We get to showcase a lot of beautiful views in our line of work, but this one is something special! Located in the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, this sublime ocean panorama belongs to an unimposing residential garden newly transformed by landscape architect Jane Irwin.

By returning to the natural geology and endemic plantings of the exposed site, Jane has created a surprising seaside landscape in a rough and uneven spot. Complete with sandstone terraces and pops of exotic flora, this picturesque coastal garden basically screams, ‘Serenity now!’, but in a polite stage whisper so as not to disturb said serenity.

Little did we know door-to-door delivery services were about to become a LOT more popular in 2020. But it’s a model Melbourne Food Hub have been trialing for a while. The urban farm based in Alphington launched in 2016, with the mission of creating a hyperlocal alternative food system to supermarkets, one which supports the community, environment and farmers.

This year, the Melbourne Food Hub launched Grow/Source/Eat: a weekly delivery service providing subscribers with sustainably sourced and locally grown fruit and veggie boxes from small-scale urban farmers. They also collaborate with businesses and hunger relief organisations to address immediate needs within the community. We are big fans of this project, so much so that they are shortlisted in the Sustainable Design or Initiative category of The Design Files + Laminex Design Awards!

We recently (pre-lockdown!) visited the hub’s Urban Farm in Alphington to learn more about this pioneering program.

Call us biased, but Australia is home to some of the most beautiful gardens in the world.

Representing the very best of the industry are the shortlisted Landscape Design entries in the 2020 The Design Files + Laminex Design Awards. This category awards one standout residential, public or community garden completed within the last three years, as determined by industry legends Paul Bangay (Paul Bangay Garden Design), William Dangar (Dangar Barin Smith) and Georgina Reid (The Planthunter). 

Finalists in this year’s awards range from rugged coastal gardens, to historic suburban estates, family-friendly backyards, and a museum pathway. Take a closer look below!

This spectacular garden by Sam Cox Landscape looks like it’s straight out of a storybook. It exudes a mythical aura, of secret rockpools buried in rainforests, or a serene fairytale setting. This ambience is probably why it’s hard to believe it’s located in inner suburban Melbourne!

The result of a thoughtful collaboration between client and landscape designer, this Northcote garden weaves new and existing elements together to create a space that transcends time and place. Not to mention one jaw-dropping pool!

If we’ve learnt anything about the Brussels sprouts over the years, it’s that they need a new PR manager (maybe the team behind banana bread is free?). The bitter, boiled versions consumed with the groans and pinched noses of childhood have given this rather fantastic vegetable a bad rap. Luckily for Brussels sprouts, Julia Busuttil Nishimura is giving them a rebrand!

In this almost-spring salad recipe, Julia’s Brussels sprouts are roasted to crispiness on the outside, and sweet tenderness on the inside. Combined with toasted hazelnuts, tart apple matchsticks, a honey lemon dressing and a scattering of herbs, we’re calling this simple nutrient-packed salad the ultimate working from home lunch!

Side note…Julia’s HOTLY anticipated second cookbook, A Year Of Simple Food, is out next week! While we might be slightly biased, we’re pretty sure it’s going to be THE cookbook of the year. You can pre-order it here!

Beauty meets practicality in this Swedish inspired garden, designed by Penny Starr Design.

Both the front and rear gardens of this Rosanna home have been redesigned, with family use in mind. The inspiration? An unlikely, international throwback – Ulf Nordfjell’s ‘The Daily Telegraph Garden’, winner of the best show garden at the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show!

Since launching in early 2016, Melbourne-based social enterprise Free To Feed has hosted 1,405 unique events and food experiences. The organisation has created a place of community and enterprise for refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia, while in turn sharing their rich culture, cooking and knowledge with a local audience. Up until this point, this has been somewhat limited to Victorians. But that’s about to change!

Their latest project, All Together Now, is an intimate series of at-home cooking videos + recipe kits that brings the passion and expertise of favourite Free To Feed cooks into the comfort of your own home!

Even though it feels like winter only started about five seconds ago, somehow we’ve passed the halfway point and spring is somewhat in sight! Now it’s time to consider how to get your natural landscape ready for early spring, as the soil starts to warm up and the wattles burst into flower.

Legendary local Landscape Designer and our good friend Phillip Withers is here with some sound advice for taking care of your winter garden and prepping for the coming months! 

Perched high on Mount Gisborne in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, this earthy, low maintenance garden was designed by Kathleen Murphy Landscape Design to connect with its natural surrounds, and take in the spectacular views.

With a brief for a low-maintenance garden that was easy to install (the garden was built in stages by the client and his son-in-law) in an extremely challenging climate, Kathleen set about connecting the natural materials of the home to the garden and its wider landscape. The result is a robust yet welcoming garden that is contemporary in design, and responsive to its conditions.