Pittwater Life March 2018 Issue

Hidden gardens revealed
News
Shhh… don’t tell the others!
Read on to discover a special
deal to see the pros’ designs…
Garden groupies are in for treat
this month with 13 usually
private spaces containing the
work of some of Sydney’s leading
landscape designers and architects
opening their “doors” – many for the
first and only time – to the public.
The Hidden Design Festival
showcases our city’s talented garden
makers, with two of the gardens
featured in this year’s event right on
our doorstep.
And as a special deal for locals
Pittwater Life readers can buy singleentry
tickets to the two gardens in
Bayview for only $8 per head at each
gate on the weekend of March 10-11.
Fans of Michele Shennen’s work will
be delighted to discover this year she’s
showing her very own garden called
‘wabi-sabi’
Michele, who has notched more than
35 years in the industry, describes the
space, which is carved out of bush, on a
slope, as a “crazy challenge”.
Only six years old, it comprises many
sections from formal zones flanked in
sandstone to “wilder” areas, a pizza
oven maple garden, sculpture garden,
productive vegie beds and a place for
her new chickens.
“There’s a lot to discover and
upkeep… it is a garden that either keeps
me young or ages me quicker, I am not
sure!” Michele said.
Why ‘wabi-sabi’? Michele says it
is Japanese, describing a thought of
transience and simplicity, finding
beauty in humble imperfection.
The other “hidden garden” in our
area ‘Coomalong’ is a welcoming
one-acre space designed around
natural rock outcrops and huge
native trees with magnificent views
overlooking Pittwater.
Lovingly developed by owners
Sue and Peter Glasson, the eclectic
gardens include an enchanting
Japanese-style garden designed by
Ken Lamb which incorporates an
existing pond with waterfall and
features granite pathways, lanterns,
rocks and typical Japanese plantings.
‘Coomalong’ boasts plenty of
places to pause and take in the
surroundings plus a carefully designed
vegetable garden and aviaries.
* Hidden Design Festival is on March
10-11. Tickets allowing entry to all 13
gardens are $55 supporting the Go
Foundation. Bayview Gardens each $8
a head for Pittwater Life readers. Info
hiddendesignfestival.com – Lisa Offord
18 MARCH 2018
The Local Voice Since 1991