When designing a garden, the scope is usually limited to what the owners themselves want to see in their space. But what happens when your garden backs onto a busy coastal walk, and needs to look just as good to passers-by as it does from the residence?

Secret Gardens has made a magnificent effort to answer that question with their Gordon’s Bay project. By drawing on the colours of the surrounding headland, and inserting a diverse palette of succulents and drought-resistant natives, the expert landscape designers have transformed the vertiginous sandy stretch into a verdant, public-facing garden.

Not to mention adding a rooftop cactus garden and Mediterranean-inspired courtyard to boot!

Grand residential gardens are commonly surrounded by a high fence for residents’ privacy, but not this one! 

Designed by Dangar Barin Smith, the deep front garden of this property in Mollymook, NSW, actively contributes to its streetscape, so much so, it has become an inadvertent tourist attraction!

Jonima Flowers is a true family business. Founded 13 years ago by third generation flower grower John Padovano and his wife Ingrid Padovano, the flower farm today grows over a 100 varieties of seasonal blooms a year, and has expanded to involve the couple’s now four children. 

There have been many curve balls thrown at Jonima Flowers and other Australian growers over the past decade, but the last year has been particularly challenging. We spoke with Ingrid about what she’s been doing to diversify the business in Yanderra, NSW (on the border of the Southern Highlands), and the ongoing benefits of buying local, seasonal flowers. 

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.

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!

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!

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. 

It may seem obvious, but living in close proximity to a thriving natural ecosystem can be the perfect remedy to our digitally saturated urban lives. That’s how Mark Bell from Bell Landscapes sees it, holding the view that a suburban garden holds the key to relaxation, reconnection and rejuvenation.

No matter how small they are.