Alexander Erlich garden, Darwin
A cyclone devastated this place only 18 months ago.
In March last year, the Darwin garden that Alexander Ehrlich and his family had enjoyed for eight years was virtually destroyed by Cyclone Marcus. He describes its recovery as “nothing short of a resurrection”.
Ehrlich, his wife Christina and their three young children moved to Darwin from Sydney in 2007 when Christina took up a two-year posting as CEO of the Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists. They loved Darwin, the job was extended, and they decided to stay.
In 2011 they bought their elevated house in Ludmilla, 4km from the CBD, on 1500sqm next to a creek and nature reserve. The previous owners had developed a beautiful garden, welcoming visitors under the Open Gardens Scheme.
Although Ehrlich, a club manager, had only worked with container plants before, he threw himself into gardening and hasn’t looked back. “I was lucky to meet Gavin Perry, a professional gardener who had actually laid out the garden more than 20 years ago,” he says. “We became good friends. He’s taught me a lot over many cups of tea.”
Until the cyclone, the garden was dominated by huge trees whose canopies provided deep to dappled shade. “Everything lived under that canopy. We’d go into the garden to cool off,” Ehrlich recalls. “The biggest tree was a Mimusops that was seriously big. It must have been 150 years old with an enormous span.” It toppled gently in the high winds, came to rest on the roof and had to be removed by crane. “Everything was shredded in the cyclone,” he says. “Nothing was standing except a few palms that looked incredibly tall left out on their own.”
When Perry came over to help, he was shocked. “The damage was devastating – we both cried,” he says. Gradually they cleared the debris with the help of friends, uncovering the pond and paths of crushed stone. Damaged gingers and heliconias were cut back, and plants moved. “Whatever was left wilted and burnt instantly in the relentless sun,” Ehrlich says. “It was awful.” As the restoration progressed, he took the opportunity to move some paths and do a little redesigning. Big piles of treeloppers’ chippings went back on the garden as mulch, along with homemade compost – and water. Darwin can be bone dry from April to October, making irrigation a necessity.
Then the regrowth started. Trees started germinating from seeds in the ground and gingers sent up new shoots that acclimatised to the newly sunny conditions. “I could not believe the astonishing rate of growth and the amount of seed that germinated,” Ehrlich marvels. “A sandpaper fig grew 4m tall from seed in just over a year. Bananas and pawpaws grew 3-4m in five months. The majestic gingers, which I also adore for their flowers, are now twice as big as they used to be when they competed with the trees. So many things are growing better than ever.”
The transformation has had a profound effect. “I used to feel I was working in someone else’s garden. Now I feel like nature owns it,” says Ehrlich. “It’s so powerful seeing nature on steroids in Darwin. It makes me realise I’m just a bloke on the side with his secateurs, doing a bit of containment.”
The garden is open 10am-4pm on July 20 and 21, $7 admission. opengardensnt.org.au
What specimen tree could we plant to celebrate the birth of our first grandchild? Temperatures on our farm in central Victoria range from -4 to 45°C. We have thriving ornamental pears, gleditsias and ash trees. Kerry Winzar, Longlea, Vic
Ginkgo biloba or maidenhair tree is an ancient, long-lived species with lovely form and foliage that turns gold in autumn. Buy a grafted male tree as the female fruits are smelly. Other deciduous trees of character include pin oak (Quercus palustris), Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) and Chinese pistachio (Pistacia chinensis). A mulberry might be fun for children. Deciduous magnolias provide some smaller choices; give them protection from hot afternoon sun.
Most of the fruit on my Siam chilli stay green; only a few turn yellow. Why? Judy Hopwood, Sydney
Chillies, like related capsicums, change colour to yellow, orange or red as they ripen. In cool weather they take a long time to do this, but you can pick them green when at full size. Fruit on plants that survive winter won’t be as hot as they are in summer.
I still find slugs and snails on my lettuces despite using pellets. Do they contain attractants? How can I deter snails? Barry, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Pellets do contain attractants; only those based on iron are safe for pets and wildlife. A spray of one part espresso coffee to five parts water will kill gastropods; alternatively, hand pick them at night. A saucer of beer dregs will attract and drown them. Citrus halves also work as traps. Place barriers around new plantings – copper tape is most effective, or use coffee grounds or diatomaceous earth.
Send your questions to: helenyoungtwig@gmail.com or Helen Young, PO Box 3098, Willoughby North, NSW 2068. Website: helenyoung.com.au. The best question for July wins 20 Multi-Hang modules to make a 1.2 sq.m vertical garden on any backing. Worth $140 from wallgarden.com.au
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