A country garden in the foothills of Mt Alexander
233 Reservoir Road, Harcourt North
The garden, like the house, dates to 1917 and is nestled in the foothills of Mt Alexander. The property has been, at times, a stonefruit orchard, an almond orchard and a tomato farm.
La Colline is a country garden with a large orchard and over 200 fruit and nut trees including a young pistachio orchard. An ancient and wonderfully fruitful mulberry tree dating from the early 20c shades the chook pen, planted in the days when there was a silk worm farm on nearby Mount Alexander.
It is a fairly waterwise garden, with many drought tolerant succulents and large trees. Recent plantings are largely Mediterranean – salvia, lavender, rosemary and artichokes. A pomegranate hedge borders the orchard and a young privet hedge is slowly creating a wind break from the south west.
An avenue of 100 Chanticleer pears approaches the house and almost evergreen Winter Glow pears line the west boundary. The pears have been stoic and thrive in spite of a difficult position, the ones on the east side of the drive having their roots submerged in a channel of water for many months at a time each winter.
The original vegetable beds in the north east part of the garden had to be relocated for the swimming pool. They have been replaced by four wicking beds near the tin machinery shed. A citrus grove is settling in around the old shed that has been repurposed as a pergola by the bocce pitch.
Views of the Mt Alexander foothills and the North Harcourt hills can be enjoyed from many aspects of the garden and the two paddocks. Visitors are welcome to walk out to the two dams, one in the north paddock and one behind the house.
Some spectacular granite boulders are scattered around the garden and add scale and a little grandiosity, as does the huge ancient eucalyptus in the south west part of the garden.
In early spring bulbs proliferate and later the many roses come into bloom. Many are quite old and unidentified, but there are lots of hybrid teas and David Austins from more recent plantings, particularly in salmon, peach and soft pinks. The Albertine on the wood shed wall has triumphed in the last few years and looks as good in winter without her leaves as she does in the full flush of spring with the round pruning that’s been undertaken in the last few years.
There are many young trees that have been planted in the last few years – eucalypts, wattles and other natives and also ashes, elms and maples. Many have flourished and quite a few have not, but tree planting is a compelling past-time when you have the space!
The current owners have respected the work of previous by adapting the garden rather than recreating it and so overall, the garden presents an interesting mosaic of the tastes and land uses of past and current custodians.
- Lisa and Neil
m: 0409 886061 - Toilets will be available on the day and parking will be in the south paddock
- There are steps and uneven ground through the property
- There are two unfenced dams and a fenced swimming pool. Dogs on leads
welcome - Open: Sat 2, Sun 3, Mon 4, Tues 5 (closed Wed,Thurs, Fri)
open Sat, 9, Sun 10 November - Times: 10am – 4pm
- $5.00 per adult, children free