Tropical Paradise
Presenter: Phil Dudman
Episode: 23 (6th October 2007)
Neil and Viola Hamilton have created an amazing tropical style garden on their 2-acre property south of Brisbane. It’s been a lot of hard work, but funnily enough; the whole thing was inspired by something a little more relaxing.
Interview with Viola Hamilton
Phil:
“Viola, tell us more about your inspiration.”
Viola:
“Well Phil, we love to take our holidays on the islands in tropical north Queensland. We just find that the style of gardens there are so relaxing. We wanted to create something like that here so we could feel like we’re on holidays all the time.”
Phil:
“That’s a good move. The Pandanus works well by the pool?”
Viola:
“Yes, it reminds of being by the beach. It was only tiny when I planted it, now it’s growing beautifully over the pool as I hoped it would.”
Phil:
“It certainly adds to the relaxing feel.”
Phil:
“Viola, I love what you’ve done by the driveway with these deep garden beds. It’s very welcoming.”
Viola:
“One of the first things we did here was plant the trees to create a shady avenue and once the canopy was established we got in and planted the under-storey.”
Phil:
“And bromeliads were your first choice?”
Viola:
“We tried other things, but bromeliads have been the best performers because they don’t need a lot of soil. Tree roots take up so much moisture and nutrients and bromeliads can just grow happily in the mulch. They don’t ask for much.”
Phil:
“You’ve blended the colours well too.”
Viola:
“That’s half the fun, mixing the colours and collecting new varieties”
Phil:
“You’re one of those Bromeliad tragics, aren’t you?”
Viola:
“Yes Phil, you could say that.”
Viola:
“Welcome to our tropical rainforest Phil.”
Phil:
“Viola this is fantastic. It’s so much cooler under here.”
Viola
“We love to come in the summer and just sit and look at the trunks of the tree, they are so majestic.”
Phil:
“They make a statement don’t they. I bet you get a lot of wild life here too?”
Viola:
“We’ve had Koalas, echidnas, all sorts of animals. But the birds, they flock here in their hundreds. We just love it.”
The Hamilton’s Tropical Garden is a real inspiration and if you’d like to come and see it yourself, it’s open tomorrow from 10am to 4pm for Australia’s Open Garden Scheme.
Featured Garden:
Hamilton’s Tropical Garden
280 Beeaudesert-Beenleigh Rd,
Bahrs Scrub (near Beenleigh) QLD
Featured Plants:
Beach Screw Pine (Pandanus tectorius)
Episode: 23 (6th October 2007)
Neil and Viola Hamilton have created an amazing tropical style garden on their 2-acre property south of Brisbane. It’s been a lot of hard work, but funnily enough; the whole thing was inspired by something a little more relaxing.
Interview with Viola Hamilton
Phil:
“Viola, tell us more about your inspiration.”
Viola:
“Well Phil, we love to take our holidays on the islands in tropical north Queensland. We just find that the style of gardens there are so relaxing. We wanted to create something like that here so we could feel like we’re on holidays all the time.”
Phil:
“That’s a good move. The Pandanus works well by the pool?”
Viola:
“Yes, it reminds of being by the beach. It was only tiny when I planted it, now it’s growing beautifully over the pool as I hoped it would.”
Phil:
“It certainly adds to the relaxing feel.”
Phil:
“Viola, I love what you’ve done by the driveway with these deep garden beds. It’s very welcoming.”
Viola:
“One of the first things we did here was plant the trees to create a shady avenue and once the canopy was established we got in and planted the under-storey.”
Phil:
“And bromeliads were your first choice?”
Viola:
“We tried other things, but bromeliads have been the best performers because they don’t need a lot of soil. Tree roots take up so much moisture and nutrients and bromeliads can just grow happily in the mulch. They don’t ask for much.”
Phil:
“You’ve blended the colours well too.”
Viola:
“That’s half the fun, mixing the colours and collecting new varieties”
Phil:
“You’re one of those Bromeliad tragics, aren’t you?”
Viola:
“Yes Phil, you could say that.”
Viola:
“Welcome to our tropical rainforest Phil.”
Phil:
“Viola this is fantastic. It’s so much cooler under here.”
Viola
“We love to come in the summer and just sit and look at the trunks of the tree, they are so majestic.”
Phil:
“They make a statement don’t they. I bet you get a lot of wild life here too?”
Viola:
“We’ve had Koalas, echidnas, all sorts of animals. But the birds, they flock here in their hundreds. We just love it.”
The Hamilton’s Tropical Garden is a real inspiration and if you’d like to come and see it yourself, it’s open tomorrow from 10am to 4pm for Australia’s Open Garden Scheme.
Featured Garden:
Hamilton’s Tropical Garden
280 Beeaudesert-Beenleigh Rd,
Bahrs Scrub (near Beenleigh) QLD
Featured Plants:
Beach Screw Pine (Pandanus tectorius)
AS SEEN ON 
