Bowylie – View across the ponds to the house
‘Bowylie’ has to be one of my favourite gardens in the Canberra region. Set amongst vast grounds just outside Gundaroo, about 45 minutes north of Canberra, the gardens are simple, understated and yet delightful.
Bowylie – The Blue Border
Plants have been grouped in stunning combinations and there is a mix of cottagey, herbaceous plantings, bold evergreen borders and rustic woodland gardens.
Bowylie – Pergola with Clematis climber
Simple Wisteria-framed verandah
The lawns were quite spectacular for such a dry region – my husband got some tips on micro-organism products and finally agreed to mow ours a little higher!
Bowylie Fruit, Vegetable, Herb and Cutting Flower Garden
The walled vegetable garden was stunning, with healthy produce and swathes of colour which is used to decorate the house.
Bowylie Cutting Garden
Bowylie espaliered apple trees
Bowylie Herb Garden
The garden has quite an English feel to it but uses plants which are very tolerant of the typically hot and dry weather. Spring is the major season of interest, with most plants being summer dormant to a greater or lesser extent, followed by another flush of flowers in the cooler autumn.
Bowylie cottage plantings
Aquilegias along a partially shaded wall
Catmint (Nepeta) makes a wonderful, very hardy edging plant
Bowlie drought tolerant colour with a great mix of textures
Bowylie – An English garden can be very tough in Australia if the right plants are chosen
It is not everybody’s cup of tea to have such an ‘exotic’ and traditional looking garden but this is a wonderful example of how, after many years of trial and error, a selection of plants have been found that thrive in this particular harsh climate of inland Australia. More lush evergreens would not survive the frosts but this garden shows that there are still many options for any environment. If you get a chance to visit you will not be disappointed.
Janna Schreier Garden Design 