By DANIELLE GALVIN
BARBARA Muma believes the best feature of her garden is the peace and serenity.
Next month, Barbara and partner David Urquhart-Jones will be opening their garden through the Australia’s Open Garden scheme to share their stunning semi-rural surroundings with the community.
The Tranquillity garden is the perfect setting for David and Barbara and the diverse bird population who also call it home.
“The centre piece is a lake (formerly a dam) around which the garden has been designed,” Barbara said.
“The layout allows magnificent views across the suburbs to Port Phillip Bay and beyond that to the hills of the You Yangs.
“There are large informal beds of perennials and roses around a central lawn with a vista towards the lake.
“Immediately to the west at the base of the dam is a bush walk.”
Watering the stunning garden is a labour intensive job especially during drought conditions and they use a pump and irrigation system with water from the lake.
They say it is the sunsets and the views that make it the perfect place.
“The view from our home on the east side of the lake is enhanced by superior elevation of the terrain which affords a spectacular panorama across the lawn and the lake to Port Phillip Bay and the distant mountain ranges beyond,” Barbara said.
“We are sheltered from the harsh north wind.
“However, when the wind does blow across the lake intricate swirling patterns appear and the Agonis seem to dance in tune.
“Sunsets provide many beautiful visual experiences.”
Barbara is particularly proud of the hedge bordering the wall of the dam and the transit system which allows the chickens to bypass the vegetable garden on their way to the orchard and grassed area.
“The privacy and serenity of the garden and surroundings is my greatest pleasure and watching the water fowl go about their daily routines; eating grass and stealing apples,” she said.
Barbara’s message to green thumbs is to “think before you plant” and understand the conditions for optimum growth.
“You will still make errors, I have made plenty, but informed experience is a highly effective way of acquiring the skills and the wisdom which every good gardener must possess,” she said.
Weather permitting, refreshments will be available.
David will also be performing selected piano pieces throughout the day.
For children, there is a scarecrow in the vegetable garden and a special birds’ nest which is designed for a very large bird and some enchanting groups of mushrooms cut from old eucalyptus logs.
The garden is located at 149 A’Beckett Road, Narre Warren North, and will be open on 12-13 April from 10am to 4.30pm.
Admission is $7, children under 18 free.
Mini buses will have to park elsewhere but can drop off people at the house and there is a long steep driveway.
It is also not suitable for wheelchairs.
