Survival in extremes of climate: outback Qld and Ph. Is.

When we made the decision to live a 'double life' we realised that a traditional garden was out of the question. We needed low maintenance gardens that could survive six-months of 'neglect'. So the two gardens evolved, and much to my surprise they both look pleasant.

Native trees and shrubs, grass (we organise for this to be cut throughout our absence), succulents, geraniums and rosemary survive in both outback Queensland and on Phillip Island.

Most of our succulents survive salt winds and frost, with no watering whatsoever. Many of the plants in my collection have been given to me by neighbours and friends, or have been collected while we've been travelling. Each has a story, and every time I look at their varied colours, shapes and forms, I'm amazed by their beauty and ability to survive in such extremes of climate.

Colour and promises of things to come

Although our Phillip Island garden is easy care and requires no watering over the summer period, nevertheless it is still productive and full of colour.

The blue of the agapanthus mirrors the sea; bright red geraniums remind me of window boxes in Italy; and grevillea flowers attract New Holland honeyeaters and wattle birds to sip the sweet nectar.

Our lemon tree is the best we've ever grown and is laden with golden fruit, and Doug's five fig trees have both tiny and mature fruit nestled in amongst large rough textured leaves. My olive tree has matured into a well-shaped tree with tiny fruit in amongst its silvery foliage.

The grass is thick, spongy kikuya which is ideal for the dogs -- none of the dust and burrs of Mitchell. On the other hand though, sand flies live in the green blades and whenever the dogs sprawl out on the grass, they get bitten and itch badly.

Things are seldom perfect, are they?