Our Australian Gardens

Our Australian Gardens Finding beauty in natural and man made landscapes. TO FOLLOW OUR POPULAR BLOG - JUST ADD YOUR EMAIL ON THE SUBSCRIBE LINK :-)

Our Australian Gardens aims to inspire through musings, trends and beautiful photos of Australia's best gardens and natural landscapes.

Shorter days, cooler nights. The days are still hot but not blistering. It’s a lovely time of the year in Spurfield gard...
26/03/2026

Shorter days, cooler nights. The days are still hot but not blistering. It’s a lovely time of the year in Spurfield garden.

I’ve always loved visiting Lumeah, the delightful Brisbane home and garden of . The changes I’ve witnessed over twenty...
22/03/2026

I’ve always loved visiting Lumeah, the delightful Brisbane home and garden of . The changes I’ve witnessed over twenty years have just made this .4 hectare, city garden ever more appealing. Leona’s lived here over six decades – first as a child, then later she returned as a young mother of five with her husband Kon. Now the sprightly grandmother connects with the magic spaces she’s transformed with access in mind.
Lumeah, the mid-century home, designed for her parents by Vitaly Gzell, and refreshed a few years ago by Architect James Russell, is enhanced by a garden offering a most appealing element: a garden walk. Mass plantings, shady pockets, sunny patches, unusual textured plants and potted colour are all accessed along a safe, meandering pathway. Input from landscape architect Sidonie Carpenter, a can-do approach from her trusty gardeners, and Leona’s own aesthetic has resulted in one of the city’s most beautiful private gardens.

This morning’s gathering taken from the deck. I grew up with Ibis visiting our farm at Swan Vale in New England so was a...
12/03/2026

This morning’s gathering taken from the deck. I grew up with Ibis visiting our farm at Swan Vale in New England so was always fascinated by their somewhat elegant, somewhat ungainly appearance. In our cities, where they’re known as ‘bin chickens’ there’s less admiration. Here both the Straw-necked ibis and the Australian white ibis are an important part of the ecosystem. Their best attribute? They eat grasshoppers! 💚

Tomorrow the Bryant family are coming to Spurfield to spread ashes of Gary, their husband, father, grandfather, great gr...
06/03/2026

Tomorrow the Bryant family are coming to Spurfield to spread ashes of Gary, their husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother beneath this poinciana tree. Gary, whose grandparents built the house we call home lived at Spurfield all his life before he and his wife Mary sold the property to us five years ago. Spurfield is completely transformed since the Bryants lived here - what was a paddock is now a garden but the spirit of place never changes and the Bryants love returning to what they affectionately call ‘the farm’. We purchased the tree in a 110L pot but it looks quite tiny - it’s all about perspective. One day it’ll grow into a beautiful tree that we and the Bryants will associate with much-loved Gary, and kids will be able to climb. 💚

The moon’s a balloon- until later this evening when it’s eclipsed. Gosh I love the magic of a full moon. 🌕
03/03/2026

The moon’s a balloon- until later this evening when it’s eclipsed. Gosh I love the magic of a full moon. 🌕

Recent moments in our garden. Grateful for the rain. 💚
02/03/2026

Recent moments in our garden. Grateful for the rain. 💚

Cloverdale, an old Booyong property once home to the Kirkland family, has been lovingly tended by and over the last tw...
22/02/2026

Cloverdale, an old Booyong property once home to the Kirkland family, has been lovingly tended by and over the last twenty five years. But it’s only been in the last five years since the couple has lived in the Northern Rivers permanently that Anth has focused on developing his dream garden. He’s pushed the boundaries of what a warm temperate - sub tropical garden can grow - with great success. There are myriad perennials, roses and grasses. It’s been a joy to watch the garden maturing and a joy to see it flourishing.

The garden says thanks for the 67mm received over the last few days. Curiously there are still cracks in the ground and ...
15/02/2026

The garden says thanks for the 67mm received over the last few days. Curiously there are still cracks in the ground and moisture has only reached the first few centimetres of soil. Nothing to complain about though - it’s a green oasis compared to many parts of the country.

When plants provide the structure… It was fascinating to see so many architectural foliage and xeriscape plants on a rec...
09/02/2026

When plants provide the structure… It was fascinating to see so many architectural foliage and xeriscape plants on a recent visit to with Claudia who uses them so perfectly in her own garden and the landscapes she designs. Owners Jason and Pieta have refined the breeding and production of these remarkable plants over decades. Thanks so much for showing us around!🌵

02/02/2026

Galahs are so clever. They can do gymnastics, take a shower - and squeal with delight all at once.

Some recent moments in our garden at Spurfield. The new front entrance is finally settling in. Bluestone pavers, intersp...
28/01/2026

Some recent moments in our garden at Spurfield. The new front entrance is finally settling in. Bluestone pavers, interspersed with fine gravel are bordered by balls of Tabernaemontana corymbosa ‘Little Emerald’, underplanted with mini mondo grass. I’ll eventually trim the tabernaemontana insto a serpentine hedge. The new carport and lawn area, designed by our son Locky .company, has proved to be the perfect party pad. (On Monday’s Australian public holiday it easily accommodated forty five plus.) We also have a new gravel terrace installed by Michael, and me - his offsider! It’s between the house and shade house and replaces the daggy old clothes line and pieces of cracked concrete. Claudia was helpful with the shape of the wall ~ I look forward to showing her, when she next visits, just how much extra space we now have there too. It’s lovely in the early morning or late afternoon looking over the valley. The picking garden has been fabulous although we have had a virus in some of the dahlias. I’m wondering if it came in the mushroom compost. Hoping it’ll settle down with the addition of home made compost and rock minerals. Suggestions welcome. The back hill is beginning to fill out; the Beschorneria yuccoides from Cheryl are definitely the signature plants there. I’m gradually replacing spheres of Casuarina ‘Green Wave’ with Eleagnus which I’m hopeful will be more reliable as spheres. Like all gardeners - I trial, and make errors! It’s so wonderful to share ideas with friends and especially magic when the garden begins to reward us.

06/01/2026

I’d love you to join me on tour:

Morocco to Portugal:
Gardens, Palaces & Heritage Tour
28 April – 13 May 2026

Gardens, Art and Heritage
The Chelsea Flower Show, Cornwall
and The Cotswolds
Tuesday 19 May – Wednesday 3 June 2026

Japanese Art, Gardens
& Culture Tour
20 November – 5 December, 2026

www.opulentjourneys.com.au

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Eltham, NSW

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