JOURNEY OF A HABITAT GARDEN...
Natural outdoor gardens and parks have been a happy outlet and a healing space for me since I was a child. As I spent more time in parks I felt a deep pull to contribute to creating habitat spaces. Over ten years ago I began connecting with local natural landscapes, participating in community tree planting, volunteering at an indigenous nursery and reading about Australian plants.
In 2022 I participated in the Gardens for Wildlife program and finally designed and created an indigenous habitat space in my home garden. The canvas was a lawn with a yucca that had a root ball the size of a spa. I used my bare hands and feet to dig it out and replace it with plants that are indigenous and specific to the area within the sandbelt region of Melbourne. I am focussed on attracting butterflies so planted a few varieties of grasses and flowering shrubs and ground covers. The garden is still establishing and thriving. No fertilisers, weed killers, irrigation systems or soil changing agents required. Just love.
Creating a habitat space is such a deep experience of ‘connecting’. Connecting to home, soil, community, the history of the land, wildlife and weather. For me, it is also a journey that allows for a deep connection with the present moment and my own soul. This has been the experience I’ve had while working on my own garden and in community spaces.
Being involved in designing and creating an indigenous habitat space in the backyard really is a journey. I took time to plan, read, walk and notice local indigenous plants from local parks. I took time to talk to volunteers from local indigenous nurseries and grew in appreciation for the fragile balance that is always happening in nature.
This year I am opening up to join others on their habitat garden journey.
If you have a habitat garden or would like to start one and you’d like to just swing by for an informal chat, join me on Zoom on the fourth Saturday of the month any time between 4.00pm – 5.00pm AEST. I’d love to hear all about your habitat space : )
