My gardening journey has been less like a learning curve and more like a learning staircase. There's moments of plateau, and then moments of leaping ahead - of sudden and dramatic revelation.
We LOVED hearing about your light bulb moments during the symposium on Saturday.
Clint's vision was transformed by Dan's concept of 'horticulture applied to ecology'
Veralene came to a sudden new understanding of the power of succulents to be powerful 'static' elements in the garden (around which more seasonal stuff might play)
Alison was slammed by the power of the 'space between things' - of the benefit of leaving 'breathing room'. Indeed, the importance of that open space at eye-level in Peter Shaw's planting design, reinforced later by Nigel Dunnett (who hadn't heard, and didn't hear, what Peter said) came as a light bulb moment for a significant number of attendees.
It has now at least three days since the symposium. What's been gestating for you? What were your light bulb moments at the time, or since?
(image: lifted canopies for head-height openness in Fiona Brockhoff's garden)
Light bulb moments
Discussion
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Some light bulb moments were beautiful, warming affirmations too. Probably the most impactful for me was when Bernard Trainor made the point that there are few herbaceous plants that suit a Mediterranean environment.
Oh dear Lord, thank you for releasing me from the secret guilt in being so damned uncomfortable with perennial-loaded ‘New Naturalism’ planting in our region.
Exposing the spirit of a place, space between things, clues from the environment and experimental risk scales – Sensing we may be on the cusp of a gardening paradigm shift!
Light bulbs moment for me…..everyone is still learning & wanting to learn. I learned something from each speaker & the host!
It’s has given me a better understanding & the confidence to implement my own design style.
Everyone was so generous in sharing their knowledge and experiences
There was a lot to take in so have been re-viewing interviews – stand out ideas for me include – Amanda Oliver – don’t need to “recreate” a look or use a model. Your comments Michael about the verdant mindset along with Bernard Trainor’s “embracing the austere”. And Nigel Dunnett’s comments about not being just a low energy observer but being immersed in the garden. My mind is a bit of a washing machine churning around a heap of ideas from all the presenters – will take a while to process many of them! It was great to be challenged into thinking about gardening differently – thank you Michael and Ash for organising and the presenters for sharing their insights.
My lightbulb moment was a slow realisation that the solutions to my garden challenges were all there in the immediate environment around me. I stopped down the road on a walk back from the beach and had a close look at a beautiful little shady piece of bush under tall gums. I identified various ferns, some beautiful purple pattersonia in flower, elegant dainty white stackhousia monogyna, elegant grasses and more. What an inspiration to mimic that tiny area of bush in my own damp ,shady problematic area!
So thank you Nigel Dunnet, Dan Pearson , Peter Shaw et al for a wonderful inspiring morning of talks, that weeks later, and after watching again, I am still digesting.
Michael and Ash ,thank you so much for this amazing experience.
It has taken me this long to try and distil some of the powerful essences outlined and/or inspired by the speakers. I was positively drunk with all sorts of insights and ‘light bulb’ moments.
Quite apart from the visual beauty, I was struck by the similar themes that ran through their dialogue. Kate Seddon’s emphasis on planting for ecology was echoed by Bernard Trainer- that beauty is sustainable by making a “conscious decision based on our own library of unconsciousness’.
Such a thought resonated deeply with me. We should tend to our own soul and human-ness to honour the place, to do ‘honour to the context’. We have a duty to do the best for the ecosystem, the landscape and to all the beings that use it. This includes ourselves as Nigel D said; to be part of the garden/landscape to make it ‘legible‘, easy to read ,not a backdrop to our vanity. Most of the speakers alluded to a humility that seems to be innate in the Japanese culture, an echo of Gordon Ford at a landscape conference in the 90’s.
Kate S also emphasised this and I only wish that others would honour the existing vegetation as she does, to abhor the blank slate of so many corporate/formulaic ‘designers’. I could clearly see Bernard T’s unconscious inspiration from the Westernport landscape of shore, cliff and hinterland-the area I live in.
I loved Amanda Oliver’s premise that any plant from wherever can be beautifully combined if they suit the key growing conditions of the ecosystem you are contemplating; the foliage/ forms and colours will be similar. I am particularly fond of a corner of my garden that combines thick stemmed clumping bamboo, Rosa ‘Canary Bird’ a small foliaged rose and Derwentia perfoliata. They all seem to enjoy heavy soil, wet feet and tolerate the dryish conditions of coastal clay in summer. Dan Pearson described it as a ‘Community of plants’ by observing plants, keeping an open mind, learn by doing and from others; and to revel in the constant learning that is involved in this joyous occupation.
As usual, Dan summed it up for gardens and for us.
many thanks janie Varkulevicius
My light bulb moment: I need help!
I contributed to this forum back in March 2020 and am very grateful for the replies which have helped me to see my 3 acre plot in the Adelaide Hills as a whole.
After we built the house 30+ years ago I planted lots of deciduous trees and then woodland gardens around the house. Many years later the works of Piet Oudolf, Nigel Dunnett and others came to my attention and I added perennial, cottage type beds. A part of the property has been left untouched (except for mowing) and now contains many endemic natives including lots of native grasses and orchids along with a lot of problem weeds.
The house is high on a north facing slope with much water runoff and would lend itself to rain gardens but possibly difficult to establish these in an already established garden.
After listening to the brilliant symposium speakers and having a one on one with Michael last year, I realise my knowledge and expertise is very limited and my garden could be improved with professional help.
I would like to consult with a plant driven person to help
improve the plantings in the woodland areas
Improve the plantings in the perennial beds and add some structure
Establish a semi- native/cut flower patch to tie the main garden to the
Endemic native grassland area (a Nigel Dunnett naturalistic planting or a
Melbourne woody meadow).
Consider water runoff and rain gardens
manage the native area and control the weeds.
I am in South Australia and would like to talk to someone with an interest in plants about my ideas.
Hi Heather
I’m also in the Adelaide Hills. I’ve been inspired by the similar authors to you and face similar problems in my north east facing hilly block.
While I’m by no means a professional I’m happy to share my experiences. In particular, I’ve implemented a number of water erosion management techniques that might be of interest.
I’m happy for the moderator of this forum to provide my email address to you in case you’d like to get in contact.
Cheers
Tracey