Walcott Garden’s beginnings in 2001

Welcome to the garden of Rosalind and Benjamin Walcott. This property was first developed in 1926 when a small house was built on the 9300 square metre block and a number of Pinus radiata were planted around the perimeter in the early thirties. Other large conifers were planted at the front of the property, including a now magnificent Portuguese Cypress, (Cupressus lusitanica). The property was purchased by the French government and used as their Chancery office for many years. We purchased the property in 2001 and the planting of this garden began in July 2003.

The garden is planted almost entirely with Australian natives, with a very few New Zealand natives added. Apart from the pre-existing exotic trees, we also have three Meyer lemon trees and seven pistacia trees. The original design of the garden was done by Helen Cohen, who was also part of the firm creating the architectural design of the house. We wanted to integrate the design of house and garden.

Over a period of two years, from 2001 to 2003, in consultation with Helen by email, phone and letter from America, we developed a plan for the garden. Our basic design principles included the following:

• the garden would contain mostly plants native to Australia

• there would be little, if any, lawn - where we needed open space we would have a meadow of grasses, forbs and lilies

• the garden would be attractive to birds and other wildlife

• plant foliage and shape would be more important than flowers, even though flowers were needed to attract many of the nectar feeding birds

• we would attempt to retain all rain water on the property for use in the garden

• there should be some open water in the garden to attract wildlife

• we did not want a series of enclosed garden rooms, but rather different areas that flowed into each other

• there would be more emphasis on the natural rather than the formal in the garden design, including wide paths in curved shapes

• while most native plants require trimming, they should only be trimmed to enhance their natural shape, not to create any formal shapes

Our architect, Wal Kostyrko, sited the new house turned 90 degrees to the original house, facing north-east to catch the winter sun along the whole length of the house. Wide eaves at the correct level ensure that the summer sun does not overheat the house. The trees on the block had received no maintenance for decades and needed attention. With advice from Dr. Robert Boden, a number of trees were removed from the block and others pruned in 2003.

Able Landscaping was hired to complete site preparation and initial planting, and the Elvin brothers, David and Ian, constructed the rock work around the large and small ponds from rock quarried at Newline near Queanbeyan.  All drainspouts from the roof and run off from the extensive granite paving are diverted into the three pond system where rainwater is mixed with bore water to run the irrigation system. We use drip irrigation occasionally where practical but mostly a microjet irrigation system for the planted  areas.  

Over a six month period, from July 2003 to December 2003, the basic planting of 2,500 plants, including 40 trees, was completed. The soil is pH neutral and high in clay content. All garden areas had extensive soil improvements, including lots of Dynamic Lifter, to help cope with the clay soils. Thirty truckloads of wood chips (15 cubic metres each) were spread on all gardens in the first year. In the fourteen years since the original garden construction we have spread at least another ten truckloads of ‘forest litter’ each year which has improved the soil immensely. Planting has continued at a reduced rate since the original planting, and we now have over 5,000 plants representing over 850 different species. The meadow, 650 square metres in area, was planted with over 20,000 grasses, lilies and forb seedlings  in November 2003. The soil was not amended in this part of the garden, as ripping the ground would have encouraged more weeds. The meadow planters used a drill to make a hole, then added a gel containing both water and nutrients and planted the seedlings. The meadow was rewarding at several times of the year but was also the most difficult part of the garden to maintain. In 2014 we decided to redevelop the meadow as garden beds. We removed the grasses, dug over the area, added soil and irrigation and mulched with pebbles. We surrounded the beds with swales filled with large river pebbles to ensure excellent drainage. These beds have now been planted with low growing eremophilas, daisies and other colourful plants. We have removed another area of lawn near the house and have developed it in a similar fashion.

We have learned a great deal about our property in twenty years. In general we have lost few plants to cold and frost. The majority of  plants have been lost during January and February, not because of lack of water, but because of excess heat. We have attracted over one hundred species of birds, from an original thirty-five species, to the property, including a pair of breeding Australian Hobbies, and expect to attract more as the garden matures. We have added a greenhouse and two shadehouses for orchids and seedlings. We also have an extensive collection of natives in pots, especially those that do not like our clay soils or frosts.

The making of the house and garden has been an intensely interesting, occasionally frustrating, and mostly enjoyable experience. We expect to continue learning about our plants and growing conditions for years to come.