2026: 5 Maple Crt Mornington
Set in a quiet pocket of Mornington, Maple Court was designed with a simple brief: make the outdoor spaces feel larger, greener and more inviting. The result is a lush, layered garden where planting is very much the star, wrapped around a series of considered hardscape and water features.
A custom circular Blackbutt timber deck sits at the heart of the design, framed by soft Zoysia turf and anchored by a Ginkgo biloba ‘Lemonlime Spire’ rising elegantly through the decking. Nearby, a timber arbour is softened with Vitis vinifera, while garden beds throughout the property are shaped by a mix of Correa alba, Westringia, and clipped balls of Buxus Japonica and Buxus Sempervirens. Bluestone organic steppers wind through the garden, adding personality and function, and custom-built timber seating brings a warm, rustic note. A reflection pond with a gently flowing chute adds movement and sound to the space.
A rear entertaining deck, sheltered on three sides by the house, extends the garden into a true outdoor living space. Overhead, a Vitis vinifera climber trained across wires casts dappled shade through the warmer months, while an in-built barbecue and pizza oven set into a concrete-and-timber bench anchor the space for cooking and gathering. Generous seating for eight to ten makes it a natural spot to entertain through summer.
The garden’s owner is an avid golfer, and immaculate turf was a non-negotiable from the outset – Dominant Extreme Bentgrass has been used to create a genuine at-home putting green, a rare and much-admired feature for visitors with an interest in turf, while sitting comfortably within the garden’s broader green, textural character. As dusk falls, curated landscape lighting brings the garden’s key features to life.
Since installation, the garden has been maintained by the Smart Landscapes team to ensure the turf, trees and plantings establish and thrive exactly as the design intended — the garden visitors see today reflects that ongoing care as much as the original design.
Ahead of the Garden DesignFest, the property is being brought to its peak, with fine-tuning across every bed and surface to ensure it is presented at its best for visitors.