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Open garden: Kinclaven, South Australia

Kinclaven reflects its owners’ passion for travel and the different ideas they have picked up on the way.

Kinclaven. There’s always something of interest all year round.
Kinclaven. There’s always something of interest all year round.

Kinclaven, 56 Waverley Ridge Road, Crafers West, South Australia, 10am-4.30pm; $8, under 18 free. Owners: Margaret and Michael Randle

DESCRIBE THE GARDEN: It’s two acres (0.8ha) of densely cultivated, sloping hilltop land in the Adelaide Hills. The house dates from the 1880s and some grand trees are 130 years old, including atlas cedar, copper beech, golden cypress and weeping elm.

The garden is quite eclectic, reflecting our passion for travel and the different ideas we pick up. There are similarities to gardens in the south of France near Menton, in which there’s no strict formality but paths ramble everywhere through a huge variety of plants, many of them exotic, grouped together harmoniously.

We love the lush, tropical look, created with cold-tolerant foliage such as Aucuba, Fatsia, kentia palms, ferns, gingers, aspidistras and philodendrons. These give a Southeast Asian kick but certain other parts of the garden have an Italianate feel.

Bright, sunny areas alternate with shade, enlivened with a lot of water features and statuary.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL: A conscious effort to cram interest into every corner, using a wide variety of plants, architectural features and unusual design.

There’s always something of interest, even in the depths of winter. We bought here in 1996 and have been developing it ever since. We both work in the garden, and develop ideas together, although Michael does 70 per cent of the perspiration and it’s mostly his botanical and horticultural knowledge.

BIGGEST CHALLENGES: Sloping terrain, poor soil, soggy winters and hot, dry summers. We’ve redeveloped several areas under very large conifers such as the atlas cedar and a golden cypress where lawn became impossible.

FAVOURITE PART: The darling of the moment is a just-completed oriental waterfall garden with a three-tier pond. It was technically and physically challenging; we had to do all the digging by hand as there was no room for machinery. It was just a lacklustre embankment to which we’ve added pathways and steps as well as the ponds.

WHAT’S LOOKING GOOD: The garden looks fresh and lush thanks to a mild spring and recent rains. There’s a large area of roses, including David Austins, rugosas, hybrid teas and old-fashioned species.

The colour-themed perennial borders include red-hot pokers, alstroemerias, Filipendula, Wachendorfia and Arctotis, and the Centranthus is rampant. We also use lots of kangaroo paws in different colours — it’s still a perennial, just a native one.

EXTRAS: Morning and afternoon teas with Margaret’s homemade cakes. We’re fundraising for Stirling Country Fire Service.

Helen Young
Helen YoungLifestyle Columnist

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/style/open-garden-kinclaven-south-australia/news-story/0fee4f3e2a7f8932c22b8ecc2f7f6d7a