Iron is the new timber – at least as far as landscape design is concerned – and brown is the new black. At the recent Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, I didn’t see anything black – not even black clothes – but shades of rust and tawny brown were everywhere. The Australian landscape designers really explored the opportunities for hard landscaping in metal. They used it for panelling,
garden edging, sculptures, art panels – and more – and managed to cut, twist and beat it into whimsical shapes.
If I were in any doubt at all about this ferric fashion, my arrival back in New Zealand has definitely convinced me. At the beginning of the country lane I live in, my neighbour has installed a new letter box on what I suppose you might call an iron frame. Actually, it’s a tractor, and in case it was lonely, he has put another tractor on the other side of the driveway. It would have to be the most arresting entrance I’ve seen in a very long time. It’ll be interesting if they breed.
In an agricultural country like ours, (and a mining country like Australia) iron seems totally appropriate and it sits easily in the landscape. Metal is a great material to use in the garden because it’s so permanent. It does rust, but it doesn’t disintegrate at the speed that timber does. It has a rather admirable tendency to retain its original shape, which is more than you can say for many garden materials – and, sadly, many gardeners as well.
Having said that, it’s probably not the best choice for DIY projects since it’s heavy, diffi cult to handle and requires serious tools for cutting and shaping. No point thinking you can make a fantastic iron summer house with a handsaw and drill. If you’re in a position to commission an ironworker, or a landscaper who has a tame ironworker, you may want to take advantage of this interesting new look. You can also buy sculptural works of art, fountains and water features, fire pits and basins, edgings and more from décor shops, garden centres, hardware stores and many specialist outdoor centres.
Failing that, go scavenging. While a tractor may not be entirely appropriate for a contemporary urban courtyard, an old gold-mining pan can be reinvented to create a water feature, a wall hanging, a fi re pit or a plant container. A big, old, iron wheel set into the grass makes a great circular potager for your herbs. Iron tractor seats have also been popular over time. They’re not everyone’s cup of tea and are certainly not comfortable, but would probably make an interesting base for a wall-hung, vertical garden bed.
And finally, you can fake it. A garden wall of iron may be out of the question, but treated plywood can be painted to a fine imitation, at a fraction of the weight, difficulty and cost. The advantage of this is that when you’re over the iron trend, you can turn your plywood wall into anything you like.
**Rusty Plants
**Rust is not what you want to see on your plants at any time of year – but as we are heading into winter, rusty colours can provide a warming look and will enhance any ironwork you’ve incorporated into your garden. Of course, deciduous shrubs and trees will put on a gorgeous autumn show, but they don’t have much to offer in the warmth department when they’re totally bare.
For colour that hangs around all year, start close to home with cordylines and phormium. There are some amazing cordylines in the orange/red/brown/ chocolate colour palette and they look impressive as a mass planting. Red Fountain, Cardinal and Red Star are three stunning varieties. There’s also a wide range of grasses – native and exotic. From the palest creamy gold, right through to dark red, fill spots in the garden with a feeling of warmth.
Tried and true Leucadendron Safari Sunset and Winter Red, and Grevillea Bronze Rambler are old favourites, while cannas and day lilies will also give you a whack of winter colour. In the shrub department, dark red Photinia Red Robin and the rusty Photinia Robusta will add a cosy backdrop to iron sculptures.
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