68 Inglis Street, Mudgee
The greenest thumbs in Mudgee?
Twenty-eight years of gardening show in the great profusion of diverse plantings in the Dicksons’ town garden. The term “green thumb” doesn’t come close to capturing what Ros and Kevin have achieved. Ros says “It’s a bit feral”. I see a productive, inspirational wonderland, created by a gardener who has a genuine love of plants, horticultural skill and devotion, and lots of hard work.
Hundreds of well-selected plants, trees, and shrubs, perfectly suited to each different microclimate, surround the house, on all four aspects of the block.
This carefully considered approach has resulted in an astonishing diversity in a relatively small space. Everywhere you look, you’ll see something unexpected and delightful.
In October, you can hope to see flowering globe artichokes, roses, sweet peas, poppies, peonies, snowball viburnum, and water iris, and to enjoy the fragrance of a multitude of citrus blossoms. In the shade house, some of the many varieties of cactus may also be in flower, as well as hoyas and akebia (chocolate vine). Various spring bulbs are also planted throughout the garden.
Enjoying the safety of the dense plantings, small birds, including pardalotes and their hatchlings, may also be in residence in October.
Other features include a rose garden bordered with iris, borage and strawberries, and a magnificent weeping Wandin Pride apple which is still bearing fruit at 33 years of age. A lush sultana grape vine screens the verandah and produces many kilograms of fruit each year.
Ros describes her gardening style as “sometimes brutal”- she’s been known to take the lawn mower to difficult areas. She maximises putting all available mulch back into the soil on the block. There’s also a well-netted veggie garden in raised beds, and a commodious chook yard, complete with compost bins and worm farm.