Each step along the tree lined driveway heightens the visitor’s anticipation as you enter the gardens of Chalk House created by Landscape Architect and Designer Jez Clark as his own private retreat.
At this year’s Springtime on the Mountain Open Gardens Trail, we have the privilege of exploring Jez’s own patch of Australiana.
He has lived on this three-acre property for just over 10 years.
By using a broad palette of native plants and trees Jez has created a distinctive Australian semi- naturalistic garden setting covering approximately one acre of his property.
It’s the largest garden he has designed for himself – so different from the 20 metre x five metre garden he had in London.
Turning the corner at the start of the macadamia grove reveals the scale of this carefully planned, bird attracting, low maintenance, low water use garden, calmly connecting with nature.
Jez’s vision was to look through the towering gums and see his home nestled amongst soft, enveloping shrubbery.
He’s used layered, rhythmic plantings of domed coastal rosemary and Casuarina GreenWave, strappy swamp foxtail grass and the gentle repetition of bulbine lilies with striking contrasts of the tall, spiked Gymea lily.
Hidden behind the clipped lillypilly hedge is the perennial garden where the echium is already loaded with buds.
Some plants hark back to his homeland in this contained space.
There is colour.
In the Wild Garden on the far side of the house are grevilleas of every size, shape and colour – one of Jez’s favourite Australian plants.
Then look back and be surprised to see the forty plus David Austin roses quietly waiting to fill his home with their fragrance during the summer months.
There is so much to discover and enjoy at this year’s Springtime on the Mountain.
Chalk House is one of six gardens you can visit on the last weekend in September.
Bring the family and step into the magic of spring. There will be plant stalls, sausage sizzles, Devonshire teas and choirs singing. The hop on hop off bus will run on the Friday.
For more information go to www.tamborinemountaingardenclub.org.au.
