Peter and Margaret Olde's garden, 'Silky Oaks', Oakdale, New South Wales *. A raised garden bed offering year round colour viewed from the front of the house (left); a close up of the raised bed (centre); a view of the lake from the house (right). Photos: Jeff Howes

Low growing plants at lake edge garden at 'Silky Oaks', Oakdale, New South Wales (left). Rowland Garden, mid-north coast of New South Wales; before planting (centre) and after establishment of planting (right) of the front entrance garden. Photos: Jeff Howes and Gordon Rowland

Rowland Garden, mid-north coast of New South Wales; further views of the front entrance garden. Photos: Gordon Rowland

Rowland Garden, mid-north coast of New South Wales; before planting (left) and after establishment of planting (centre and right) surrounding the lagoon/wetlands created along the slow-moving creek crossing the property. Photos: Gordon Rowland

* See more of 'Silky Oaks' in Volume 23 of the 'Australian Plants' journal