Since July 2022, Botanic has been designing and maintaining a sprawling cottage-style garden in Newtown, blending classic plantings with a more refined, modern structure. As the original home has undergone extensive renovations, the garden has evolved in parallel, section by section, being reworked and renewed while still retaining some of its established character.
A long entry path, flanked by generous garden beds, forms a strong first impression. This area has been modernised for the next generation of the family home (now owned by the daughter of the previous owner), including a full redo of the brick pathway and the replacement of traditional plantings such as agapanthus and clivias with a more curated palette.
Key features include cloud-pruned camellias, mass-planted hydrangeas, and a surrounding clouded liquorice hedge that helps define and soften the structure of the garden. The result is a layered, cohesive landscape that balances formality with cottage charm.
Joel has been working on the garden for the past three years, progressively expanding and refining each zone. He has planted out the pool area and created a new garden surrounding the deck extension, introducing species such as salvia, cloud camellia and maple trees among others. “I enjoy keeping the structure in shape,” says Botanic Team Leader, Joel.
More recently, a new lower entertaining area for the barbeque and firepit was completed using Dromana topping and border planting to anchor the space. The garden remains a work in progress, with a final planting stage planned around a further deck, continuing its thoughtful evolution for years to come.