Bali-inspired tropical garden open for inspection in Brisbane

DREAM of chilling out in a tropical paradise? A Brisbane couple live the dream every day, with their own Bali-inspired garden.

Rene and Carolyn Hundscheidt in their Bali-inspired oasis in Sunnybank Hills. Picture: Annette Dew

DO YOU ever dream of chilling out in a tropical paradise? Rene and Carolyn Hundscheidt live that dream every day. Taman Air is the Bali-inspired tropical garden that surrounds their Brisbane home. Discover first-hand how the couple created the look when the garden is open for viewing next weekend.

A tropical garden is multilayered. A canopy of feature trees and palms provides shade. Rene and Carolyn recommend evergreen frangipani for its scented blooms, as well as pandanus and rhapis palms for foliage texture and contrast. Mussaenda is another brilliant choice because the blooms are surrounded by colourful bracts that last for months.

Stepping pavers create fun pathways, just mind your step. Picture: Annette Dew

Mid-level shrubs add flower and foliage colour, as well as a sense of enclosure and privacy. Cordylines, dracaenas and crotons provide year-round appeal, while flowering gingers reach their peak during summer and autumn.

Lower-level plantings and ground-hugging species flank walkways and cover the soil to create that jungle feel.

Anthuriums, caladiums and a host of species that would normally be considered indoor plants create a dense understorey that ensures there are few weeds to worry about. Bromeliads are another easy option for understorey planting, pots, green walls, or grown on tree trunks to add height and vertical interest. Look for red, grey, lime green or variegated foliage to add as much interest as possible. In sunnier positions, the stunning bronze Aechmea blanchetiana makes a brilliant feature.

Small bubbling fountains, which run on solar panels, muffle external sounds. Picture: Annette Dew

Use stepping pavers to create winding paths between the dense planting. In-fill with rounded stones, fine bark chip, moss or mini mondo grass. To add epiphytic interest, attach orchids, bromeliads, tillandsias and ferns (bird’s nest, elkhorns and staghorns) within the tree canopy. They hide bare trunks and ensure plenty of eye-level interest.

Lawn areas within tropical gardens are typically immaculate. At Taman Air, Rene chose sweet smother grass (Dactyloctenium australe) for its superior shade tolerance. Sweet smother is cut higher than traditional lawns and provides a spongy feel under foot. When maintained in this way, it is surprisingly tolerant of wear and tear.

Flowering plants, colourful foliage and a bright umbrella break up the greenery. Picture: Annette Dew

To cool the air and create focal points within a tropical garden, use large water jars to grow lotus and water lilies or float frangipani, bougainvillea or hibiscus blooms on the surface of the water. Use small bubbling fountains run on solar panels to introduce the sound of water. Apart from their contribution to the atmosphere of a garden, they muffle external sounds like road noise or neighbours.

Taman Air completes the traditional Balinese picture with a thatched pavilion and a swimming pool tiled with greenstone. For a tropical look in a cooler climate, substitute cold-tolerant species like piccabeen palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana), Fatsia japonica, bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae), vireya rhododendrons, iresine and clivia.

Need more inspiration? Visit Rene and Carolyn Hundscheidt’s Balinese water garden, Taman Air, 12 Furorie Street, Sunnybank Hills, Brisbane, February 24-25 (9.30am to 4pm). March 2 (7-9pm) for a night viewing. Adults $10; children under 16 free.