I know I am at the right place when I pull up to see giant empty bags of lupin mulch waiting for collection at the front gate.
Enthusiastic gardeners Bron and Phil Genoni have lived at their Banjup property for the past 27 years and have created a thriving sanctuary where wildlife flourishes and there is always another project to inspire them.
“Gardening is our passion,” says Bron, who makes all the plant selections and dreams up new ideas, while Phil brings them to life.
“You see something and you think, ooh, we could do that,” she said.
“There is not much that you can’t do when you have a bobcat and an idea,” comments Phil.
A breathtaking, estimated 400-year-old paperbark provides a reminder of the land’s history and stands as a sentinel for the shady, mostly tropical garden.
Created as a homage to Phil’s time spent working in New Guinea, the garden features a gazebo, while the property also boasts a greenhouse, chook shed and expansive orchard.
A series of large ponds reveal a miniature ecosystem, providing a home for ducks, fish and long-necked turtles.
The turtles breed in the pond behind the house, with juveniles making their way to other ponds on the property.
Remarkably, five of the seven frog species known to inhabit this part of WA have also been identified here.
Carefully constructed concrete pathways make much of the garden accessible for people of all abilities.
“We tried to make it sustainable,” says Bron. Chicken manure feeds the garden, and Dsatco lupin mulch helps improve the Bassendean sand.
The couple replaced the original couch lawn with buffalo grass early on, while solar power now meets their electricity needs, leaving them virtually off-grid and without an electricity bill.
Five semi-trailer loads of moss rocks and a bobcat helped shape the landscape, creating dramatic features and naturalistic spaces.
The placement of the enormous rocks recalls Phil’s time working in the Pilbara and the Goldfields.
Around the waterfall, clivias and tree ferns thrive in the shade.
Elsewhere, Bron makes the most of every sunny spot she discovers, filling it with another plant.
For Phil, living here fulfils a lifelong dream.
“It was something I imagined I would create for my whole life,” he said.
The house is surrounded by English box hedges and old roses, many of which have been salvaged from houses scheduled for demolition.
Pruning at the end of August and a feed of chicken manure are mostly what’s needed for a spectacular display.
Beehives provide honey for the local beekeeping group, adding another dimension to this productive property.
Both families have a strong gardening heritage, making their passion for gardening feel almost inevitable.
“How could you not have a garden?” Bron asks.
“I just get up each day and garden. Busy people don’t have a lot of time to watch TV,” she adds.
The couple love sharing their garden with visitors.
The garden at 23 Muir Place, Banjup, will be open on October 31 and November 1, offering a range of activities including solar consultations, tea and scones, and a Jaguar Car Club display on Sunday.