Pleasing plantings complement a dramatic landscape
“Shearstone”, 1262 Ulan Road, Mudgee
Author: Jane Munro
Shearstone is named after rocks which were historically quarried on this property for use as sharpening stones for wool shears. Karol started gardening at Shearstone over 20 years ago, following a visit to the Coolah open gardens.
The house site and garden have been carved into the hillside with expansive views over Mudgee. Hardy, untamed Xylosma creates windbreaks and privacy screens. Plane trees and rusty old farm machinery add points of interest. Karol herself has built extensive dry-stone walls.
Paving stones and a grand, rock slab staircase lead from the house to the top level of the garden. Here, an expanse of lawn forms the stage for a dramatic outcropping of rocky boulders. The backdrop is an array of deciduous trees- including golden ash, desert ash, Chinese elms and poplars.
The northern side of the house looks out onto a wall of foliage- catmint, snow in summer, erigeron, star jasmine, and a proliferation of self-seeded agapanthus. The floral colour palette is dominated by whites, blues and cheerful pops of pink.
Karol says she has achieved the “holy grail”- a low-maintenance garden with few weeds. She’s achieved this by taking risks, learning from experience, and not being afraid to use a chainsaw when required. Recent additions are numerous poplars, which Karol propagated by “chopping branches from a fallen tree into pieces, sticking them the in ground and giving them water”, and an orchard, now 4 years old. There are cherries, various nuts, mulberry, and citrus varieties with veggies interplanted, and 3 rows of delicious table grapes. The table grapes are lavished with special attention- including using a leaf blower to dry the fruit after rain.
