I kept some of the border plants to maintain areas of privacy, but also left an area with a lower planting profile to enable the casual interactions with passers-by that I enjoyed while there as the work was taking place.

To manage the large central space instead of expecting the grass lawn to grow where it just won’t (not without extra loving ministrations perhaps), I used two available (read - free!) Birdies raised garden beds to grow veggies - who’d have thought, a one-bedroom unit with a whole 4m2 of a vegetable garden! The rest apart from a few pavers to take the heavy load, is planted with ‘plugs’ of dichondra…thanks to Margot Porter of Yoga East who had a generous amount to spare from her wonderful East Gippsland garden! Now over to La Nina to get it established this spring- and a hose provided for the tenants to enjoy some summer watering. Interplanting with hardy carpeting thyme will take care of the heat of summer til Dichondra decides it's safe to come out again.

We cleaned up the perimeter plantings removing some really inappropriate plantings like an eye-piercing super spiny agave and a soon-to-be problematic yucca, and left much of the rest as a readymade and proven hardy garden border.

Edged with self-rusting steel, the central planted area shows to advantage as it was raised higher to bring that space to level, viewing well from the spacious Tuscan toppings ‘living’ areas.

While hoping that the tenants love the garden as much as I do - and passers-by too, one of whom said it gave her tingles down her spine even! - it’s also bomb-proofed against non-gardeners - veggie beds can be replanted, the potted olives can be replaced, the perimeter planting is already tough, and the dichondra will show seasonally even if not watered in the heat ( I admit, this one’s a conscious punt - gardens are like that sometimes).

This garden demonstrates my approach to adapting the use of existing plants and items. The two veggie beds were available at no cost, the olive trees were a hand-me-down from a friend moving interstate as was the good-sized bay tree that replaced the yucca from near the side entrance. The garden seat was fixed up and sealed good as new! It all would have worked as well if these were bought especially, but at more cost and no doubt, the design would have been a little different. I like to take my lead from the opportunities at hand, to achieve the desired garden - in this instance tough, productive, and providing a range of living areas from sun to shade with an attractive outlook from inside the home.

All that awaits now is for the new tenants to put their stamp on it with some outdoor furniture, maybe a fire pit or bath for the birds, meanwhile enjoying the lettuces ready to harvest and summer cropping on its way.

This garden effectively doubles the living space of the generous one-bedroom unit, it has even been said that it gives the sense of living on a small terrace, complete with its own side gate. It was designed and implemented quickly to take place between lettings, and with a limited budget.

As a result of the extra initial attraction and lifestyle it promises, the property has achieved top rental price, exceeding the original estimate by nearly 15%, in a competitive area of 1 and 2-bedroom units. Selling isn’t currently on the horizon, but when the time comes the garden will be similarly effective in really rewriting what this little place is all about and the lifestyle it affords.

And for now, it makes for a happy living space for the new tenants (and their beautiful black Labrador dog who just loves lazing around lapping up all that sunshine!).