JAM Garden Bench

The JAM garden seat has a real woodland feel to it. The huge Wattle tree branches that cover it have spread even further, and there is a festival of foliage everywhere you look.

The JAM Garden Seat (Winter 2004)

Across the water race the Gunnera has expanded, along with the Ligularia and the ferns. The large flaxes just past Rooster Bridge have Renga Renga planted in front of them.

Flax and Ligularia

Overhead Wattle Trees

The water race is narrower here underneath Rooster Bridge, and seems to be a little noisier as it burbles and gurgles past. It's a great place to bring a book to read. The Wattle trees above are often full of fantails, who flit and hover overhead. This is quite tantalising for any companion cats, but the fantails are rarely in danger.

If you turn around and look into the JAM garden itself there is a tremendous variety of foliage to admire, from bergenias and low strappy irises to the crinkle leafed Ligularias and the shining leaves of the camellias.

A Shady Seat

A cream and green variegated Coprosma has tripled in size in a year, and the small flaxes are equally happy, even though the garden here is quite shady.

The JAM Garden Seat (Archives)

Sitting on the JAM garden seat I can see the old rustic Hen House over the water with its sentinel gums. I've clearing this area, but it still retains its semi-desolate feel.

The gum tree trunks are very textural, with strips and patches of bark missing. Through the fence-line the water race gurgles its way around a corner and out of sight.

A Special Spring Spot

Sitting here in the shade on a hot summer's day is a real pleasure of green, with no roses in sight. But if the winds are blowing, forget it - it's far too noisy! There's more colour in spring, as the camellias show their puffy pink flowers with the clear blue Corydalis flowers underneath.

Dark crimson hellebores complete the picture. It may be the ultimate experience in pastel, but it's one of the most beautiful places to be in the whole spring garden.