Bali High

For fantastic lush greenery yearround, try a tropical garden. It's exotic, it's romantic and it's a holiday at home!

Heading off to a tropical retreat can involve a plane trip, luggage and lots of money. But you can create an intoxicating paradise in your own backyard and you don't need to be in the tropics or subtropics! Even if you live in a temperate zone, you can still create the look of the tropics, without the heat and humidity. This type of garden relies on big, lush, flamboyant foliage rather than colourful flowers to create all-year interest. Brisbane private garden Taman Air comes direct from Bali and is full of design ideas you can borrow!

1 SO EASY BEING GREEN

In many cultures, including Balinese, frogs are auspicious, believed to bring rain, fertility and good fortune. Top a frog-engraved urn with dense clusters of bromeliads for their wonderfully coloured foliage.

2 MAKE COLOUR SPLASHES STAND OUT

In a sea of greenery, you'll get the blue sky above and the blue pool below, then colour up your outlook with brightly. coloured cushions.

PLANTING TIPS

• Choose statement plants that have big leaves and understorey plants that have interesting textures and bold colours.

• For drama, put plants with contrasting foliage - red, yellow, orange, pink or purple - next to each other.

• If drama's not your thing because your garden is small, place coloured foliage strategically one or two at ground level and another couple at eye level.