Who Is This Workshop For?

This workshop is for anyone who would like to welcome more wildlife into their garden, not only for the interest and enjoyment it brings, but also to support a healthier and more sustainable garden.

You’ll learn about the many connections between plants, insects, birds and other animals, and how supporting these relationships can create a more balanced garden with less need for human intervention and chemical controls.

It is also about learning to 'live and let live', allowing room for other creatures and finding pleasure in the unexpected.
There is always a sense of excitement in discovering a new species in the garden, watching the daily lives of birds or sharing those small moments of wonder with children.

No previous knowledge is needed! Just curiosity and an interest in making your garden a little more welcoming to wildlife.

What to Expect

We’ll begin the workshop with a presentation exploring how to create a wildlife-friendly, biodiverse garden, including the essential elements that provide food, water, shelter and habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife.

There will be time for questions and a brief introduction to the garden tour before we enjoy morning tea together.
I’ll then lead a guided tour through my garden, where we’ll take a closer look at the planting, water sources, shelter and other features that support wildlife and encourage biodiversity.

Wildlife can never be guaranteed of course, but you are likely to see one of our many resident possums, visit the bower of our long-term resident satin bowerbird, hear the call of various species of frogs in the ponds, and perhaps even spot the owlet-nightjar peeking from one of the habitat boxes.
We’re guaranteed to see many small birds, insects and reptiles with which we share the garden.

What is provided

- Morning tea, including a selection of slices from a local cafe
- Tea, coffee and fresh water
- Notebook and pen

What to bring

- A camera or phone, to take photographs
- A sun hat and sunscreen
- Comfortable, closed shoes suitable for walking through the garden
- Clothing suitable for the weather

Cost and Dates

- Saturday 24th October 2026, 9am to 1pm  Click here to book $125.00 inc GST

- Saturday 17th April 2027, 9am to 1pm Click here to book $125.00 inc GST

Cancellations can be made up to 7 days in advance

Who Is This Workshop For?

This workshop is for anyone interested in designing, or rethinking, the overall layout of their garden.

It will help you understand where garden design begins: well before choosing individual plants.
You’ll consider how the garden needs to function, how its different spaces relate to one another, and how to create a layout that feels balanced, cohesive and suited to its setting.

This workshop can be enjoyed on its own or combined with 'Designing Your Garden: Creating a Planting Plan', held on Saturday 13th February 2027.

What to Expect

We’ll begin with a presentation covering the first stages of the garden-design process, including:
- Developing a clear brief for your garden
- Understanding the site and its existing conditions
- Applying the fundamental principles of garden design
- Planning movement and connections through the garden
- Creating rhythm, balance and proportion
- Considering symmetry and asymmetry
- Arranging the main garden spaces
- Developing an initial concept plan for the garden’s overall layout

Following the presentation, you’ll have the opportunity to begin sketching a concept plan using graph paper and tracing paper.
I’ll be available to offer guidance and help you work through your ideas.

The aim is to explore the possibilities for your garden and develop a strong starting point; not to complete a detailed or construction-ready plan during the workshop.

Working on Your Own Garden

If you would like to work on your own garden, you are welcome to send me a copy of your house plans, property survey or an existing garden plan before the workshop.
If you don’t have any plans available, please contact me and we can discuss whether an aerial image or other information can be used to prepare a simple footprint for you to work over.
Your information must be provided at least one week before the workshop so I can prepare and print a suitable base plan for you.

Alternatively, I can provide an imaginary site containing a house, existing features and a garden brief.
This is a lovely option if you would prefer the freedom to experiment and create a garden without being constrained by the problems of your own property.

Please Note
This workshop focuses entirely on the garden’s overall layout, structure and spatial arrangement.
Individual plants, plant selection and planting plans will not be covered.
These will be explored in the separate Designing Your Garden: Creating a Planting Plan workshop held on 14 February 2027.

What Is Provided
- A printed base plan, where arranged in advance
- Graph paper and tracing paper
- Drawing pens, pencils and rulers
- Notebook
- Morning tea, including a selection of slices from a local cafe
- Tea, coffee and fresh water

What to Bring
- Any photographs or additional information that may help you think about your garden
- Your ideas, questions and a willingness to experiment

Cost and Dates
- Saturday 21st November 2026, 9am to 1pm  Click here to book $125.00 inc GST
- Cancellations can be made up to 7 days in advance

Who Is This Workshop For?

This workshop is for anyone who would like to create more considered, cohesive and beautiful planting combinations within their garden.

You’ll learn how to move beyond choosing individual plants you like and begin thinking about how plants work together.
We’ll explore the importance of structure, layering, repetition, colour, texture and seasonal interest, as well as choosing plants suited to the conditions within your garden.

The workshop is suitable for anyone establishing a new garden, refreshing an existing garden bed or simply wanting to understand why some plant combinations work so well.

No previous design knowledge is needed, just an interest in plants and a desire to use them more thoughtfully in your garden.

What to Expect

We’ll begin the workshop with a presentation exploring the principles of planting design, including how to choose plants for their purpose, combine different forms and textures, create rhythm through repetition and plan for interest across the seasons.

There will be time for questions and a brief introduction to the garden tour before we enjoy morning tea together.

I’ll then lead a guided tour through my garden, where we’ll look closely at different planting combinations and discuss why they work.
We’ll consider the role each plant plays, how plants are layered, the relationships between foliage, flowers, colour and texture, and how each area changes throughout the year.

I’ll also share some of the combinations that haven’t worked as expected, the changes I have made over time and the practical maintenance involved.
Participants will be encouraged to take photographs and make notes about ideas they may like to try in their own gardens.

Towards the end of the workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to begin developing a simple planting combination for a particular area of your own garden.

This workshop focuses on planting design and plant combinations.
It does not cover the overall layout of the garden, such as the placement of paths, lawns, entertaining areas or other major spaces.

What is provided

- Morning tea, including a selection of slices from a local café
- Tea, coffee and fresh water
- Notebook and pen

What to bring

- A camera or phone to photograph planting combinations
- Photographs of a garden area you would like to plant, if you wish
- Comfortable, closed shoes suitable for walking through the garden
- Clothing suitable for the weather

Cost and Dates
- Saturday 13th February 2027, 9am to 1pm  Click here to book $125.00 inc GST
- Cancellations can be made up to 7 days in advance

Who Is This Workshop For?

This workshop is for anyone who would like to learn how to grow new plants for their garden.

Propagation is a wonderfully satisfying and economical way to increase the plants you already love, create repetition throughout the garden, preserve favourite plants and grow extras to share with friends and family.

The workshop is suitable for beginners, as well as gardeners who have tried propagation before but would like to improve their knowledge and success.

No previous experience is needed, just an interest in plants and a willingness to have a go.

What to Expect

We’ll begin the workshop with a presentation introducing the main methods of plant propagation and explaining when and why each method is used.

There will be time for questions before we enjoy morning tea together.

We’ll then head into the garden to identify plants suitable for propagation and look at how and when the propagation material should be collected.

The practical part of the workshop will give you the opportunity to prepare and pot your own propagation material, with guidance provided throughout.
You’ll be able to take your newly propagated plants home and continue caring for them as they establish.

What Is Provided

- Notebook and pen
- Morning tea, including a selection of slices from a local cafe
- Tea, coffee and fresh water
- Plant material for propagation
- Pots, labels and propagation mediia
- The materials needed for the practical activities
- A clean pair of snippers for taking cuttings

What to Bring

- A camera or phone to photograph planting combinations
- Gardening  gloves if you prefer to wear them
- Comfortable, closed shoes suitable for walking through the garden
- Clothing suitable for the weather

Cost and Dates

- Saturday 13th March 2027, 9am to 1pm  Click here to book $125.00 inc GST