Sexy Subtropics with Earth Creations
Inspired by the lyrics ‘Summertime… and the living is easy’, Pete Goodlet believes that ‘summertime… and being in the garden should be easy’.
It’s summer and it’s time to breeze into it and embrace the steamy, sexy beauty of a subtropical Noosa garden. In this, the hottest of seasons, it is time to play, frolic and to dance. In fact, if seasons were dances, summer would be the Flamenco! So, let’s don our biggest and brightest outfits, get out our maracas, and bring sexy back to our gardens and outside spaces.
We all risk becoming used to our surroundings and clutter can sneak into our homes and gardens very quickly, and before we know it, our eyes pass over those things we don’t want to see. I’m pretty certain that clutter, dead plants, and bald lawns do not for great passion make! Trampoline sitting there unused? Get it onto Marketplace, along with everything else that has had its day. Anything that can’t be reused or recycled is off to the tip. Get out the loppers and remove any dead growth – it is time to embrace lushness. A great way to assess your garden is to walk outside as if it was the first time or to look through the eyes of a prospective buyer. Do you love it? What do you have to change? Does it warm your heart? Grab a notepad, a margarita and get writing and sketching. As the spirits flow, go wild with ideas and focus on your dream garden.
Water is always at the top of my list in the subtropic environment. Whether we are splashing in it, running through it, or even just gazing at the gentle movement of fish gliding through a beautiful pond, water brings a magic of its own to the outdoors. A pool can be the ultimate asset but for those without the space or wanting a more economical option, check out plunge pools. Being a tad more petite their upkeep cost are much lower, and they have the added advantage of being feasible to heat throughout the year.
Solar panels would help achieve this delightful experience without too much damage to your budget. Plunge pools can be very sexy. Turn up the heat for cocktail hour, pop on a little Marvin Gaye and let’s get it on! Beryl next door might try to crash the party but a quick squirt with the hose will soon dampen her ardour! Luckily Bob will immediately cheer her up with a handy shandy!
Outdoor showers are just so hot! Speaking of hot, make sure you connect both cold and hot taps. You want to wash off the sand from the beach not the heat out of the moment, especially if you have twin showerheads and a super cool curvy timber screen (now, where have I seen that? oh yes, it’s an award-winning design by Earth Creation Landscapes!). It is all in the curves. Curves in the garden are a sexy thing. They lead the eye and encourage a meander. Curving a path through lush plantings can create a sense of mystery and intrigue. All gardens should contain a hint of intrigue, even, if it is something simple like a trompe l’oeil hinting of distant vistas on an otherwise blank wall or maybe an old gate to nowhere. Why not subtly disguise a wall with a stone-look paint and a flowering climber.
Rooms within the garden also create intrigue and you can divide spaces with screens or hedges to create different microclimates and zones. A love seat under the shade of a well-shaped small tree is the perfect spot for a glass of rosé and an intimate moment. Fill the space with perfumed plants for a truly magical experience. Calm is sexy. When we walk into our garden space, we want our shoulders to sink as the tension of world outside drifts away. The gentle tinkle of water from a fountain is a charming, calming sound – a few goldfish to chat to and feed is a grounding practice and great for lowering blood pressure. Make a comfortable perch nearby and stop and watch the slow passive dance of happy fish. It is these moments of bliss that make your garden retreat a happy place.
The surest and certainly fastest way to bring sexy back to your Noosa garden is to call Stuart and the dream team from Earth Creation Landscapes to work their magic. Sit back, put on the tunes, grab a Long Island Iced Tea and as Marvin so perfectly put it, Let’s Get It On!
