Australian Idol
July 11th, 2014
There are so many great gardens, designers, and styles. From ancient times people have utilised outdoor spaces to relax, connect with nature, and express their individuality and culture.
Yesterday evening I was indulging in one of my favourite guilty pleasures – I checked out a selection of international magazines, always available at the wonderful Auckland Libraries. I came across a profile of an Australian landscape designer, Fiona Brockhoff, and was gratified to find that my ethos fits almost exactly with hers – when describing her aesthetic she said:
“strong, simple, and stylish, but never trendy. I use many native plants and only Australian or Victorian materials. I won’t use imported paving stones or rocks. My gardens are not resource-hungry in their construction or maintenance. Beautiful and successful spaces do not need to be expensive”.
– Belle Australia, October / November 2013
With such a wealth of beautiful materials available that are uniquely NZ, and a diversity of plants that can be used to complement every garden style, this seems to me the sensible and natural way to work. Paradise stone from Whangarei, and Aucklands iconic volcanic basalt rock are two examples that immediately spring to mind.