Backyard and Outdoor Living

Many people will have fond memories of playing in their own or a friend’s cubby house as a child. Created by Porter Davis, The Relic is all about old things brought to life in the new world. It strives to recapture innocence and wonder through explor

WORDS: KAREN BOOTH PHOTOS: ALBEDO PHOTOGRAPHY K een to rejuvenate their tired-looking backyard and make better use of the space, the owners of this charming period-style home in Nedlands, a suburb just a short drive west of Perth, knew they needed th

WORDS: CARROL BAKER Perhaps it’s something that you can’t quite put your finger on? One thing is certain. There are many inspiring and unusual plants all over the planet — and a few that are weird, wacky and wonderful, too. Of the more than 400,000 p

WORDS: VICTORIA KLEEBERG PHOTOS: DIANE CRAWFORD We moved to Bowral, NSW some 16 years ago. The house is typical of those in the area and the block of land is just on half an acre, which is quite large considering how close it is to town. The original

WORDS: JENNIFER STACKHOUSE Let’s call them ‘poverty plants’. These are the plants gardeners can rely on in times of need to get a good feed from their backyards. Their produce is not exactly popular, particularly with the kids. Plus, they’re often ti

WORDS: LINDA BRENNAN PHOTOS: DIANE CRAWFORD Ian, Kathy and their young son Harry live on the island paradise of Lord Howe Island, which is actually part of NSW. They can swim in crystal clear ocean waves before breakfast, walk to work or school in fi

WORDS: KAREN BOOTH If your expectations are large but your garden small, don’t despair. There is no shortage of clever space-maximising tricks of the trade you can employ to design a garden that will cater for all your lifestyle needs without ever fe

Words: Diane crawford Pruning is essential for the growth and health of your plants. An amazing variety of pruning and cutting tools is available, from tree-top loppers to small secateurs. The first step towards easy and effective pruning is to buy t

Have you ever wondered where new plant varieties come from? More often than not, new plant releases that you find at a nursery or garden centre have been imported from overseas. Often they are from countries that have completely different climatic co

words: Diane crawford M words: Diane crawford urraya koenigii, better known as the curry leaf tree, grows to around 4–6m tall with a trunk up to 40cm in diameter. Native to India, Sri Lanka and other nearby islands, the plant was later spread through

WORDS: KAREN BOOTH Being outside — it’s a temptation few can resist. This is never more so than when we want to share good food and fun times with great friends. Summer soirées, birthday parties, movie nights … we now take all of these activities, an

WORDS: JOEL HAWKINS There is little downtime for gardeners in winter, despite it being a slow-growth season. As the temperature drops, take the time to prepare the yard for the onset of more stressful conditions to come. The following tips will help

Words & Photos: Diane Crawford Not for nothing is aloe vera known as the first-aid plant. Aside from being the go-to soothing aid for cuts, burns and other wounds, aloe vera is reported to have antimicrobial, antibiotic, antioxidant, antihistamine an

WORDS: APRIL OSSINGTON PHOTOS: SIMON GRIFFITHS There’s no doubt that Heather, the owner of this expansive and lush garden in Mount Martha, a seaside town in Melbourne, Victoria, was already a keen and conscientious gardener before the completion of h

Words & photos: Diane crawford • More people are living in apartments or townhouses and suburban backyards are shrinking, so what better way to create a lush garden than on a wall? • A vertical garden doesn’t take up much space, it’s easy to build an

WORDS: DIANE NORRIS Mealybugs are related to scale insects. The male and female are sexually dimorphic, meaning they have a completely different form and structure. Females remain nymphlike their entire lives, are wingless and often retain legs and c

We’ve all heard of the phrase thinking outside the box. Basically, it means novel or creative thinking, to think differently or unconventionally or to look at something from a different perspective. Engaging in this kind of thinking can garner some t

Do you want to hide an unsightly area of your garden, such as a utility space or shed? Or perhaps you want to create more privacy from your neighbours? Either way, House of Bamboo has the perfect solution. Natureed is a multifunctional screen that co

WORDS: APRIL OSSINGTON PHOTOS: MITCH LEE When designing a garden, some people get too tied up with following a particular style and it becomes over the top or stale. But why stick to one style when you can take the best components of different looks

words & photos: Diane crawford Water features bring natural tranquillity to a garden and attract birds, frogs and insects. Add a small fountain and you can also enjoy the sound of moving water. Creating a “pond in a pot” can provide a water feature f

Rendered walls, stone cladding and painted effects can easily be incorporated into any design" WORDS KAREN BOOTH They say fences make good neighbours, but they do more than define the boundaries of your property. They ensure privacy, provide structur

WORDS: KERRY BOYNE To start at the very beginning on this topic we need to go back to the last ice age — the one we didn’t have. One of the main ways soil is formed is by the gradual grinding action of glaciers on rock, turning it into mineral-rich d

WORDS: KAREN BOOTH PHOTOS: PIERRE BÉLAND Montreal, one of Canada’s most endearing cities, has much to recommend it. The Parisianstyle, cobblestone avenues of the historic Old Montreal area, the lively pace of the Latin Quarter, the colour and cuisine

WORDS: CARROL BAKER PHOTOS: THERESE COVINGTON The owners of this contemporary new-build home in Adelaide sought to create outdoor living areas that were a mix of productive, practical and playful spaces. The award-winning garden was designed by Matth