Tipsy Hill Open Garden: Lisa wonders this magnificent garden in the Fleurieu Peninsula region of South Australia

Lisa: Tipsy Hill is a garden high on a hill overlooking McLaren Flat. The setting couldn't be better - high on a hill, with brilliant views out over the magnificent Willunga Hills. It belongs to Margaret and Christopher Burrell of Coriole Music Festival fame.

Margaret Burrell: "The view really is spectacular. I often think about that that it's as good as you would ever find in France or Italy - and it's so much cheaper…"

While the location is stunning - it brought it's own challenges.

Margaret: "When I developed the first part of the garden it hit me how different it was to the garden I made before in Adelaide where everything is small and I could use subtle colours. Here, I had to change; I had to respond to the landscape, which is huge. A huge big blue sky and masses of green. There are also very tall, very dark green pines so I changed to bold colours and this area is mainly red orange and I use blue as a linking colour."

It's a technique Margaret has used to great effect. By terracing the hillside, she has created different levels of interest - which are all cleverly tied together by layers and drifts of plants. The garden appears wild but look closely and you see it's actually very well thought out. The soil is also very sandy and being high on a hill, the winds can be punishing. That makes correct plant selection critical.

Margaret: "The plants here have to be hardy but no plants will grow in sand without lots of help in the beginning in the form of water and compost. Probably the thing that I put the most effort into here after the terracing was the soil. Marty from the Original Green Company has brought me 20 tonnes of compost time and time again and loads and loads of mulch. This is mulched every year and it takes hours of labour, just hours of labour to do it."

The amazing thing is Tipsy Hill has only been established for seven years. But Margaret's quick to point out that she's had plenty of help along the way. There's a complex irrigation system in place which only give plants water when they need it and that's particularly when they're young.

Craig Curtis takes care of day to day maintenance while Margaret and her good friend, garden designer Pam Hailstone do friendly battle over the rest. The result is two acres of stunning garden punctuated with an array of sculptures and structures by local artists and craftsmen.

The combination of the views and the garden are certainly worth the trip. Tipsy Hill is open as part of the Open Garden scheme next weekend, the 5 & 6 April between 10am and 4.30pm. It's on Blewitt Springs Road at McLaren Flat… just look out for the row of pencil pines leading the way up the hill. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

'Tipsy Hill'
Blewitt Springs Road
McLaren Flat
Open Sat 5 - Sun 6 April 10am-4.30pm
$5 entry

Published 30th March 2008