Indigenous Healing Plants

Here's a list of local indigenous plants that I've selected for the healing garden project according to the environmental constraints of the site. The main selection criteria were suitability for growing in shady areas and tradition medicinal or other use. The selected plants vary from small to medium size for planting in pots and have flowers in different colours to offer a good variety for the garden. Many of them are also drought tolerant for low maintenance. 

Green Wall Final Design

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The log planter green wall final design.

Green Wall Design Ideas

Inspired by images of stacked timber logs, here is what I have in mind for the green wall in the healing garden at the moment.

Here are some of my previous design idea sketches:

Idea #1 - Vertical green wall panels system

However, panel system requires built-in irrigation system, which may have high installation cost. Also, only low-profile plants can grow on such system, limiting variety of plant species.

Idea#2 - Pots in wire space-frame

Another type of green wall is stacking of horizontally placed planters, which allows plants to grow vertical, not limiting the height of growth. This also allows individualisation of pot designs. 

Idea #3 - Curved structure with climbers and planters
This loosens the rigidity of a rectilinear design by introducing curvilinear lines. 

Timber Furniture

Some examples of timber log seats and tables, from very simple log stumps, to beautifully carved assemblies.

Timber Log Planters

Our current design has a series of timber logs at varying sizes, serving several different purposes, including planters, sculpture, seats, table, platforms, etc. Timber logs offers a rustic natural feel. Timber logs can be recycled from fallen trees from arborists or sourced from certified timber plantations or firewood suppliers, making them a sustainable and cost effective material for garden designs. Here are some examples of timber log planters:

An article on how to turn timber logs into planters:
http://www.ehow.com/how_12097962_turn-logs-planters.html

Healing Garden Design Sketch

After visiting VINC and consolidating our individual research, we have decided to base our plan on a painting by Merrill Bray through a series of iterations. We like the balance, sense of pulse, beat and rhythm. The pattern also fits well with what we had in mind for the planning of the courtyard space. Here's a quick sketch plan of our updated design concept proposal. 

The essence of spirit, Merrill Bray

Visit to VINC

Our group visited the Victorian Indigenous Nurseries Co-operative (VINC) to learn more about indigenous plants, collect some first hand information on traditional medicinal plants and their growing conditions and get some fresh ideas for the healing garden project.

Dianella Tasmanica

Kidney Weed & Common Rasp Fern

Seaberry Saltbush

Prickly Moses

http://www.vinc.net.au/

Using Everyday Object to Create Indigenous Art

Re-Use / Recycle / Sustainable


~using everyday object to create Aboriginal Art in the courtyard space


Unique Garden Planters and Displays

using recycled tyres to create a pattern, as indicated in our design proposal