#greenliving #natureliving #greencottage #naturegarden #rusticgarden
Step behind the garden gate and immerse yourself in a fantasy land, far removed from the ordinary suburban life. Alistair Kirkpatrick, the brilliant mind behind this extraordinary small garden design, invites you to join us on a journey that began five years ago. Back then, this space was a blank canvas, devoid of any greenery. But what awaits you now is a breathtaking transformation of a small space with some great small garden design ideas.
Alistair, from Stratis Landscape Architects, has worked wonders in this small 70-square-meter space, making it feel like a vast oasis. He introduced level changes by bringing in 6 cubic meters of soil and recycled volcanic rocks, resulting in a cascading waterfall over a pond filled with fish. The small garden is divided into different sections, creating hidden nooks that give the illusion of a much larger space.
The decked area is a true marvel, with a recycled window false wall that creates a glasshouse effect. It houses a charmingly rustic cast-iron bath, exuding an enchanting sense of ruined grandeur.
Alistair's creativity shines in the choice of plants, with around 320 different species gracing this collector's garden, many of which are rare and not typically found in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. To achieve a tropical vibe in Melbourne's cooler climate, he incorporates dark green, glossy-leaved plants, taller canopy plants, bold foliage, ground-covering varieties, and those that utilize vertical space.
While this garden faces south, the decked area and driveway garden receive the most sunlight. The plant selection is tailored to thrive in dappled shade and semi-shade, creating an ideal environment closest to the house.
Alistair's innovation extends beyond the garden's confines, as he transforms the common driveway into an extension of his garden, relinquishing his parking space to create a thriving vegetable garden. This garden is a testament to the boundless possibilities that arise when you let your imagination run wild and think outside the box.
Don't miss this remarkable garden tour that showcases the magic of small garden design, shaded garden retreats, and the endless potential of creating beauty in even the coziest of spaces. Like and subscribe to our channel for more captivating garden tours!
The owner of this garden tells me that we're about to be transported into a lush
mountain valley. If we were here five years ago we would find that very hard to believe
and yet here we are. Let's go behind the garden gate.
Wow, we really have been transported to a fantasy land. Let's go and explore.
The owner, creator and designer of this incredible space is Alistair Kirkpatrick
of Stratus Landscape Architects. When Alistair moved in here five years ago it is so hard to
believe that this was a completely flat barren space. He had to bring in six cubic meters of
soil by hand to create this undulation and this cascade that you can see and hear throughout the
whole garden. This is a real collector's garden. There are over 300 species of plants in this
small space and I find myself having a look and thinking, oh wow, that's gorgeous and every time
I look into a different spot there's something new and interesting to look at. To create a lush
tropical vibe like this, add height and an upper canopy with taller plants. Then use plants with
dark green glossy leaves and others with big bold leaves. Use plants with textured bark or
foliage for even more interest and layer in as many plants as you can. This garden is a wonderful
example of how if you just let your imagination run a little bit wild you've got a little bit of
whimsical creativity and you can create anything even in a really small space and this is a south
facing backyard so a lot of people would be put off by that, not Alistair. His wonderful imagination
has run wild. We've actually only explored half of this garden and there's a pretty little
outdoor room over here that I think we need to check out. It includes one of my must-have things
that I reckon every garden should have, so let's go and see. I love how Alistair is not afraid to
add more plants. He's used the vertical space really well. Over here you can see the Boston ivy
and this is a form of Boston ivy that's evergreen and non-invasive. This one's about four years old
so you can see it's very slow growing and then to add some interest to the bare trunks
we've got the Tillandsia eusinoides or old man's beard. Well we've stepped out of that mountain
hidden valley and now we're onto a deck and into a little outdoor room and it's got a real theme of
ruined grandeur about it. This outdoor room has been created by using some recycled windows to
create two or even three walls and by the addition of a clear polycarbonate roof it creates an almost
glasshouse effect in here so it's warm and cozy and inviting. This indigenous clematis flanks this
area beautifully and although it's a bit of a brute it works really well in this space. There's
even a grapevine in here which would add some extra shade in the summer months.
And of course we have to mention my favourite garden feature of any garden. It's an outdoor
tub and I love the way that Alistair has left this one all rustic and old looking. It really
suits the eclectic nature of the space and it must just be such a beautiful spot to sit and relax.
It's definitely a lot warmer in here and protected from the cold wind.
I absolutely love Alistair's collection of plants but also his eclectic taste
for bowerbirding anything that he finds on the side of the road that might suit his garden.
One day he even found a pineapple out on the street and so he's planted the top in a pot
and it's thriving. I always get a pang of jealousy when I see a plant thriving in someone else's
garden that I've managed to kill. This little strappy dainty plant is called Fairy Lights
and I've managed to kill it at my place and I reckon it's because I've not given it a wet
enough environment. This is growing in an old walk along with some pitcher plants that love
really wet feet so I think that's the key. This garden was designed to create a tranquil oasis
away from the chaos of suburbia and it's done just that. I can't see the road, I can't even
see any houses when you're sitting in this garden but there is one other space that we're yet to
explore. I've stepped out of that private oasis and this is the common driveway of the units and
this is Alistair's car park but why would you have a car park when you can have more plants?
And this is prime real estate that faces full northwest so to take advantage of all that
sunshine Alistair's chosen to grow his veggies and I can even spot a blueberry plant.
And to prove a point that there is no such thing as too small a space, over here there's a garden
bed that's just 60 centimetres wide and of course Alistair has crammed it with more plants. There's
a banana which is really happy under the eaves here and this bamboo does a wonderful job of
protecting the window behind from the hot western afternoon sun. This garden is a great example of
how you can let your imagination and plant passions run wild. Even if you have a small garden, take a
leaf out of Alistair's book and push the boundaries of those four walls of your garden. Remember you
can always squeeze plants in into spaces you might not realise. I hope you have enjoyed this trip
behind the garden gate at Alistair's Place. Please like and subscribe because I've got plenty more
garden tour videos coming your way.
