This Week in the Garden: The Rock Garden

We hauled 1500kg of dirt up a hill, but on the bright side the garden is exploding with wildlife!

Two Saturdays ago. Sweat steadily dripped from my nose, sliding down my neck, soaking into the damp patch already spreading across the front of my t-shirt. It was 7:30 a.m. The sun was already blazing, a reminder that summer had all but arrived on the Gold Coast.

Wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow, 1500 kilos of dirt had to be carted up the steep slope of the front lawn, each trip a careful balancing act up the timber ramp and across the alfresco to the site of what will soon be the rock garden.

Dirt streaked my legs, my arms were shaking, and the cicadas were screaming louder than my thoughts. It was exhausting, relentless work—but it was also kind of fantastic. A recurring theme of Project Rewild My Backyard. I bitch and moan for 2.5 minutes, allow a moment of overwhelm, then square my shoulders and resolutely set about just getting the job done. By the end of it, I feel completely happy and accomplished—ready to do it all over again.

Rock garden before and precarious ramp to bring the dirt in.

Before exhaustion kicked in. The wacker packer was so satisfying.

As always, emails might cut off. For the best experience and to see the photos in full size, I recommend opening this in your browser or the Substack app.

The State of Things

It’s been a few weeks. I wish I had a satisfying before and after to share with you. Alas, I do not. Instead, it’s rain delays and a half-finished garden but a peaceful acceptance of the pace at which things are moving.

I thought we’d be much further along by now.

Back in those blissfully ignorant days, I’d said to Dave, “Yeah, we’ll have it all done by September—before the heat really kicks in.” Sweet, naïve me genuinely thought landscaping 928 sqm of front and backyards with nine distinct garden areas would take a few months. “This will only take a weekend,” I used to say. I’m laughing now just typing this.

At this stage of the game, we’re more realistic and accepting of timelines and what we can achieve. Between time, budget, and motivation, we do what we can, when we can. It’ll all get done eventually. In the meantime, I didn’t mind being housebound last weekend during two days of torrential rain. Movies, reading, games, and pottering around the house doing little bits here and there. It was bliss. No projects, no lists, no plans—just a chance to be still.

Tiles down, render and painting finished. And a new garden bed to fill!

The alfresco is done, save for the BBQ bench arriving late next week. The rock garden is well underway, and the alfresco garden bed is ready for planting. Next up: finishing the corridor, planting around the greenhouse, and filling gaps in the retaining wall. After that, we’re calling it quits until January. The SE Queensland summer heat and humidity is brutal and not ideal for heavy garden work—or planting. After the holiday break, we’ll look at laying lawn in the library garden and building a rendered seat with a garden tucked behind.

The new goal? Finish the tasks above in the next three weeks. I’m hosting Christmas this year—25 family members (give or take a few) travelling from all over Australia. Genuinely no pressure to have the gardens finished for family. It’s more about wanting to have these last few things complete so they’re not niggling away in the back of my mind. Free to relax over the holidays and enjoy being with everyone for the short time they’re here.

The Rock Garden

There’s a pile of rocks at the bottom of my driveway. It’s slightly smaller than the mountain of dirt we tackled a few weeks ago, but just as daunting. Last Friday was delivery day. The weather was clear all morning, the ground dry and firm. Conditions which the truck driver would be happy to attempt to back up our steep front lawn. For one fleeting moment, I thought we might be off the hook for hauling 1,000 kilos of rocks up the hill. I thought, “This might actually be easy”. But, of course, half an hour before the rocks arrived, a drizzle started. Just enough to coat the lawn and make it impossible for the truck to get up the hill. So now they sit at the bottom of my driveaway. Thanks to the weekend downpour, they’re still sitting there.

Monday morning. Pure, unadulterated sunlight streamed through the gap in the bedroom curtains, jolting me from my sleep-induced morning haze. Quick ablutions, the shortest of walks for Charlie. Who did not mind given the oppressive heat and humidity even at 6 am coupled with the treat she received at our quick café pitstop.

6:25, armed with coffee, it was off to Bunnings to pick up a hire ute for the next two hours. A clever discovery I made only a few weeks ago when I determined that I was not going to fit three 7-foot trees, plus an assortment of shrubs and groundcovers in the back of the Jeep Cherokee. Hence the ute hire.

Arrived at the nursery to be greeted with wiggly welcomes by Willow, the resident Golden Retriever, resplendent in a red and white Christmas bow. Wishlist in hand, I set out to find the plants needed for the rock garden.

I’ve mentioned before I find designing and sourcing plants to be the hardest part of this garden project. I pour hours into researching what suits our climate, soil, and the garden’s microclimates. I learn which plants attract wildlife, what they’ll support, and how they’ll look together. But then that can all crumble depending on what’s actually available. The reason for the gaps in the retaining wall and corridor. Plants are added as I come across them.

It’s a bit trickier with the rock garden. We have to lay geofabric, and cut holes in the fabric where the plants will go. Plant, then add the rocks on top. Any planting gaps could technically be added later, but it’s a bit fiddlier, and we run the risk of muddying up the rocks when digging into that hard yellow clay.

As of today, I have most of the plants I want for the rock garden and the alfresco bed. A few are on order from a nursery on the Sunshine Coast, with my cousin acting as plant courier when she visits next week. A few more on the wish list arrive at the nursery on Wednesday. An excuse to visit Willow again.

Backhousia citriodora – Lemon-Scented Myrtles

Backhousia citriodora – Lemon-Scented Myrtles

Two native trees. The biggest plants I’ve bought for the garden so far. Standing at six feet tall, they demanded equally impressive holes to match.

Digging holes in the heat and humidity is no joke. Both trees in and panting from the exertion. I stepped back and surveyed from every angle to check they were straight. I realised, with a laugh I’d unintentionally created a doorway. The two Backhousia trees framed the step stones leading into the corridor, a design feature I hadn’t planned but immediately loved.

Excitement bubbled up as the bigger picture began to form in my mind. Once the pergola is in place and the rock garden complete, this space will be exactly what I’ve dreamt of. Garden “rooms.” Spaces defined by trees, screens, and tall structures. Different plants set the mood as you wander from room to room. Stepping off the alfresco and into the rock garden will feel like a room on its own. Another room off to the left, a pergola draped in Star Jasmine creating a cosy nook. Straight ahead, the sentinel Lemon-Scented Myrtles will guide you through the corridor, enticing you to follow the path down to the veggie garden.

I’ve read fantasy books my whole life—stories of enchanted forests, fairies, and doorways to magical lands. For me, gardens evoke that same feeling of magic and wonder.

The retaining wall and corridor with the newly planted Backhousia up the back

This Week(s) in the Garden

I left you with a pretty dire picture last time: dozens of plants struggling against pests and my own inexperience. Today, I’m relieved to share that nearly all are making a comeback.

Myoporum parvifolium Broad Leaf

Myoporum parvifolium Fine Leaf

The five Myoporum plants plagued by scale are now thriving. I pruned some of the longer branches and hosed them down daily for a week, hoping to dislodge the pests. For the most part, the scale was firmly in residence. I introduced lady beetle larvae. Three weeks later, the scale has vanished. While I can’t be certain the larvae were responsible, if natural pest control did the trick, I’m delighted. The Myoporum are currently my favourite plants. The fine and broad-leafed varieties. They’re fast-growing and resilient; the branches are now spilling over the edge of the retaining wall.

Chrysocephalum apiculatum Yellow Buttons

The Finger Lime looks healthy, and both Callistemons are recovering from the sawfly larvae attack, with fresh growth appearing daily. Even the Chrysocephalum, which I wasn’t sure would survive after a drastic trim, is sprouting new tiny yellow flowers and regaining its silvery-green leaves.

Carpobrotus glaucescens Pig Face

The Caprobrotus is a work in progress. I lost three plants in the middle of the retaining wall, so I’ve potted them up to see if they can recover. The one at the pool edge, which gets filtered sunlight, thrives, while its companions in full sun have been less fortunate. Fortunately, Carpobrotus propagates easily from cuttings, and the ones I’ve moved to shadier spots are already perking up.

Plectranthus parviflorus Blue Spires and unknown caterpillar

As for the Plectranthus, I’m still finding caterpillars curled up in the leaves. I’ve hesitated to remove them, not knowing what species they are. After all, isn’t the whole point to support wildlife? Established, healthy plants should be able to handle a few pests. So we’ll see how they go.

I spotted this Meadow Argus Butterfly (Junonia villida calybe) near the veggie patch. A small but encouraging sign that my dream of attracting more butterflies is coming to life. A Common Crow Butterfly (Euploea corinna), seemed thoroughly at home on the newly purchased Weeping Lilly Pilly (Syzygium floribundum). Soon to be planted in the retaining wall garden.

The Green Tree (Litoria caerulea) and Dwarf Tree Frogs (Litoria fallax), though vocal most nights, have remained unseen for months. Then on Sunday while taking Charlie out for a late-night toilet break this gorgeous Green Tree Frog popped up on the greenhouse. The nightly cane toad patrols are still happening—not exactly my favourite job, but necessary to keep their numbers in check. Thankfully, I’ve only been finding two or three a week.

There’s a little insect on the middle flower, I can’t quite make out if it’s a stingless bee or an ant.

With the heat comes the tea trees flowering. This one is Leptospermum Wooroonooran - the Indigenous (I’m going to say Yidinji?) name for Mt Bellenden-Kerr. The early European settlers brewed the leaves of Leptospermum species as a tea substitute, hence the name "tea tree." But First Nations people have long used Leptospermum for medicinal purposes, like treating wounds and colds. They are highly drought-tolerant once established, ideal for low-water gardens.

The stingless bees (Tetragonula carbonaria) have taken a liking to the Bulbine lilies I planted last month. I call them the pasta bees because carbonaria - carbonara sauce. Insert a little chortle here.

A surprising find in the garden just this morning. A Steel Blue Lady Beetle (Halmus chalybeus). For a second, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when I spotted a flash of metallic blue on the edge of a Nasturtium leaf. I’ve never come across one of these before—have you?

The veggie patch. I’ve planted tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant. Silverbeet and summer lettuce. I have more basil than I know what to do with. Everyone’s getting pesto for Christmas this year. The patch is its transition stage where I don’t have a lot of food to pick while I wait for new plants to grow and fruit. I figure over time, I’ll eventually get into a rhythm of raising seedlings and planting as I go to keep a steady supply. For now, though, it’s all part of the learning curve.

The pupa and the adult

The zucchini has powdery mildew, but with that comes the fungus-eating Lady Beetles (Illeis galbula) and the chance to see their larvae during different lifecycle stages.

If you’ve been wondering how the wildflowers patch is going. Well, it’s still struggling. I had envisioned a profusion of flowers by this point. The planting was a haphazard scattering of seeds resulting in too many flowers clumped together. I don’t have high hopes. At least the borage is flowering.

The water dragons are slowly making their way back as we plant more shelter.

One-half of the pair of Kookaburras are now regular visitors. I’ve yet to put up the nesting box; still determining the best location for it. With all the new underbrush come the insects and more lizards. Which means food for the Kookaburras.

Garden Adjacent

Buying:
Lady Beetle larvae for natural pest control. You can buy them here. If you haven’t seen Lady Beetle larvae before, they have a fascinating lifecycle worth looking up.

Planting:
Native herbs and greens from Bush to Bowl. They stock hard-to-find native herbs like Saltbush and Prostanthera (native mint) and ship Australia-wide. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking to expand your edible garden with native options.

Watching:
This reel on Lacewing eggs by Dr Kylie Soanes, my favourite wildlife and ecology expert. Lacewings are incredible garden allies. Watch it here.

Loving:
The Heart Gardening Project. They’re transforming public lands through rewilding and biodiversity projects. It’s such an inspiring initiative—and they’re looking for donations if you feel like supporting their work.

Reading:
My Black Friday splurge was on books (no regrets). I picked up The Natural Gardener by Richard Unsworth and Visionary by Claire Takacs, which is stunningly photographed and inspiring. Summer reading from the comfort of my couch while I take a break from landscaping.

Learning:

A couple of excellent plant resources I came across while researching for the rock garden:

• Australian Plant Society Database: A comprehensive database for exploring Australian native plants, perfect for anyone looking to plan a native garden.

• Australian National Herbarium – Growing Native Plants: A brilliant resource offering detailed guides on cultivating Australian native species, including plant profiles and growing tips.

That’s all from me this week. I’m very much looking forward to sharing a few complete gardens with you soon!

Kira