Welcome to My Garden

Riley Jordan has been a mad keen gardener for 20+ years. She grew up surrounded by fruit trees, a vegie patch and flowers everywhere. She now lives in the Dandenong ranges which are about 50km east of the city of Melbourne, Australia.

Spring preparation in the herb garden and rose beds.

Her current garden is just under half an acre (quarter of a hectare) and features about 40 tall messmate eucalyptus trees, 3 large conifers and numerous camellia’s, rhododendrons, ferns, azaleas, roses, geraniums, herbs and a vegie patch. The lawn is mainly a mix of moss, flat weed and some grass. The aim is to go all moss as it doesn't need mowing and it's very romantic.

The Grand Old Lemon Tree

Riley's favourite plants are a really old lemon tree and a frilly red and white flowered azalea. The lemon tree gives her fruit even though it is almost in full shade. The lemon tree is like a grand old lady who's make up is not quite right, frail but proud.

When I go for a walk, this is the view. I only get glimpses of this from my garden.

Riley moved to 'the hills' about 18 years ago when the garden was made up of nearly every listed weed in the area. The soil is heavy clay littered with shale rock and to top it off, there has been a drought in south eastern Australia for the last 12 years. The garden has been a challenge, a joy and overwhelming, sometimes all at once.

View from the window after a hail shower.

The garden has had many incarnations as drought has claimed many shrubs that were long established.

The summer of 2006 was a bumper crop. If you stood still for too long you it would have grown right over you. As Elvis would say "It's a Hunk O' Harvest". You can follow the current vegie patch by following the link at the top of the page.

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