
The
brick facade peeping out from native shrubbery of Gerda Maeder's home in a
quiet Cardiff suburban street gives nothing away. Stepping out the back under a
magnificent 20 year old 'roof' of a wisteria, we begin to glimpse the 1.5 acre
oasis of food that is Gerda's passion. A swarm of eager visitors fill the
courtyard. We are provided with a safety induction... mind the edge of the deck
that's yet to be finished by my husband, there's a bath of water over there in
case of fire or emergency... Oh and that's the cubby... a substantial hideaway
emerging from a tangle of beautiful vines. This is a labour of love, quirks and
anything goes, there are no rules here!
A long snake like form hangs from a pergola. New guinea bean, eaten like
zucchini, Gerda harvests one and shares it among those of us willing to try
this strange fruit.... it could feed a small village. Lake Cardiff, as the frog
pond is affectionately known, greets us at the bottom of a hand crafted timber
stair, the entry to the garden. Chooks scratch in a home made coop, a mesh of
wire, tin and recycled bits put to good use. A coffee tree - please take some
berries as they are a labour to prepare. Miracle fruit grows in a thicket of
trees, it changes your taste buds to make sour foods taste sweet! Over a
central pathway of railway sleepers and gravel that adds some structure the
garden slopes down into a wild concave of lush growth. A goat picks over the
neighbors fence at a tree stump, climbing. There is the unsuccessful cherry
tree that is going to be cut down as it is shading the grove of citrus. A
fragrant lemon myrtle tree, beautiful for tea grows in the orchard, a close
grouping of anything edible. Pipino is a little bit weedy, a ground cover
vine related to tomatoe, the solencae family. She removes the fruit to protect
from fruit fly in summer, it's left to mature the rest of the year. 'I try to
grow as many natives as possible as they attract beneficial insects"...
even in the orchard. This is a working garden, although she made an effort to
make it showy for the HOGs visit, it's beauty is in its wildness...
tamarillos... lemonades... pomello tree... the unsuccessful
hazelnut....yacon... tomatoes... roses... Everything imaginable grows here.

At the bottom of the gully, beyond the impressive stand of bamboo, a creek
flanked by tree ferns and native sandpaper figs, winds through. Beyond is the
bush area where with the help of garden deisgner Maree, they are trying to
regenerate as many of the current natives and out compete the weeds. A solid
strategy is needed to win the battle against lantana and more. All ground
covers and vines are removed so trees can be mowed around. They saved what they
could eg remanat dianella. Lantana and vine weeds are turned into mulch, a
method working to increase manageability of morning glory and jap honey suckle.
It will take a few more years for the natives to establish. Wattle seed has
been thrown around and native indigofera planted, indigenous to the area.
...birds are coming... 100 have been counted by a neighbour. Gerda says that is
is really good to have an expert help you, Maree has assisted with plant
selection and placement. However it's still a challenge to balance, neighbors
at the rear were concerned about the bush close to their homes, therefore they
keep a firebreak. The adjacent reserve has a lantana infestation that they
continue to work to keep at bay. The creek fills with run off causing a
torrent after rain. It's constantly changing, new pools and patterns to it's
banks forming with the weather. The neighbors have a goat for weed control. And
then there is the native bush food... anniseed and cinnamon myrtle. .. bush
tucker sandpaper figs...plums... munch munch as we walk back up the hill, over
the hand crafted steps with a last glance back at lake cardiff and an urban
oasis.


