A native garden with a naturalistic billabong

Sue Guymer and Bill Aitchison have created a stunning habitat haven, a bush block so naturalistic that it looks as though it has been there forever, despite them only moving in 30years ago!

This inspiring couple have transformed a one-acre block in Donvale (20kms east of Melbourne) from a cleared ex-orchard, totally devoid of any trees or plants apart from turf grasses, blackberries and a variety of weeds. While some may be overwhelmed, Sue and Bill saw it as a blank slate, a challenge to develop this site into something they would love, and they had always wanted a bush block. After meeting Doug, a landscape designer with a passion for locally native plants, they were able to realise their vision and commenced planting and designing.

This garden focusses on naturalistic layers of vegetation, or mimicking nature, to create a biodiverse, sustainable, wildlife friendly site. With a canopy layer consisting of eucalypts, these 30-year-old trees tower over the understory, shrub layers and the ground layer consisting of native grasses, herbs and groundcovers. While many species are present on the block, Bill has developed a passion for Acacias, with the Gold Dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea) flowering profusely throughout Spring.

The design also celebrates water, with a large constructed lake at the bottom of the block so established it is home to a range of aquatic species, frogs and waterbirds, including herons. Acting as an extension of the nearby Mullum Mullum Creek wildlife corridor, they have planted this area with locally appropriate species, including Tall Spike Rush (Eleocharis sphacelata) and Bulrush (Typha sp.). *It should be noted that Bulrush can colonise very quickly and form dense clumps in watercourses that can interfere with the movement and flow of water, so caution should be exercised, and local guides checked before planting this species.*

The edge of the lake has well-established stands of Tea Tree (Melaleuca sp.), creating a great screen and associated habitat.

There is another watercourse on the property which is an incredible converted swimming pool, planted with beautiful Tassel Cord-Rushes (Baloskion tetraphyllum), Mountain Cord Rush (Baloskion australe) and Water Ribbons (Cycnogeton procerum syn. Triglochin procera) growing under the water to act as an oxygenator and food source for frogs. Running Marsh Flower (Ornduffia reniformis syn. Villarsia reniformis) with its bright, butter yellow flowers line the edge of this natural pool to pond conversion.

Their motivation was simple – “we wanted to give something back” explains Sue. “We wanted to create an ecosystem, and we believe we have succeeded given the volume of wildlife we have seen on the block”.

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