​

Across the gate lies a paddock and a hill that reaches toward the sky. 
Thus the concept for the garden began. A design of scale necessary to create a balance between two dominant elements. Land and Sky. 
​
Duck Creek Lodge is situated below the ether above a beautiful little valley with the courtyard & main lawn giving elevated views of the property toward the North West. Down the hill, the serpentine hedging cradles orchards of heirloom fruit trees, flowering cherries and Manchurian pears line the driveways. Beyond there is a shaped pond surrounded by a selection of trees which will colour beautifully into the autumn. Further on again is Duck Creek nestled in a stand of the original native bush, all framed by rural pastures and a sweeping skyline. 

 

The building platform and house position were managed to maximise northerly views within this bucolic setting. The house sits comfortably just below a sculptured grassy knoll. The natural landscape, grapevines, horses and olives seemingly the only other occupants.

 

Fertile but with wind & the hard yellow East Coast clay dictating the terms. Tree & plant selection became paramount in achieving the desired results, careful consideration taken within the planting design to respond to the cost realities of working a large scale garden. The design ethos, to maximise impact planting and yet to keep the maintenance values low. 
​
Large scale native bush regeneration planting has been incorporated into the property. Firstly to reduce maintenance of areas not easily managed, secondly to increase the union between the heritage bush of Duck Creek and the garden at large. 

​

What a wonderful opportunity to have worked with two amazing sets of Owners in creating the Duck  Creek garden. With most of the fundamentals now in place, nurturing & fine-tuning the young garden will be all it takes to realise the potential. Oh, and of course a little more time...