Peace Seeker

In this extract from her new book, landscape designer Fiona Brockhoffshares the story of the garden at a serene lakeside charmer on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

C entrestage at this country house on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is the lake at the bottom of the hill, an ever-changing view, a welcome swimming spot and a haven for wildlife. The relaxed garden rolls down to the water’s edge, successfully mimicking the planting of a natural lake margin or water course. Plant choices are mainly Australian native and complement the Scandinavian-style holiday home, which has a light, open aesthetic and is separated from the outdoors by a single step.

The garden was designed in conjunction with the house, allowing for soil improvement. Good onsite topsoil was combined with compost and manure to create a healthy planting medium, but much of the garden’s success is due to careful plant selection, including varieties that handle dry spells as well as periods of inundation.