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About 12 Lauradale Road
The Paradise has several seating areas and a large central water feature – specially commissioned from India – as the hub of a network of curving stone paths. It is surrounded by a circular bed of fragrant herbs. An exotic orchard comprises pomegranate, peach, quince, apricot, loquat, prickly pear, fig and black mulberry and is complemented by a stone terrace featuring orange and lemon trees.
A Hartley Botanic greenhouse with a curved glass roof houses a propagation bench and many tender plants including cacti. A stand of Jaquemontii birch frames a view of Highgate Woods. Arid beds feature aloes and agaves. A small natural pond encourages wildlife.
Established palms, some of which are seven metres high, have recently been complemented by a variety of types, for instance a Chilean wine palm which will eventually dwarf them. Banana varieties include musa basjoo, ensete ventricosum and musella lasiocarpa. Other standout plants include tasmarisk, tetrapanax papyfer rex, grevilleas, tea trees, cycads, dasylirion, beschorneria, bamboos, yucca rostrata, bottle brush, bird of paradise, cistus, strawberry tree and mimosa. Mediterranean herbs feature throughout the garden, as does as a wide range of pittosporums.
The garden is opening for the fifth time. It is the result of a seven-year evolution, starting with watercolour designs by the owner of his dream garden and is the result of a collaboration with garden designer Steve Buckley. Over ten tons of stone from India and Portugal were used to create a structure to set off the planting, which is now maturing rapidly to realise the design. Sculptures by artist owner, and other artists.
New as of last season are two wonderful stone terraces with lovely seating, several new areas already planted up, sculptural teak roots from Indonesia, and an addition of 1.5 tons of glacial boulders and Westmoreland limestone rocks.
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