Pittwater Life January 2024 Issue

ansforming their backyard
Tinto a captivating oasis
became Luke and Tania’s
mission when they acquired
their 1970s Pettit & Sevitt
home in North Balgowlah. The
unruly 780m2 garden posed
a challenge, prompting them
to seek the expertise of Matt
Poiner, the visionary behind The
Conscious Gardener in Avalon.
This was a garden makeover;
it was the creation of a
beautiful awareness-filled
landscape. The journey
unfolded as Matt’s discerning
eye identified a starting
point: a concrete aggregate
pour around the pool, with
knife-edge surrounds. Tania
shared: “Matt’s process was
always about the garden – he
calls himself the ‘conscious
gardener’, and that couldn’t
be more fitting. He is so aware
of your requirements, the
aesthetic, and how you want to
use the space.”
As the transformation
unfolded, tall trees made way
for carefully curated foliage,
including broad-leaved
Elephant Ears and dotted
Hibiscus allowing for more
light. Dimmer uplighting was
installed to ‘hero’ the tropical
space after dusk, adding magic
to the atmosphere.
The battleaxe block’s slope
presented a unique challenge,
met with Matt’s clever
suggestion of a sandstone
retaining wall, featuring
repurposed blocks from the
property creating a sunny
courtyard. Tania praised him,
saying: “He’s a genius.”
Matt, in turn, expressed his
passion for helping clients
bring their garden dreams to
life, emphasising: “My role is to
help visualise that dream and
create the reality.”
Matt’s qualifications as a
horticulturist, combined with
extensive plant knowledge and
[advertorial]
CULTIVATING AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
“Matt’s process
was always about
the garden – he
calls himself
the ‘conscious
gardener’, and
that couldn’t be
more fitting”
design experience, make him
a true maestro in the realm of
garden transformations. From
concept to completion, his
strong methodology involves
understanding the client, their
requirements, and uncovering
the unique character of the
property.
The services offered by The
Conscious Gardener extend
beyond traditional landscaping,
encompassing design,
project management, plant
selection, stone walls, paving,
decks, pergolas, polished
concrete, and even outdoor
kitchens. Matt’s approach is
not just about gardening; it’s
about crafting an immersive
experience that reflects
the client’s desires and the
inherent beauty of the space.