A varied garden with trees, spring bulbs and natives in flower

In September, the delicate fresh green leaves of the deciduous trees at Y Creigiau start to emerge and beneath them, clumps of bulbs will begin their colourful spring show.

The name Y Creigiau, meaning ‘the rocky place’ is Welsh and was inspired by the rocky terrain of the 1.25acre sloping Eden Valley block. A huge outcrop of boulders and many tons of smaller stones were unearthed in creating the garden; the large outcrop has remained to become a feature and the smaller stones have been put to good use as walling and lining the paths that lead to the house and wind through to link different areas within the garden.

There are many trees on the property - several big old river red gums tower over smaller eucalypts and numerous exotic trees. The planting is varied, from shrubs, perennials including many salvias and bulbs, to an area of where natives and water efficient Mediterranean species look at home beneath the indigenous trees.  Sedum, grasses and strappy leafed plants like liriope line paths and add texture and contrast. Higher up the slope where the ground is very stony, pigface and succulents are happy in their exposed environment and create a bold display of interesting foliage shapes and colour.

The bulbs scattered throughout the garden create ground level pops of color – from diminutive little grape hyacinths to cheerful daffodils, jonquils, ranunculi, tulips, freesias, blue bells, Dutch iris and ixias – in all more than a dozen different types welcome the arrival of spring with a lively display.