TOP GARDEN
A TOUR OF OUR ISLAND GARDEN OF THE YEAR
When Michelle and John Porter purchased their Russell Island Browning Street home about four years ago, they didn’t think it would one day be recognised the islands’ Best Overall Garden.
Well, we can tell you that is exactly what happened.
Michelle recently ‘scooped the pool’ at the recent 2023 Island Garden Awards held at The Farm, Russell Island.
A big crowd of fellow gardeners turned up to see which garden entries would take out this year’s awards.
And it was definitely a surprise for Michelle Porter when her garden in Browning Street was initially announced as the ‘Best Garden’ on Russell Island.
The other individual island garden winners then followed with the individual island winners.
Out of that group, the overall island winner was announced and it turned out to be Michelle and her garden winning the overall prize.
In doing so, she won a $500 cash prize courtesy of your Friendly Bay Islander.
So, in the afterglow of the big event, we got Michelle to take us on a ‘tour’ of her garden.
The position, we have to say, is sublime, because it is a direct waterfront property overlooking Canaipa Passage with North Stradbroke Island no more than 300 metres away.
However, when Michelle and John moved from their waterside property on Lamb Island four years ago to the Browning Street home, it was nowhere near attractive as it is today.
Michelle and John were confronted with a garden of bamboo clumps.
“I had it all taken out and started from scratch,” she told The Friendly Bay Islander.
Michelle admits to no specific ‘theme’ for her garden
“I just planted what I liked, really,” she said.
Consequently there is a bit of everything, and if you look closely you will find orchids tucked in hidden spaces, with just about every plant you can imagine from broms to lemon and orange trees.
And then throw in Michelle’s wonderful mosaics that are placed strategically around the garden.
(So good are they, that a mosaic pot produced by Michelle sold at auction at the awards event for more than $400 -purchased by real estate man Chris McGregor no less).
The majority of the prize-winning garden is mostly down one side of the waterside home.
The waterfront views are breathtaking, with some huge rocks that were installed with the original build enhanced by Michelle’s plantings, mosaic bird bath and a beautifully maintained lawn.
• Michelle and John Porter in their Russell Island Garden