 | Tony & Becky Broomfield .: 73 Gostwyck Road, Armidale |
The Three Rowans (named after a charming family restaurant, near Armadale, on the north west tip of the Isle of Skye in Scotland) enjoys a panoramic view to the east with Point Lookout on the horizon. When we moved in 4 years ago we planted three Rowan trees (Mountain ash) in the top paddock. For us it was a very appropriate name given the local Scottish history of Armidale and our previous life in the UK!
The garden is by no means finished; it is a work in progress. The bare bones were there although a multitude of conifers have been removed. The hedge, Lonicera pileata, is much admired thanks to the foresight of the previous owners.
The garden is both formal and informal. There are geometric shaped beds with clipped hedges featuring Japanese box, rosemary and escallonia – all hardy, frost resistant species. Iris, lavender and agapanthus are also in abundance due to their dependable natures! Handmade iron frames, made by David Mulligan at Guyra, provide frameworks for the Pierre de Ronsard, Albertine and New Dawn roses.
We have made several rockeries due to the sheer quantity of raw materials readily available in the garden! Rocks also provide edging for a bed that grows very well under our big old gum. Hebe, pigface, agapanthus and hellebore provide a year round structure.
Due to the steep slope looking east, two 7m x 2m wooden fronted terraces have been tied in to the slope providing a lower bed for vegetables and an upper bed for a wide range of perennials. A striking fluorescent purple/blue salvia creates hardy drought tolerant colour throughout summer and autumn.
Our 100 year old eucalypts have been seen several times by tree surgeons and now look healthy after the removal of mistletoe and old wood. In addition to a number of trees previously planted we have added in excess of 300 shrubs and trees. Approximately 40 Europeans are in the top paddock and include a mixture of ash, elm, hawthorn, chestnut, oak, birch, Manchurian pear and Japanese acer under-planted with daffodils. There is also a Wollemi pine which nearly died in its first Armidale winter (How did it survive the ice age?)! The majority of the planting has been of native specimens including South African proteus and leucadendrons as well as Hillgrove and Scoparia eucalypts, purple wattles, westringias and callistemons.
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