Ideas...

I recommend only the most skilled landscape contractors who know of my exacting standards in completing the project. Some I have used for many years and have also gained the highest awards in landscaping in the ACT and NSW, such as the Master Builders Annual Awards given for excellence. Here one of my principal landscape contractors is installing a Japanese style garden where we have dramatically reduced the existing lawn area for water conservation.

This was an original 1920s garage that was converted into a combination of a Swedish sauna, shower and toilet, kitchenette and relaxation area. The side was opened with French doors installed to open onto the paved area underneath shady trees facing the swimming pool. See the next photo of the relaxing seating area.

Look at this photo in conjunction with the converted garage above.  The existing Irish Strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, was retained as it possibly dates to when the home was built in the 1920s. Although its fruit can be a nuisance at certain times of the year the owners wished to retain it and as many of the existing trees for their historic value. The pool is immediately in front of the recliner chairs.

Residential building blocks continue to get smaller with limited space for a garden. Many professional working couples only want a small garden, perhaps for a townhouse or courtyard garden. Here is an example of such a garden which still provides some greenery with low-maintenance drought-tolerant plants that is easy to look after. The smallest garden I have designed was literally 2m x 3m to the other end of the scale of acres-plus gardens.

All over Australia (and indeed in the most unlikely places such as England) water restrictions are the order of the day. With this in mind I am continually requested to reduce lawns and install an interesting variety of low-maintenance shrubs. Mediterranean plants are ideal for this purpose and blend perfectly with our Aussie plants. This is our front garden, which used to be a lawn many years ago. (Remember those days, when we had lawns?) This provides colour almost all year round plus the fragrance of herbs such as lavenders and thymes.

This is a variation of a Mediterranean garden, more formal in design.  The splashes of orange are tulips. Keeping in mind that bulbs are some of the most drought-tolerant plants in existence. A formal path leads to the focal point in the garden, an urn at the end of the path. The hedge provides shelter from hot summer winds and acts as a privacy screen. The dwarf conifers add structure to the garden.

A perfect spot on a sunny winter's day, the only problem was when I took the photo I could not find a person to look if they were sitting with a good book to complete the picture. The curved hedge and paving leads the eye round the corner to the next garden room. The hedge provides privacy and a windbreak. This could be enhanced with potted plants for added colour.

I designed this gazebo to suit the style of an older Canberra garden based on a historic design. This view is from the pool and the gazebo is a great place to relax in the shade after a swim on a hot summer's day. Leading to the gazebo are fragrant standard roses combined with roses and clematis on the gazebo itself. The crazy-paving path suits the style of paths popular in the early days of Canberra gardens.

It is not always necessary to have those brilliantly floral perennial borders one sees in English magazines. A blending of shrubs for their leaf colour and shape with the various shades of green can also make an attractive border. Here they have just been clipped after flowering to encourage the next season's flowers, while some are grown solely for their interesting foliage.