modern MEADOW

A wild and wispy garden in Melbourne's inner north is a blissful sanctuary, not just for the owners but also the local native fauna.

- STORY Chris Pearson PHOTOGRAPHY Martina Gemmola

The birds and the bees have a special resonance for the owners of this enchanting meadow-like garden in Melbourne's inner north. The couple and their two sons, 15 and 11, share it with myriad wildlife, most of it welcome, all as smitten by the garden as they are. About a year after it was finished in 2022 - although you could argue a garden is never finished - a swarm of bees massed near the fence. The couple called in experts to lure them away, but they instead suggested a hive. “Our bees especially love the purple flowers,” says the owner, abuzz with the sweet benefits of 10 kilos of honey a year.

When the owners bought the Victorian two-storey brick terrace, they were especially drawn to the expansive back garden, which rambled towards the rear fence. Beneath four soaring elms, about half a century old, was a wonderful woodland, a secret garden, overgrown and hiding diverse plant species. “The outdoor space drew us to the property,” says the owner. “We love trees and they took up as much room as the house itself. The garden had once been loved, but was overgrown with an old box hedge, honeysuckle and jasmine.”