Alexandria 

Transforming this garden completed extensive house renovations for these clients, who are self-confessed foodies and enthusiastic entertainers! Their passion for cooking and sharing required a complete restructure of the garden to be able to entertain outside. 

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The brief included opening up the garden to improve indoor /outdoor flow; an area for outdoor dining with BBQ, an area to relax in, some lawn, a tropical planting theme and correct placement of existing citrus, herbs, succulents and other treasured plants in pots. 

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The design centered around the lemon scented gum tree (Eucalytpus citriodora), which sits almost center stage to the garden.  As this is a protected tree, my challenge was to invert the clients opposition to it and accentuate its beauty. The surrounding gardens offer views of more gum trees and palm trees, fitting well with the tropical planting scheme. A custom designed corten steel and blackbutt oval deckseat around the tree now entices everyone outside. Behind the tree, storage space bbq and cantilevered seats from a raised bed offer a dining area in both sun and shade. Vertical walls add plant variety and espaliered citrus and edibles in the sunniest garden bed allow the passionate foodies to pick some of their own ingredients. 

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