A fantastic collection of Mediterranean and Australian native plants plus superb views of surrounding vineyards

Orcombe Farm is a one-acre country garden with superb views of the surrounding vineyards and Barossa Ranges. A bare site just eight years ago, the garden was designed and created from scratch by Aleisha Lynch, a third-generation Barossa horticulturist and previously the head gardener at the Paul Bangay-designed garden at Barossa Valley Estate.

Within the garden, there are beautifully colour coordinated perennial borders, areas for growing Australian natives, succulents and cut flowers, a vegetable garden and a productive patch with wicking beds and fruit trees. Since the last opening, Aleisha has established new garden beds and planted a carefully selected collection of Australian native plants.

Each area is distinctly different, and each has been designed to endure hot, dry summers. Plants were selected for drought tolerance and durability, as well as their form, flower, and foliage colour.  Harvested rainwater is the property’s only water supply, so the sustainable plantings thrive on modest supplementary watering through the summer months. The extensive range of vibrantly coloured perennials includes many salvias, echium, agastache, echinops, with grasses adding softness and contrasting shape.

Seven acres of grassy woodland surround the property, and beneath the mature blue gums are many pretty ground-dwelling native wildflowers, including chocolate lilies, bulbs, flax, and garland lilies, as well as native grasses.

The landscaping materials used in the ironstone rock walls, crushed gravel paths, and throughout the garden have mostly been sourced on the property.

A beautiful and colourful example of a garden thoughtfully designed by a professional horticulturist to suit the site and to attractively incorporate her collections of Australian and Mediterranean plants.

The Garden at Barossa Garden HomeStay in Williamstown is open this weekend, too.