Sustainable Gardening

Well, it is set to be another scorching day here today, a frequent occurance that has spelt out drought, as for most of us.  We have had a fortunate enough amount of rain over the last few months which has resulted in us living off one tank of water without having to buy any in.
However with these increasing extreme weather patterns combined with a total reliance on tank water, I would love to develop a garden that is relatively sustainable as well as beautiful.
To be completely honest, my total love for gardening still plays second fiddle to a busy life raising children, so I need a garden that can stand on its own two legs without overuse of precious resources such as time, money and water.
So have a look at our tranquil oasis . . .

Green, isn't it?! The imagination is an amazing thing though. When I look at this picture, I see a star picket fence bordering a modest front garden, with climbing Honeysuckle, Chinese Star Jasmine and Rosa Crespsucle creating a lush barrier to the farming aspect of the property and a welcoming sight for visitors.  I see an arbour in this fence to walk through, down a curved gravel path to the front door flanked on both sides by lavender and seaside daisy.

Either side of this pathway is a little patch of Lawn Chamomile surrounded by drought hardy shrubs such as Salvia, Echinacea, Cotton Bush, and Mexican Orange Blossom.

And where would we be in life without beautiful trees to admire and draw a microclimate from? Gorgeous Crepe Myrtles and silver birches, with hopefully a lilac protectively planted in there somewhere too.  To top this off, climbing Ornamental Grape shelters the verandah from direct heat, and allows a small refuge to be created where a comfy chair beckons with a good book and a beverage of choice.

Now to start . . .