This trip was compliments of Violet Town’s Eco Living Education Committee and was free.

The main visit was to a low water garden created by Louise Costa, a landscape designer and creator. She started her garden about 5 years ago in a 40 acre property near Rushworth Vic. Her slate was a small, very run down corrugated iron house and a shearing shed in slightly better condition. The area immediately around the buildings was dust over ironstone rocks and had a history of grazing and pig rearing that had denuded the soil of all life. The first thing she did was bring in truck loads of mulch made from the local ironbark just to keep the dust from blowing away. She converted the shearing shed into living quarters as it was the better of the buildings, but has since fixed up the old house and the shearing shed is now available as a guest house.

Once the mulch was laid the local slat bushes started to grow first. They played a further role in stabilising the soil while she collected seed from local natives (within a 100km radius) and grew them on to create her garden. The only non-natives are edibles and are all kept within the one area. Her gardening style meant that her garden naturally segued into the naturally grown mallee growth around her in a way that it was impossible to tell where her garden finished and the bush started.

every town needs an eco- watsit
- go on – i’m avoiding work

slat bushes = salt bushes

Extensive use was made of found, recycled and scavenged materials (tips and council pick ups.) A lot of the materials came from the property itself in piles of rock that had been dug up for the piggery, cage materials from the same, rusty steel cans discarded over the property, the wire springs from old mattresses, old telephone poles, second hand bricks, etc. etc.

Her imagination and ingenuity was evident throughout the garden. The result is a garden that thrives well in the climate and soils they she has to work with, yet with that personal touch that her particular talent has provided.

features here are edging made from rusty star pickets woven with wire, tin cans made into artwork, paving from used bricks and garden walls made from the iron stone and cage panels left on the property.

where does the garden end and the bush begin?
recycled concrete as pavers
would love the knick these gates when she is not looking (not really, but you know what I mean)
fine gravel is used extensively between beds as mulch or pathways. Some areas are sparsely planted and others more densely

in the edible garden

bluegreen said:

This trip was compliments of Violet Town’s Eco Living Education Committee and was free.

The main visit was to a low water garden created by Louise Costa, a landscape designer and creator. She started her garden about 5 years ago in a 40 acre property near Rushworth Vic. Her slate was a small, very run down corrugated iron house and a shearing shed in slightly better condition. The area immediately around the buildings was dust over ironstone rocks and had a history of grazing and pig rearing that had denuded the soil of all life. The first thing she did was bring in truck loads of mulch made from the local ironbark just to keep the dust from blowing away. She converted the shearing shed into living quarters as it was the better of the buildings, but has since fixed up the old house and the shearing shed is now available as a guest house.

Once the mulch was laid the local slat bushes started to grow first. They played a further role in stabilising the soil while she collected seed from local natives (within a 100km radius) and grew them on to create her garden. The only non-natives are edibles and are all kept within the one area. Her gardening style meant that her garden naturally segued into the naturally grown mallee growth around her in a way that it was impossible to tell where her garden finished and the bush started.

Part of me loves the idea of a natural bush garden, but I just know I’d end up not being able to resist sticking some exotics in as well.

bluegreen said:

slat bushes = salt bushes

Extensive use was made of found, recycled and scavenged materials (tips and council pick ups.) A lot of the materials came from the property itself in piles of rock that had been dug up for the piggery, cage materials from the same, rusty steel cans discarded over the property, the wire springs from old mattresses, old telephone poles, second hand bricks, etc. etc.

Her imagination and ingenuity was evident throughout the garden. The result is a garden that thrives well in the climate and soils they she has to work with, yet with that personal touch that her particular talent has provided.

The tall photo wouldn’t show, summink wrong wit’ it…

great travelogue again.

i think the natives look much better now then when we first started using them. now we have developed the ‘cottage’ native garden and this is a superb example.

great fences, sculptures, paving and plantings. love it.

Dinetta said:

The tall photo wouldn’t show, summink wrong wit’ it…

try this. there were two and I deleted one. looks like I deleted the wrong one!

While in Rushworth we also visited a Community Garden that is attached to the Community House. Run by volunteers the locals can come and buy fresh produce through an honour box system. The initial framework and buildings were done by people who had been out of work for a while to give the training and self esteem as well as some income.

some raised beds decorated with tiles made by the local school kids

interesting design for the roof of the shade house
every one needs a mud brick garden shed
pizza oven
concrete couch

that’s all folks!

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

The tall photo wouldn’t show, summink wrong wit’ it…

try this. there were two and I deleted one. looks like I deleted the wrong one!

Yep, works for me, thanks BlueGreen

bluegreen said:

interesting design for the roof of the shade house
every one needs a mud brick garden shed
pizza oven
concrete couch

All on 40 acres! Ms Costa has been busy!

bluegreen said:

that’s all folks!

Thank you BG, I thoroughly enjoyed that :D

Dinetta said:

All on 40 acres! Ms Costa has been busy!

no these last few were of the Community Garden in Rushworth (I did say that in the post.)

bluegreen said:

Her imagination and ingenuity was evident throughout the garden. The result is a garden that thrives well in the climate and soils they she has to work with, yet with that personal touch that her particular talent has provided.

Lovely, and I love her local approach to the garden.

bluegreen said:

that’s all folks!

Fascinating, thanks BG :)

Happy Potter said:

bluegreen said:

that’s all folks!

Thank you BG, I thoroughly enjoyed that :D

Me too.

bubba louie said:

bluegreen said:

This trip was compliments of Violet Town’s Eco Living Education Committee and was free.

The main visit was to a low water garden created by Louise Costa, a landscape designer and creator. She started her garden about 5 years ago in a 40 acre property near Rushworth Vic. Her slate was a small, very run down corrugated iron house and a shearing shed in slightly better condition. The area immediately around the buildings was dust over ironstone rocks and had a history of grazing and pig rearing that had denuded the soil of all life. The first thing she did was bring in truck loads of mulch made from the local ironbark just to keep the dust from blowing away. She converted the shearing shed into living quarters as it was the better of the buildings, but has since fixed up the old house and the shearing shed is now available as a guest house.

Once the mulch was laid the local slat bushes started to grow first. They played a further role in stabilising the soil while she collected seed from local natives (within a 100km radius) and grew them on to create her garden. The only non-natives are edibles and are all kept within the one area. Her gardening style meant that her garden naturally segued into the naturally grown mallee growth around her in a way that it was impossible to tell where her garden finished and the bush started.

Part of me loves the idea of a natural bush garden, but I just know I’d end up not being able to resist sticking some exotics in as well.

I’m like that too Bubba.

bluegreen said:

that’s all folks!

Well done, thanks BG.

glad you all enjoyed it :)

makes it worth doing…