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Jennie Stephens

15 Dewhurst Drive, Mudgee.

An airy eyrie looking towards the eastern hills.

Perched high on the hills on the southern edge of Mudgee, Jennie Stephens’ house and surrounding double block (formerly the site of a slate mine) overlook the town below, and across to the eastern hills.

Jennie and Sam moved to Mudgee in 2014, and commenced major renovations to the existing garden. They brought rocks from their Coolah property, and used these to create new landscape features throughout their large south Mudgee garden.

The existing trees were thinned by about a third, to create light and space, and a 60-metre garden bank was developed. Jennie planted many new evergreen shrubs and perennials, over 60 rose bushes, and various bearded iris, all compatible with an overarching pastel colour scheme.

The broad verge between the double block and the roadside, has been transformed by the establishment of beautifully mulched beds with native plants, and several distinctive sculptures.

The seemingly random, undulating profile of the hedged jasmine and bush roses, marking the eastern boundary of the property, echoes the topography of the line of hills to the east, viewed from the house, and enhancing the airy atmosphere of the ridge-top.

Close to the house, a dramatic effect has been created, with lawn expanses, bordered with metal edging, juxtaposed against areas of rust-coloured crushed granite, spread out under the established trees. Sunlight filtered by the foliage of a large Deodar cedar and Chinese elm cast beautiful dappled shadows on these gravelled areas. Bronzewing pigeons wander around fearlessly.

Sculptures, and whimsical ornaments, are strategically placed throughout the main garden areas. All the plants are bursting with vitality and care. Notable shrub and tree plantings include crabapples (which should be flowering in October), xylosma screening, crepe myrtles, rhaphiolepis, oleander, duranta and variegated elm, and a lovely pale lilac-flowered buddleia.

In the flower garden, there are colourful chrysanthemums, and a sublime pink “Duet” rose. Pink and white roses bordered by a buxus hedge adorn the front of the house. There are geraniums, verbena, iris, salvias, velour sage and a very happy hebe.

 

Birds are welcome, and an elegant bird feeder attracts the king parrots. If you listen carefully, you may hear gentle, low, “oom oom” sounds, the call of the bronzewing pigeons for whom this garden is home.

 

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Feroz Wani and Joan Shadbolt

“Sungarmaal”, 19 Leconfield Drive, Mudgee.

Sunlight and shadows enhance design and atmosphere.

Behind its extensive photinia hedge, Feroz and Joan’s 1.2ha park-like garden presents a pleasing scattering of a variety of deciduous ornamental trees, including pairs of close-planted ornamental pears (as Joan says, “almost holding hands”), providing leafy, shaded refuges in summer. The many crabapple trees will be putting on their spectacular display of flowers, in October.

In between the trees, are scattered enticing geometric-shaped beds, densely planted with bright-flowered perennials- notably, dutch iris, bearded iris, and gauras. Each of these beds has its own character, inviting exploration.

In this, more formal part of the garden, there is a developing display of espaliered apples, peaches and pears.

Moving from east to west, at the rear of the residence, there are bright, semi-formal beds of flowering perennials, surrounding a paved area and shady verandah, with a grape arbour. There’s a lovely long bed of bright pink valerian, shaded by tall hakeas, which are a magnet for black cockatoos.

Moving further towards the west, a deep, densely planted bed containing roses, mays and iris separates the house from the native garden. A fragrant honeysuckle tumbles over a shaded garden seat. This is where Feroz likes to “sit on one of the benches and enjoy a book, with a cup of tea in hand”.

Hidden away in this part of the garden are shadecloth tunnels, in which leafy green vegetables are thriving.

The western side of the property has been dedicated to a very lovely native garden. In an area that was almost desolate when they arrived, Joan and Feroz have planted callistemons (many of them graceful, weeping varieties), hakeas, and wattles. These are set out in informal rows, and separated by shaded grassy spaces. Bordering these are various eucalypts, their uppermost branches interlace over the top of this delightful grove, dappling the whole magical space with their shade. The overall effect is of peace and tranquility, in the midst of nature.

The perimeter of this native garden is defined by broad band of grasses, agapanthus, pigface and lavenders, which soften the transition to the edge of the block. Joan says, “I love the view to the south-west. When the shadows come across, it looks like garden goes on forever”.

Other notable features include some huge, old oaks, elms and box elders, and many roses, including some incredibly lovely trellised favourites. The sublime specimen of Pierre de Ronsard is not to be missed.

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Matthew and Susan Rayner

37 Robert Hoddle Grove, Mudgee.

Splendid vistas and shady hideaways.

The Rayners’ Bombira garden, which they’ve been working on since mid-2024, has benefitted from the excellent “bones”, including many advanced trees, established by the previous owner. The Rayners’ approach has been to trim the existing plantings, and fill the gaps, and this process is on-going.

On the uphill side of the house, terracing of the well-protected north-facing slope, and dense planting of a huge variety of shrubs, has created a surprisingly cool microclimate, which, together with the exciting variety of plants on show, makes the paths along the terraces very pleasant to walk on, even on a hot day. A mass planting of lambs-ears creates a silver cascade down the slope. You’ll come across a well-established jacaranda, robust specimens of Loropetalum “Plum Gorgeous”, many rose varieties, crepe myrtles, hostas, hellebores, hedged conifers and escallonia, and magnolia varieties.

A landscaped area featuring a rustic fence and gateway, marks the transition between the front and rear garden areas. The northern expanse below the house is bounded by tall eucalypts along the fence line, and graced with extensive bucolic views to the north. Saltbush and other hardy shrubs are doing well in dry soil under the ironbarks.

These bordering beds surround an extensive, gently sloping, grassed area. Planted throughout are olives, weeping cherry, ornamental pears, various viburnums, large lilli pillis, pin oaks and various smoke bushes.

Wisteria and ornamental grapes have been allowed to grow over arbours, and there are several secluded spots with denser plantings, which invite exploration.

A stairway of silvered timber, linking the lower garden area to the house is flanked by hedging. Plantings on either side of the steps include an extensive areas of pigface, lavenders, rosemary, teucrium, buddleias, silver birch, prunus, bottle brushes and escallonia.

Magnificent Lombardy poplars border the western boundary. Throughout this garden you will find several unusual shrubs, rarely seen elsewhere in Mudgee, thriving in the sheltering niches which have evolved in this bountiful garden.

 

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Liz and Ross Mayberry

13 Burgundy Road, Mudgee.

Interesting planting priorities make for a fascinating and delightful garden.

Situated near the end of a cul-de-sac lined with mature pin oaks, the Mayberrys’ garden begins at the kerb. A verge planting created 6 years ago (largely comprising drought-tolerant native shrubs and groundcovers), is well-established under the shelter of a massive Chinese Elm. This restful, shaded refuge comes alive with masses of jonquils in spring.

The well-mulched front garden, containing various ornamentals, is enhanced by elegant trellises, hand-made by Liz from willow stems. Sweet peas will ramble here in spring. An ornamental grape screens the front porch.

Plant selections prioritise vegetables and other edibles, plants whose leaves and stems can be used for weaving, and plants that provide food and shelter for birds. A pomegranate tree provides food for king parrots. An on-going project is to establish a dense understorey which it is hoped will attract blue wrens. Several fruit trees are also grown for human consumption, including fig, persimmon, and olive.

Plants for use in weaving include strappy-leaved Iris foetidissima, dianella, lomandra, jasmine, grapevine, flax and day lillies.

“I’m not a tidy gardener” says Liz. “My pruning method is chop and drop, leaving the prunings where they fall to provide mulch, and habitat.” The Mayberrys’ approach also favours “Ad hoc, opportunism and serendipity”.

Water conservation is another priority. Wicking beds have been set up in spots where the large trees deplete soil moisture, making in-ground gardening difficult. In more heavily shaded areas, grass has been replaced with gravel.

In other areas, vegetables and ornamentals are grown in raised beds and in-ground. These are charmingly informal, with eye-catching flowers (including bright red cannas, and a magnificent display of the ornamental amaranth variety known as “red-hot pussy cat tails”), interplanted with leafy greens.

Composting is another priority, with comfrey grown as a border around an elderflower, Sambucus nigra, for use as a compost accelerator. Fallen leaves from the many deciduous trees, are stored for composting. Having found conventional worm farms unusable due to Mudgee’s intense heat, worms are farmed in the comfort of an old esky.

A covered area on the western side of the house, shelters a thriving selection of tender, shade-loving plants, including a massive bird’s-nest fern.

Liz and Ross being keen cyclists, there are several interesting garden features constructed from old bicycles and bike parts.

While you’re in the area, check out Dewhurst Reserve (just up the hill from the Mayberrys’). Since 2021, several stands of native trees and shrubs have been established as part of a Council-supported community project. The plants were supplied by Watershed Landcare, and Midwestern Regional Council assisted by setting up underground watering, and delivering mulch as required.

 

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Elizabeth and Larry Etherington

Mudgee’s Getaway Cottages.
40 Mortimer Street, Mudgee.

Sharing the joys of country living.

The Etheringtons’ riverfront property was once open cow paddock. Over the past 30 years it has grown into nine acres of gardens, trees, water, and six self-contained cottages—a relaxed country setting for families, friends, and couples to enjoy space, nature, and simple living.

The gardens are informal and evolving, shaped by time and hands-on planting by Elizabeth.  Many areas are self-seeded, producing seasonal vegetables, herbs, and flowers and leafy greens. Mature 200-year-old river gums remain from the original landscape, with additional trees, hedges, and garden spaces added gradually over the years.

The experience is interactive and grounded in country life. Guests are welcome to pick vegetables, collect eggs, feed animals, or spend time by the Cudgegong River fishing or relaxing by the water. The property offers a gentle, hands-on introduction to nature, animals, and food production.

Throughout the property are chickens, geese, turkeys, peacocks, rabbits, guinea pigs, pet mice, Dexter the macaw, and an ostrich known as Miss Olivia, along with Kamahl the camel. Fire pits, picnic areas, and open lawns provide space for guests to gather, unwind, and enjoy the outdoors.

Vintage farm machinery is featured, in remembrance of generations gone before. A special garden area has been set aside for family memorial stones and to commemorate family pets.


And centre stage is a bronze statue from Elizabeth’s family for her 80th birthday. Margot Stephens was commissioned to recreate “The Peregrine”, an original sculpture created in 1987 and purchased by Elizabeth in April 1988. Creating a bronze is a magic process that hasn’t changed much over 5,000 years.

 

In many ways, the experience reflects growing up in a simpler era—long days outdoors, backyard chickens, seasonal food from the garden, and time shared with family and friends.

A place to reconnect with nature and the rhythm of country life.

 

(Text by owner)

 

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Ros and Kevin Dickson

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.