Roses, Roses, Roses.
Address: 1 Bombira Lane, Mudgee, NSW 2850
Author: Jane Ivers
A glimpse up the leafy drive of Pam and David Stewart’s 35 year old garden in Bombira is a step back into the past. Wandering up this drive, which is flanked by two huge golden elm trees, the visitor follows a long border containing swathes of old fashioned flowers and bulbs. Narcissi, Japanese anemones, aqueligias, acanthus, geraniums, irises, forget-me-nots, bluebells and nepeta can be found here accompanied by clipped English box balls, viburnums and roses.
Three rose-covered archways lead from the drive onto the lawn where there are gardens filled with flowering shrubs such as escallonias and viburnums, in particular a stunning snowball tree. A trio of silver birches surrounded by ajuga and irises graces one of the gardens and along the swimming pool wall climbing rose ‘Pierre de Ronsard’ is accompanied by plantings of lavender. There is also a beautifully trimmed serpentine escallonia hedge and at the lower end of the garden an ancient willow tree stands watch over all.
Follow the escallonia hedge around to the back of the house where there is a magnificent shapely Chinese elm and admire the banksia rose hedge. A series of garden ‘rooms’ ensues: a vegetable garden complete with fig tree; a small walled garden with a pool containing gold fish and a marvellous variegated daphne; fruit trees including a huge grapefruit, and on the cooler side of the house, gardenias and azaleas.
Romantic roses complete the the pallette and you’ll find them dotted around the garden: amongst the annuals, gracing walls and arching over pathways.
The abundance of established trees helps to create a sheltered garden, one that is less subject to the vagaries of the Mudgee climate: dappled, scented and floriferous.