Chanticleer Gardens, Arcadia, NSW

How’s this for a joint retirement project?

Chanticleer Gardens, Arcadia. Picture: Jason Busch.

When Grada and Peter Shipway married in 2002, they decided to buy a semi-rural 2ha block and create a garden as an early retirement project. Both widowed, they sought a compromise between Grada’s background on a working rose farm at Bilpin in the Blue Mountains, where she also had a lovely garden, and Peter’s suburban roots. Peter, it transpires, had always wanted to live on acreage.

They settled in 2003 in the aptly named Arcadia, on Sydney’s northwest outskirts, where they found both the soil and higher elevation to create an English-style country garden, full of cool climate plants. To help transform the former alpaca farm into their dream, the couple engaged landscape architect Melinda Bargwanna to plan 1.2ha of gardens around the colonial style house, built in 2000. “The plan gave us the structure and we’ve put our own stamp on it,” explains Grada. “We gradually added more paths and created smaller areas within the avenues of deciduous trees and hedges of box and lillypilly.”

Grada Shipway in her garden.

Tree planting began immediately. “We had set aside funds to buy mature trees,” says Peter. “That has certainly paid off because the garden looks much more mature than its 16 years.” The property’s name, Chanticleer Gardens, comes from the ornamental pear trees that line the formal courtyard near the home. This opens up to a classic cottage garden, from which extend sweeps of lawn and generous, curving beds filled with flowers. “It becomes less formal the further you go out from the house,” explains Peter. In early spring there are masses of hellebores, violets and forget-me-nots, soon followed by bearded irises, freesias, Shirley poppies and Scabiosa. There are roses of course, mostly David Austins, with salvias, Achillea, society garlic (Tulbaghia), princess lilies (Alstroemeria), hollyhocks and penstemons. “People say it reminds them of Monet’s garden,” says Grada. “I love that look of flowers spilling over the paths.”

Chanticleer Gardens. Picture: Jason Busch.

Grada is also a painter, and says she treats the garden “like a big canvas”. Peter claims “she gardens by day and paints gardens at night” but he is a willing cohort, taking responsibility for the lawns and hedges. “I like to do the hard stuff in the morning and then take it easy on the ride-on mower for the afternoon,” he says.

Both Peter and Grada love trees. There are flowering cherries, golden elms, silver birch, pin oaks, tulip trees (Liriodendron), and various maples such as ‘October Glory’, ‘Fairview Flame’ and Japanese maples. Grada brought from Bilpin 100 liquidambar seedlings, which are starting to make their mark along the back boundary as they approach 10m in height.

Chanticleer Gardens. Picture: Jason Busch.

Last year the couple started developing the remaining paddocks into gardens, converting the barn to stylish B&B accommodation and adding function facilities with gravel paths. “We’re conscious this will help ends meet, so we can stay here longer,” says Grada. “But more importantly, the garden is maturing now and we love to share it.”

Chanticleer Gardens is open on the long weekend, October 5-7, and October 12-13. Artists’ works on display and refreshments available. Entry $10, seniors $8, under-18s free. chanticleergardens.com.au

Q&A

My worm farm is full of compost. What’s the easiest way to separate the worms from the compost in a small space? Courtney Forde, by email

Most worm farms have a series of trays. When the first tray is full of worm castings you add the next tray on top. Over a few days the worms will migrate up to fresh food in the new tray, leaving the full tray for you to spread on your garden or pots. If you have only one container, move the contents to one side and fill the space with fresh food – this makes the worms migrate to that side, allowing you to harvest the castings on the other side.

I love ferns but many I’ve planted don’t survive. What do you recommend for my shady garden beds? M Zimmerman, Newcastle, NSW

Japanese holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) is tougher than most ferns. It features glossy, deeply divided leaves that provide good texture. Silver lady fern (Blechnum ‘Silver Lady’) is another top performer that grows like a dwarf tree fern with a rosette of lush foliage and a short trunk. It is fast and makes a good feature. Also try bold bird’s nest ferns (Asplenium australasicum) and prickly rasp fern (Doodia aspera), with pink new growth. Ferns need compost-rich soil and regular moisture.

I’ve tried unsuccessfully for three years to grow hydrangeas in clay soil. Any ideas? Gillian Ezzy, Casino, NSW

Hydrangeas need protection from hot sun, ideally with an east or south aspect. While they love water, they still need good drainage. Lighten heavy clay with compost, or plant on raised mounds to improve drainage.

Black Marvel liquid rose and flower food.

Send your questions to: [e-mail] or Helen Young, PO Box 3098, Willoughby North, NSW 2068. Website: helenyoung.com.au. The best question for October wins Richgro products worth more than $120, including new Black Marvel liquid rose and flower food. September’s winner is Lenore Harris of Melbourne for her question on battling soursob.