Gardening in her blood

Helen McCourt inspired by generations past

 

Gardening is in Helen McCourt’s blood and her passion can be traced back to her Granny’s orchard.

“I have a cherished memory of being in my Granny’s orchard, plucking a large ripe nectarine from the tree and biting into it…the smell, texture, taste, colour all exploded into each other and the juice run down the back of my arm and off my elbow,” Helen said. “That memory is still my benchmark for a fine peach or nectarine.

Food and gardening go hand in glove. There were always flowers to share and bring inside, food being produced, harvested or preserved and fun and adventure in the garden.”

And while the early memories can be attributed to her mother and grandmother, who were both avid gardeners, there was also strong influence from her Japanese grandfather.

“In 1980 I was an exchange student in Japan for a year,” Helen said. “I had the wonderful opportunity to join my Japanese grandfather whilst he tended the tiny, but exquisite garden. From him I learnt garden skills such as patience, nurturing and discipline in plant choice and form. In the garden there is time to work and weed, but also time to be still, awestruck by some marvel of nature, be it a butterfly, bird, bug, bud, leaf or blossom.”

And all that knowledge has been funnelled into Helen creating her own garden paradise. Woakwine is a magnificent old garden lovingly created since the 1890s by four generations of the McCourt family. The name is Aboriginal and means elbow, referring to the shape of the large watercourse near the homestead.

Woakwine came under Helen’s care in 1996 – she started with a clean up regime and all the while was envisioning a future plan for the five acre space.

“A concept map is a great starting place and in 2009 Elizabeth Ganguly visited our garden, listened to our thoughts, aspirations and preferred plants and measure the garden site,” Helen said.

“Her extensive report, map and practical suggestions has been a worthwhile guide and investment. One of her initial suggestions was to bring in a skilled arborist to tidy up and prune the older trees. It was a big undertaking but has made an invaluable difference to the garden.”

Then it was down to Helen and husband Michael to start creating their own oasis.

“We started with hedges and the driveway to establish a defined path for vehicles through the garde,” Helen said..” Bedding the house down into the garden was a priority and was done by constructing a terrace, dry stone wall and formal hedge of lilly pillp ‘Tiny Trev’ across the front and southern side of the house. Internal hedge ‘green walls’ and garden beds followed.”

The centrepiece of the garden is still those tall, established trees with some more than 80 years old.

“They are the ‘Jewels in the Crown’ of the garden old and planted over three generations,” Helen said.

The expansive lawns and many treasured tall trees create a restful park-like feel with English and Japanese style gardens providing a strong presence within the setting.

 

“…there were always flowers to share and bring inside, food being produced, harvested

or preserved and fun and adventure in the garden…” Helen McCourt

clean up regime and all the while was envisioning a future plan for the five acre space.

“A concept map is a great starting place and in 2009 Elizabeth Ganguly visited our garden, listened to our thoughts, aspirations and preferred plants and measure the garden site,” Helen said.

“Her extensive report, map and practical suggestions has been a worthwhile guide and investment. One of her initial suggestions was to bring in a skilled arborist to tidy up and prune the older trees. It was a big undertaking but has made an invaluable difference to the garden.”

Then it was down to Helen and husband Michael to start creating their own oasis.

“We started with hedges and the driveway to establish a defined path for vehicles through the

garde,” Helen said..” Bedding the house down into the garden was a priority and was done by constructing a terrace, dry stone wall and formal hedge of lilly pillp ‘Tiny Trev’ across the front and

southern side of the house. Internal hedge ‘green walls’ and garden beds followed.”

The centrepiece of the garden is still those tall, established trees with some more than 80 years old.

“They are the ‘Jewels in the Crown’ of the garden old and planted over three generations,” Helen said.

The expansive lawns and many treasured tall trees create a restful park-like feel with English and Japanese style gardens providing a strong presence within the setting.

 

“…there were always flowers to share and bring inside, food being produced, harvested

or preserved and fun and adventure in the garden…” Helen McCourt

clean up regime and all the while was envisioning a future plan for the five acre space.

“A concept map is a great starting place and in 2009 Elizabeth Ganguly visited our garden, listened to our thoughts, aspirations and preferred plants and measure the garden site,” Helen said.

“Her extensive report, map and practical suggestions has been a worthwhile guide and investment. One of her initial suggestions was to bring in a skilled arborist to tidy up and prune the older trees. It was a big undertaking but has made an invaluable difference to the garden.”

Then it was down to Helen and husband Michael to start creating their own oasis.

“We started with hedges and the driveway to establish a defined path for vehicles through the

garde,” Helen said..” Bedding the house down into the garden was a priority and was done by constructing a terrace, dry stone wall and formal hedge of lilly pillp ‘Tiny Trev’ across the front and

southern side of the house. Internal hedge ‘green walls’ and garden beds followed.”

The centrepiece of the garden is still those tall, established trees with some more than 80 years old.

“They are the ‘Jewels in the Crown’ of the garden old and planted over three generations,” Helen said.

The expansive lawns and many treasured tall trees create a restful park-like feel with English and Japanese style gardens providing a strong presence within the setting.

“…there were always flowers to share and bring inside, food being produced, harvested or preserved and fun and adventure in the garden…” Helen McCourt

 

“My favourite spots seem to follow where the actionis,” she said. “When our children were young, it was the southern cypress that had a flying fox, a fort and numerous cubbies. Nowadays, our grandsons can often be found in the veggie patch or orchard and being with them to share homegrown fruit or veg is such a treat.

“The roses draw me in with their colour and scent. The “…to wander the garden is a calm and grounding treat, with unexpected joys and surprises…” Helen McCourt contemplation garden is sited on an axis line from the front steps on the terrace. It’s a top spot for a cuppa or an impromptu picnic with grandies. To wander the garden is a calm and grounding treat, with unexpected joys and surprises.”

There is not much Helen does not enjoy about her time in the garden, although weeding does rank the lowest in the pecking order of tasks.

“But I do find it satisfying to see finished result,” Helen said, who has a soft spot the planning, planting and pruning.

“Every week I have a morning with a dear friend, Jeanie, working in the garden. We share a cuppa, a good chinwag and work in the garden. What we achieve in three hours, would take me 8-10 on my own.”

Aside from that tag team effort, Helen spends around another six hours in the garden, while Michael is a great help when it comes to the big machinery with compost, soil, bean straw, sawdust or building materials.

The 509 Beachport Penola Road, Magarey, garden will be part of the Open Gardens SA scheme on November 19 and 20, open from 10am to 4.30pm on both days with the main recipient of funds raised being the Royal Flying Doctor Service, with proceeds from morning and afternoon teas going to equipment purchase for the Millicent Hospital “We are opening the garden first and foremost to raise funds for The Royal Flying Doctor Service – three generations in our immediate family have been flown from Mount Gambier to Adelaide for emergency medical treatment,”

Helen said. “Michael is involved in the annual RFDS Outback Trek raising funds for the Royal Flying Doctors Service and communities along the way and Michael and I would like to thank the volunteers from the Millicent RFDS Group for their help on the gate and the Wattle Range Hospital Auxillary for morning and afternoon teas. “ General Entry Cost – $10 – Children under 18 FREE. Open Gardens SA MEMBERS – $8. Commonwealth Government Concession Card Holders – $8 (Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card). No concession for Seniors Card holders.