Come on through

I'm no gardener. I'm not one of those people who finds it therapeutic and rewarding. I find it backbreaking and.....grotty!

But just because I don't love gardening doesn't mean I don't love gardens. My mum created a beautiful garden in the home I grew up in and I loved just being in it and soaking up the beauty.

My own poor garden is a little bit bedraggled and unloved. And it is also small. I love the idea of having a garden big enough to divide it into 'rooms', suggested by a garden gate or an archway. It provides a little mystery and romance, 'secret garden' style. I also love the idea of a gardener!

Hope you enjoy these garden rooms.

Images 1 Skona Hem via Purple Area 2 Sussie Bell 3 Kate French at Sarah Kaye Represents 4 Domino via Abbey Goes Design Scouting 5 Charlie Drevstam 6 unknown

Best wishes,

The cutest little house on the block

It's proving to be a challenging week in our household. I won't bore you with the details, but it's suffice to say my mantra of the week is 'calm, calm, calm'. And in keeping with my mantra, I thought I would show you this adorable house. It actually looks like an old mill. I just look at it and think how calm and delightful it looks, just nestled there against the lake.

I'm imagining that behind the house it has a little grassed area, like this below.




And there'd be some sort of deck, where you could just sick back with a cool drink and soak up that calming view.

You can't have an amazing view without an eating area - on a sheltered side of the house, filled with comfortable seating and potted flowers.

There'd be yummy things to eat and drink, all close at hand.

Maybe even a lounging area.

Ahh, now I'm feeling a little better!

I hope that if you are having a hectic week, these pictures give you a little holiday too.

Images 1 Janne Peters 2 Sam McAdam 3, 4 & 5 Martin Cederblad 6 House to Home via Dress, Design and Decor

Best wishes,

Cooling green

We felt the full force of summer here in Adelaide today. While Europe and Northern America shivers, we swelter. It reached a top of 41.3 degrees celsuis (106 degrees F).

Even now, past 8.00pm in the evening, it is a sizzling 38 degrees. My son eats an icecream on a stick while I have a long tall glass of water by my side, full of ice. This weather has me yearning for a much cooler day, sitting in a serene and soothing lush green garden.

I love this little covered garden seat, nestled into its greenery. A secret little nook. I could imagine sitting here with a good book and a glass of lemonade.

Chris L Jones

What appeals to me about all of these gardens featured in this post is their classical good looks, the minimal use of colour, with the emphasis on the form of the plants and the garden architecture - think archways, benchseats, trelliswork and stylish paving.

Country Style

Country Style

I love this little private walkway, ending with a lovely benchseat.

I don't know why, but I have a thing for diamond pattern paving. I have this sort of paving in my garden. Clipped hedges are also 'my thing'.

Australian Better Homes and Gardens

And finally, to really cool everything down completely, one of my favourite images ever...

Claire Takacs

I've just got home from my niece's graduation from primary school. I was very proud of her - she was chosen to make a speech on behalf of her class and she also won a merit award for her attitude and achievements.

The school principal made an uplifting speech, quoting Nelson Mandela's famous lines "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?"

But let's move on. On the weekend my mum stayed overnight at the home of her friends Brian and Leonie Barker. They live on a 2.5 hectare property called Alderbrook near Mylor in the beautiful Adelaide Hills.

When they first brought the property more than 10 years ago it was quite a shambles, with most of the property smothered by blackberry thickets and weeds. But they saw it's potential, and through sheer hard work and determination, turned it into a dreamy oasis. They did such a good job that a few years ago their garden was featured in Australian Country Style.

Here are the pictures featured in the magazine. I love hydrangeas, especially pink ones!




Here's Leonie and Brian, surveying their handiwork.

There's a creek and a damn, and little paths to wander along.

Koalas snooze in the tree forks, frogs hide in the flower cups of the lillies by the creek and kangaroos graze at the fenceline. Red bellied snakes also make an appearance from time to time.

It all looks so tranquil and cool, makes you want to sit awhile and just enjoy the sounds of the birds.