Cottesloe

I had been asked to design a French provincial style garden. The client wanted garden to look and feel as though it was a European courtyard with rustic stonework and plant grape vines that hung from large timber beams to give only shade in summer.

The old garden was a struggling patch of grass and the only item to remain was a beautiful old plum tree.

To create the feel of a rustic European courtyard, a large limestone arch was built within the side walkway. This arch became known as ‘Sandra’s Folly’.

French pattern travertine paving draws you through the arch to the rear garden. Limestone garden beds curve around a rustic urn waterfeature which sits amongst water lilies and fish. The stonework behind helps soften an otherwise harsh corner of the garden and creates a home for potted colour and other unique items that make the garden homely for the client.

The large plum became the feature of the garden bed along with mass plantings of colourful natives and evergreen climbers were planted to cover walls and soften edges.

Wisteria, ornamental grapes and passionfruit vines have been planted along the pergola and espaliered along the side wall.