Bella Vista Garden Design evolved through a passion for the garden. Years of hands-on gardening came to fruition on a small farm near Mansfield, north east Victoria in the foothills of the High Country. Marian came to 'Wildowl Farm' in 2001 and proceeded to construct a vegetable garden and orchard from a flat, bare paddock that stock had grazed. She is a very keen cook and wanted to produce her own fruit and vegetables for the table and preserving.
A new home was sited to take advantage of several mature exotic trees that provided summer shade and beautiful seasonal interest – Ulmus procera (English Elm), Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) and Cedrus deodara (Deodar Cedar).
The desire to protect these mature trees, incorporate them into a new garden and to understand climate change and its associated challenges led Marian to complete an Associate Degree in Environmental Horticulture at Burnley, University of Melbourne.
Associate Degree Environmental Horticulture, University of Melbourne
Masterclass Rosemary Alexander, The English Gardening School, UK
Masterclass Professor Masao Fukuhara, Osaka, Japan
Burnley Summer School
Burnley Master Gardeners Program
Australian Institute of Landscape Designers & Managers
Landscaping Victoria
Australian Garden History Society
Noel has over thirty years experience in quarry products and the concrete industry, bringing a strong construction background to Bella Vista Garden Design.
His expertise during the initial site inspection, and ongoing, ensures that drainage, soil profile and levels are addressed and that we provide cost effective solutions to the installation of landscape components such as retaining walls, paving and ponds.
If requested, Noel will project manage the landscape works ensuring they are completed in a timely and professional manner.
We create gardens to stimulate all of the senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, sound. These five senses, when combined with your 'sense of place', will provide great joy to your lives and to those around you.
'He who mixes use and beauty, simplicity and grandeur, has not acted in vain.' Horace 68-5 BC
By planting your garden with edible and ornamental plants you are able to provide not only food and flowers for your table, you will also be providing shelter and food for many animal species that co-habit your garden. By increasing biodiversity in your garden, so you increase the health of your environment.
Our maintenance plan will assist you into the future with your new garden. We know water is a precious resource and with the appropriate soil preparation, plant selection and correct planting schedules, we can maximise the success of your garden in its early stages.
With the exception of the Initial Consultation, fees for all services are charged at an hourly rate.
This stepped Design Process allows you to customise our services to your requirements and the end document is your own.
I am absolutely delighted that autumn has arrived very early this year as it is by far my most favourite season in the garden. Cool, clear nights, warm days and gentle breezes, oh, and figs, quinces and pears. Perfect! It just makes me feel the world isn't such a terrible place. For the past 14 years February and March have been intolerably hot – the ground baked so hard it was useless trying to achieve much in the garden, but the years of heavy mulching paid off as there were few casualties and those that didn't make it, I didn't replace – I see no point in fighting nature – it's much bigger than all of us.
My 'hot' perennial border is in full bloom and I have been able to fill a few gaps where the earwigs completely decimated some of the original plantings. The sedum matrona, miscanthus, carex and vibrant orange cannas look spectacular, so after only two years I will now be able to propagate more stock from my original plantings.
Good summer rain has meant little watering was required and the ground is able to be dug readily. I have taken the opportunity to move some things (my husband cannot fathom this process!) and made notes as to where others will be planted in August when bare-rooted stock is available, so I have started my winter plant shopping list and taking soft cuttings for propagating and planting out in spring.
I have 'taken over' the small paddock (about 5 acres) between our house and our neighbour's vineyard. This paddock has the only dam on our farm, which I am dreaming of converting to look more like a lake than a dam, with a jetty and summer house. I have mown walking paths through out the paddock and, starting from the house, have a Crabapple (malus ioensis) walk to the dam where I have planted three advanced Red Oaks which have settled in well, and will ultimately provide a canopy under which my summer house will sit. The paddock has a gentle rise to the centre, where I have planted a Bunya Bunya Pine (araucaria bidwillii) which will one day be a beacon on the horizon.
Work carried out in the garden during autumn will reap great rewards throughout the rest of the year and I find if you can be well organised with your jobs this time of year, it greatly reduces the load in spring and summer when the days are warming up.
Mulch, mulch, mulch! Reduces weeds, weeds, weeds! And keeps the ground warm warding off those early morning frosts. I have received my bulb order, so I'm heading out to plant my first batch of tulips under the magnolia stellata outside my office window followed by a selection of iris shading from palest blue through to deep blue on a hot bank at the bottom of the garden to the west.
Enjoy every moment ...
PO Box 615,
Mansfield Victoria 3724 Australia
T: 0407 316 815
F: 03 5777 3992
Email: info@bellavistagardendesign.com.au
Landscaping Victoria
www.liav.com.au
Aust. Institute of Landscape Designers & Managers
www.aildm.com.au
Australian Garden History Society
www.gardenhistorysociety.org.au
Friends of Burnley Gardens
www.fobg.org.au