You want your plants to perform, then give encore after encore. But when your temperatures range from a bone-chilling -7 degrees in winter to a searing 47 degrees in summer, this can be troublesome.
But, by trial and error, a couple of treasure hunters at The Stones in central Victoria have created an environment where plants thrive to make an informal and charmingly eclectic welcome, despite the tough conditions!
When the time you have in your garden is fleeting, you need plants that survive on their own – this is when and where only the fittest thrive! A gentle weep is good for you Plant an evergreen such as a peppercorn tree – the narrow leaves cast a lacy shadow, allowing the winter sun to filter through and warm up the understorey plants.
Located at: 1530 Hepburn- Newstead Road, Clydesdale, a 130km drive from the Melbourne CBD, Victoria. It will be open to visitors on Saturday, April 26, and Sunday 27, 2025. Prices to be determined.
Visit the Stones Garden
Engage your imagination for unique opportunities – such as converting an old iron bedstead into an outdoor table by running a few hardwood planks through it. It’s rustic, a bargain and eco-friendly all-in-one!
If you lack abundant time to tend to your garden, let it grow a little bit wild. A naturalistic look is easily achieved with stone walls, wooden gates and curved lines that follow the natural landscape and enhance the rugged atmosphere, as here.
If your aim is to sit and enjoy your garden rather than spending time forever working on it, go for an informal, rustic theme. A gravel floor means no mowing or weeding and the curves are organic.
Extremely hot and dry summers can exhaust your garden if you’re hoping for traditional displays of riotous colour. Instead, you can opt for a garden bed filled with structural succulents and whimsical grasses that thrive when there’s limited water and no shelter or shade.
Be prepared to see your agave (A. americana ‘Variegata’) suffer a bit if frosts are long and severe, but these are tough old nuts and, with a trim of the brown bits in spring, they’ll come back bigger and stronger!
How to build your own evolving garden
01
Prickly pear cactus
Opuntia
Prickly pear cacti are known for thriving in even the most harsh of temperatures. You’ll definitely need some protective gear when handling this plant, but it’ll add in so much great texture to your garden!
02
Wisteria
Wisteria
Who doesn’t love a trellis with wisteria on it? The best part about wisteria is that it is a deciduous plant, which means it will follow the change of the seasons. During autumn, this climbing plant will have beautiful orange hues as the leaves drop, but in spring and summer, the flowers will burst with brightness!
03
Barrel cactus
Echinocactus grusonii
These blobby little cacti are the perfect feature to add to your evolving garden. These offer great visual interest without taking up too much space.
Be warned though! These barrel cacti are extremely spiky!
04
Devil’s rope cactus
Cylindropuntia imbricata
Cousin to the prickly pear, these spindly cacti are easy-growing and work well in arid, dry environments. They can grow up to 1-2m tall, so make sure you keep an eye on them!
