Seen from the street, a gingerbread Victorian cottage near Melbourne, Australia hides its secret: a streamlined rear extension with a sleekly modern silhouette. The challenge for landscape architect Ben Scott of Ben Scott Garden Design was to create a garden to connect the two faces of the facade.
The result is a front garden with irresistible curb appeal: an informal, meandering design of old-fashioned flowering plants punctuated by spiky perennial grasses that add a modern sensibility.
The back garden is another story. During a remodel a few years ago, homeowners Lynn and Brett Cheong added spaces for outdoor dining and entertaining. To complement the contemporary design, Scott’s back garden emphasizes the sharp-edged geometry of the architecture.
Let’s take a walk around the garden, from front to back.
Photography by Derek Swalwell, courtesy of Ben Scott Garden Design.
For more growing tips, see Verbena: A Field Guide to Planting, Care, & Design.
See more landscaping ideas in Hardscaping 101: Ground Covers to Plant Between Pavers.
Before
After
The non-invasive Bambusa textilis ‘Gracilis’ (a clumping bamboo) is planted against the fence line to add privacy.
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