Modern Country Garden in the Huon Valley
When the owners of this magnificent property in the Huon Valley contacted us, they had a newly built modern home perched on top of a hill with broad views of the surrounding valley.
The brief given to Ovata Gardens was to create a modern country style garden with as little maintenance as possible.
The site itself had its own unique challenges that needed to be addressed when it came to the overall design of the space. Shallow, low quality topsoil, rocky ground and extreme exposure were just a few of the considerations.
Apart from the magnificent views there was no other borrowed landscape at the rear of the property and was simply a blank slate needing hardy mature species to create wind protection, privacy and shade.
Bare rooted Betula pendula were chosen to create privacy and wind protection at the rear of the property, underplanted with swathes of hardy Poa, Ghania and Miscanthus grasses that catch the breeze and provide visual interest.
The front of the house was where the wow factor was turned up considerably. Wisteria floribunda “Royal Purple” hangs pendulously from the chunky cypress pergola, each grown in huge custom-made Corten steel planters due to the rocky ground.
When designing the space it was important for the vegetable garden and greenhouse to look as though they belonged in the overall flow of the garden. Local hardwood raised beds with interlocking dovetailed corners are the epitome of luxe with custom-made square citrus planters echoing the main theme.
Dual rows of espaliered fruit trees run the length of the house, leading visitors down crushed limestone pathways to the amazing views of the valley at the rear of the property.
Eclectic sculptor Folko Kooper was commissioned to create one of his signature birdbaths, this particular piece is a mixture of slumped glass, Corten and stainless steel as well as cast bronze fairy wrens, mini sculptures in their own right.
An intimate, sheltered space overlooking the valley was created to lead out from the master bedroom, the perfect place to share a coffee, cook on the BBQ or just simply catch some rays utilising the open nature of the structure. The glaucous, bluey tones of the planting scheme echoing the charcoal coloured paving. White glue-laminated beams reach across solid Cypress posts, custom-made Corten steel planters adorn each internal corner.
The garden was designed with a very Japanese principal, views of the garden from inside the house were a top priority. Every room in the house looks out on to its own piece of natural “artwork” whether botanical, architectural or sculptural. Highly artistic elements were placed with this principal in mind. The twisted, ever changing form of “Twin Spheres” designed and fabricated by Melbourne based Lump Sculpture Studio subtly commanding attention at the front of the property.
It was an absolute pleasure to design and construct this space and showcase other highly artistic professionals creating this beautiful garden. We are thrilled with the result and place this project amongst one of our all-time favourites. We cannot wait to see how this garden matures further in the years to come.
Photography by Paul Redding
