Rob Mihailescu, Mount Martha

Nestled in Mt Martha on the Mornington Peninsula, our tranquil garden of natives (with a dash of European flavour) provides a sanctuary for the senses and an immersive experience with nature. Each garden bed is layered with a curated composition of loose and structured plants while winding paths and intentional topography create a sense of hidden depths and endless exploration.

Through careful landscaping, there are multiple ways to journey through the garden, each route offering a unique perspective and evoking a continuous sense of awe and discovery.

From the entrance, vine-entwined messmate beams flank an avenue of round bluestone steppers leading to the outdoor dining zone. Here, a chunky hardwood table will in time be shaded by the canopy of Crimson Glory Vine. A wood-fired pizza oven adds rustic charm.

Nearby, the Growing Zone offers a bounty of fresh produce, with espaliered fruit trees, raised vegetable gardens, and a unique teapot garden bed overflowing with fragrant herbs.

A wander through the dipped pathway of the nearby ‘secret garden’ might make you feel dwarfed by the closeness and size of the natural elements around you. Here, the soft, feathery plumes of miscanthus contrast with the staccato silhouette of baby blue spinning gums, which have been strategically planted to allow the wind to carry its eucalyptus scent throughout the garden.

As you emerge from the dipped path, the landscape opens out onto a succulent garden that offers a complete change of perspective. Suddenly, you feel like a giant amid diminutive plants. This space exemplifies how functionality and beauty can harmoniously coexist.

At the heart of the garden lies an 8-tonne mudrock boulder. Round bluestone steppers behind the rock are slightly angled, beckoning you to sit and reconnect with Mother Nature. The height of the boulder offers an elevated perspective and the chance to be grounded through its cool, solid surface.

Natural seating materials, including chunky timber slabs and a giant messmate beam, are incorporated throughout the garden so that you are always connected to Mother Nature.

Circular shapes are a recurring motif throughout the garden, creating a sense of infinity, from the round bluestone steppers and large moon gate to the circular Sir Walter Buffalo lawn and sculpted Teucrium fruticans.

This garden delivers a place for entertainment and self-sustainment, for exploration and discovery, and for solace and reflection. Though still young, it promises to mature beautifully in the years to come.