delphinium, campanula and yarrow, hardy perennials and self-seeding annu- als share the same bed, so there is always lots of colour. On one side of the yard is the kitchen
garden where scarlet runner beans vie with wild cucumber to clamber up trel- lises and other supports. One chicken- wire-enclosed bed is dedicated to Evelyn Maude, grandmother, containing her favourite flowers: godetia (also called clarkia) sunflowers and sweet peas, and sheltered by the vines of wild cucumber. Olva loves dreaming about what to
A great spot to relax after a long day.
plant. She has formed an appreciation for native flowers and with all the room she has, aggressive plants such as tansy and campanula are very welcome, as are the false sunflowers and wild impa- tiens. Hardy native liatris, wild iris, self- seeding bachelor buttons, satiny pink lavatera, sky blue flax and spreading yarrow are others that she appreciates. There was still so much to be done
A container and large boulders offer interest to a small grouping of trees.
Bed dedicated to grandmother, Evelyn Maude.
even though hours of labour had gone into creating tidy outhouses: a green- house and tool sheds, green painted fences and the tamed lawn. On the planning books was the
installation of the great fountain from the Bay that had once occupied a space near the Paddlewheel restaurant on the top floor, where everyone used to meet. When the Odlums heard it was being sold, they had to have it. Meanwhile, there are more trees to
plant among the apples and beside the small mountain ash. Olva would like some dwarf apples that can be sheltered from the wind. In the morning sunlight, the air
Railway ties are used to enclose the gardens.
is still but punctuated by bird calls. Indoors, Olva prepares coffee and sets out ‘biscuits’ for her guests. A feeling of calm presides over the yard and the house; it as if someone had just taken a long breath and let it out slowly. It seems to say building a garden in the country is the perfect way to top off two long and successful careers. P
28 • Beautiful Gardens 2014
localgardener.net
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