Landscape design by Fran Hale, Peachy Green.
In the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, this garden, designed by Fran Hales of Peachy Green, offers a refreshing departure from the neighbourhood’s more traditional landscapes. For homeowners recently returned from years in New York, the garden is both a unique family sanctuary and an open, welcoming green space that subtly pays tribute to their time in the United States.
Moving back to Melbourne, the homeowners envisioned a garden that would reflect their lives abroad — a place that would stand out from neighbouring landscapes and invite exploration.
Rather than adhering to rigid boundaries or classic styles, the garden was designed to flow naturally and evolve over time, rich with layered textures and an intriguing variety of native and exotic plants. The inspiration came from the concept of a “woody meadow” — a style that embraces both natural wildness and considered design, influenced in part by the iconic New York High Line. The result is an outdoor space that combines elements of urban greenery with a soft, organic aesthetic.
The garden’s layout and planting bring out the best of the home’s modern architecture. At the entrance, a mix of flowering shrubs and tall, textured foliage greets visitors, contrasting the concrete pathway with a sense of warmth and welcome.
Carex ‘Frosted Curls’ and other finely textured plants add softness, while a diverse palette of green tones, accented by pastel flowers and native plants, gives the garden a relaxed and elegant feel.
The garden unfolds as a journey, with defined zones that lead from the front yard to the back. In the north-facing rear, irregular stone pavers wind through the lawn to a custom concrete bench and barbecue area, a natural gathering space for family and friends.
Ornamental grasses along with clusters of soft purple Sedum and Japanese anemones bring subtle colour, adding an textural quality. This open, connected layout blends the garden with the streetscape and extends an invitation to passersby, encouraging a sense of community around the home.
As the garden matures, it continues to reveal new facets, shifting and evolving with the seasons. The layered plantings and mix of ornamental grasses and flowering perennials provide ongoing interest throughout the year, while trees will gradually add more shade to the outdoor areas.
Though initially inexperienced in gardening, the homeowners have become increasingly involved, finding pleasure in the simple act of planting new flowers and watching the garden grow — a newfound passion inspired by their own green space.
In the years to come, this garden will only deepen in character, creating a lasting, natural retreat that reflects both a love for the outdoors and an openness to the community around it. Like the New York High Line that helped shape its design, this garden is as much about interaction and flow as it is about beauty — bridging the home and the wider world in an unhurried, timeless way.
