Pip’s Introduction
There is a silver quality to the light in Annie’s garden in the early morning as the sun rises up behind her home and ascends the giant pines and white trunked gums that shield the property from the quiet coastal country road. Gradually the entire garden is set alight as if it were covered in glitter. It is impossible not to smile as you round that first bend to see the swathes of perennials her garden has become so well known for by those of us who delight in the daily snippets Annie shares to social media of this, her magical creation.
I draw a connection to Annie’s garden when she tells me of her fine arts background, and how she sees pattern and colour as if they were textiles, like I do, in the placing of plants. Also, that Annie came from a small city space to the country in order to be able to create a garden specifically, one of the main reasons we moved out of the city also. Someone who learnt by doing in those initial years and who is happy to admit where the knowledge gaps in those early days lead to decisions later undone and redeemed into what is such masterfully and generously planted garden. So much of what Annie tells me, I can relate to.
And this is where I find myself madly clicking away with my camera, frightened I might miss those fleeting moments when the sun catches the switch between the deep purple Sedum to the Agastache to the dark foliaged Dahlia to the Panicum all shot through with maroon, and blends them like one perfectly curated composition. I am delighted by the surprises, the master strokes, the pairing of a native with a swathe of exotic perennials and if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t see just how clever it is, you would just see how wonderful they look together.
The olives are centrepieces, responsible for the silver light quality I speak of, of the artfully arranged gardens that radiate out from beneath them, like the centre of the sun itself, as luminous as they become when their silver green foliage is lit up and all around them take up the brilliance also. Reaching paths like shards of light stretched out to meet you and beckon you in. I lose myself in the garden, and my husband, with our daughter, as we all explore different journey’s through the tiered landscape, disappearing behind hedges and the swaying heads of tall blonde grasses, around blousey bends. There is so much to see, so much to take in and every turn of the head has you almost pulled around the garden in a giddy state.
So, without further ado, please enjoy Annie’s Garden, in Annie’s words……..
A Q&A with Annie……..
Does the property, or garden have a name?
The property had the name, ‘Claybar’ when we moved here and we have always intended to change it. Eight years later, the Claybar sign is still out the front and we still toss around ideas from time to time.
How long have you been creating this garden?
I started the border six years ago, when we replaced a Red Gum sleeper retainer wall with large rocks from the nearby quarry, forming a more organic shaped garden.
Do you garden alone or with the help of others?
The first year I had a garden labourer helping and in 2018 Julie, a qualified horticulturist started working with me on a weekly basis. Over the years, there have been extended times when I have worked alone. Paul has done all of the steel work and helps with composting, mulching and laying paths.
What is your earliest garden memory and were you inspired by someone or something early in life or later, to create a garden?
Mum with her garden of all the classics. Roses, camellias, azaleas and begonias and her kooky arboreal choices for a regular, suburban block. We had an enormous Norfolk Island Pine, a Spruce and a Golden Elm.
I loved to help mum in the garden and the garden has always been the first thing that I’ve concentrated on in a new place.
What inspired you to plant the garden you have and how has it evolved from those initial ideas?
The Diggers Club gardens and visits to Open Gardens Victoria Gardens were the early influencers in wanting to have a Perennial border. ‘The Garden Vineyard’ at Moorooduc was particularly inspiring.
Initially I thought I would just have one long border. But as I learnt more and was exposed to different ideas and naturalistic approaches to garden design, my aspirations grew to have a more immersive garden.
I was also fortunate to have Julie Willis join me to work in the garden on a weekly basis. She has a wealth of experience in the UK and here at Diggers Heronswood so we have been able to talk through ideas together as we worked. Over the years, with Covid and her other commitments we haven’t been able to maintain a regular, weekly session, but that early foundation, and the confidence that was instilled by having my ideas and vision encouraged and challenged by a gardener of Julie’s calibre has been of huge benefit.
What is the most important thing you do in your garden maintenance?
Building the soil is the most important thing that I do. I used to dig over the soil with compost, now I favour the no dig method of laying down cardboard and layers of pea straw, compost and manure to start new garden beds. Throughout the seasons I add compost, pea straw, Who Flung Dung and Seamungus.
What is your favourite way to spend time in your garden?
I know that I should say relaxing with a glass of wine but it’s actually just wandering, losing track of time, pulling a few weeds, doing a bit of trimming, taking pics and planning what comes next.
What are your Top 3 favourite perennials and why?
Agastache ‘Sweet Lili’. The combination of pink with a hint of orange just makes it such a versatile plant.
Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’. I love the plumes at every stage from dusky purple to wheat. The height is fantastic as a backdrop for other plants or as a punctuation mark in a border.
Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’. Again, the height and vertical interest are such a plus. The colour is so good right throughout summer into Autumn.
Your favourite shrubs?
The Portuguese Laurels have been invaluable as a windbreak hedge. They are tough, lush and fast growing.
Leptospermums do so well here in my heavy soil. My favourites are Rudolph, Copper Glow, Starry Night and Pink Cascade.
What plant has been high maintenance, but you feel is worth the effort?
I don’t really do high maintenance plants. The dahlias are a bit of effort with lifting, storing and prepping the soil but the blooms are worth it.
What plant do you dream of growing in your garden that you’ve not yet acquired?
Tetrapanex papyrifer
What is your favourite tree in the garden and why?
I have three gum trees in the front lawn that create the most beautiful shadows and have such a sculptural presence.
What has been the most inspiring books or podcasts or programs, for inspiring your garden?
Michael McCoy’s Garden and the Gardenist Blog
‘Native’ Kate Heard
‘Dreamscapes’ Claire Takacs
Gardener’s World (TV Show - available for viewers in Australia via Dailymotion).
Are there gardens or gardeners/garden designers that inspire you?
Cloudehill Garden and Heronswood, Lambley, Cruden Farm
Fisherman’s Bay garden, Great Dixter, Jo Ferguson’s garden, Ralph Bristow, Michael McCoy, Amanda Oliver, Simon Rickard, Jac Semlar, Colleen Southwell
Piet Oudolf, Miguel Urquijo and Renate Kastner, Nigel Dunnett.
So many more...
What do you want to feel or others to feel when they visit your garden?
Relaxed, joyful, curious.
What impact has the garden had on you?
When we moved here, I wasn’t in a good place. I had left teaching, feeling worn out and a bit disillusioned. Initially the garden was all about busying myself, tidying up what had been a pretty unloved and uninspiring place. We face West so the strong winds and parching heat of the first Summer here were a real eye opener.
I plodded along with a labourer who helped me get things cleaned up and the rhythm and exhaustion of it really helped with rebuilding me.
In March 2019, my husband, Paul was diagnosed with lymphoma and all of the oxygen seemed briefly to be sucked from our world. The garden helped immensely during that time. When Paul was well enough, it gave him something do and when he wasn’t well enough it gave him somewhere to be that was uplifting and relaxing. It gave me another focus and space from worrying.
You can continue to follow Annie’s garden journey on Instagram @annmaree.winter
NOTE: ‘The Garden Gadabout’ is our chance to share, in more detail, the many gardens we visit over the course of the year, both private and public, by passionate plants people, gifted green thumbs and professional garden designers and landscape architects, and will be offered at random when the opportunities present themselves. It is one of our true passions to visit the creations of others and where possible, get to hear the story of how it came to be and what it means to them. We hope you enjoyed Annie’s story, this first of many future iterations of ‘The Garden Gadabout’ as much as we loved putting it together. Pip and Hugo xo
If you have any questions about what you see in these images or anything Annie has shared with us, please leave them in comments.
So many garden goals right here!!!!
I loved exploring these beautiful garden spaces through your photos Pip. Thankyou.💞