses with large splashes of blue from salvia, agapanthus and hydrangea. In autumn, the tibouchina buds swell and a purple haze follows. Spring brings pansies, violet carpets of lobelia, violets and more roses.
Just a few tweaks Kerrie says that Linda gave her great ideas about colour and how to maximise the impact of certain colours each season. This included more summer splashes of agapanthus, purple pansies for spring zing and the never fail blue salvia. This made her plan more carefully to follow her colour scheme - white, grey with a touch of blue. Linda's final touch was to suggest Kerrie paint the green plastic troughs blue to match!
Kerrie's secrets of success Try these makeover tips on your garden:
Tabletops display statues and interesting pots at eye level.
A crystal chandelier centres a room and adds a pretty, sparkling focus.
A dove house attracts speckled grey doves to a garden.
Seats help you enjoy your garden from every angle.
Small outdoor speakers will allow music to drift through your garden
Aim to have your garden perfumed throughout the year.
Garden views from as many windows as possible evoke a feeling of escape to the outside world.
Find some lovely neighbours who will look after the garden while you're away – Kerrie says, "Thanks Colin!
Plant list: Gardenia 'Florida' Blue Salvia Agapanthus Hydrangea Tibouchina Pansy Pink Climbing Rose 'Pierre de Ronsard' Eucharist lily Impatiens Petunia, blue and white
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