Bridgetown’s Ellmarose garden transformed from tired space to tranquil oasis

Bridgetown’s Ellmarose garden was among the 25 gardens with open gates as part of the 25th anniversary of the Festival of Country Gardens.

Jim and Ruth Silvester of 33 Gifford Road Bridgetown, have transformed the 124-year-old property into a colourful cottage garden with the purpose of bringing back the bees and insects.

“When we came here that we couldn’t see any bees,” Mrs Silvester said.

“If you’ve got lawn and non-flowering bits on the edge, what’s there for the insects, the birds, the animals?”

The previous owners were in their 80s when Mr and Mrs Silvester bought the home three years ago, with the Silvesters getting to work to revive the “very tired old garden” soil.

“In our soil, we have cow manure, sheep manure, white local sand that we buy, and soil conditioner,” Mrs Silvester said.

Using water wise principles, mulching, and soil preparation — the backyard has been rejuvenated, with the old lawn removed in May last year.

Mrs Silvester said when they first arrived there were a few roses bushes on the property, which they have kept, but the majority of the garden is new.

A newly created path moves through the once barren area which includes roses, day lilies, perennials, annuals, natives, vegetable wicking beds, ancient grape vines and fruit trees.

Mrs Silvester said she enjoyed cottage gardens and the community the flowers create, working with each other to bloom.

“When something’s finished flowering, another thing will be coming out. I’m not into the orderly, minimal gardens,” she said.

“I like a garden which will have insects and birds thriving. We’ve got lizards living in here, skinks, and last year we had quendas. They came in and they were eating Jim’s tomatoes.

“They look like little mice, but they’re lovely. And they make tunnel patterns into the garden, like a funnel, bit like a rabbit.”

Despite that, Mrs Silvester said it was a “privilege” for the native marsupial species to visit.

Mrs Silvester said the garden was a retreat for her, with plants a steadfast fixture of her life.

The garden now includes a rose planted in memory of Mr Silvester’s mum, who passed away aged 96. In another section of the garden, a plant honouring his father is also thriving.

“Dad passed 12 years ago, and my sister had it (the plant), and she’s moved to Darwin, so she gave it to me,” Mr Silvester said.

“It must be 20 years old.”

The Bridgetown property is not the first garden the couple have grown together, buying a large property in Toodjay in 2006.

“We sold in 2021 and the people bought it because of the garden,” Mr Silvester said.

“They said ‘we don’t care about the house - we want the garden’. “

The Times was told “Jim’s domain” was the vegetable area.

The wicking beds — with a water reservoir underneath — have broad beans, spinach, watermelons, tomatoes, spring onion and cucumbers.

The pair also care for a lemon and orange tree, as well as a large oak tree which shades the west side of the property.

Calling herself a “colourist,” Mrs Silvester said she “loves” David Austin roses and Persica — “they’re tough, they’re hardy, and they just flower all the time,” she said,

Another Ellmarose friendly plant is the delphiniums.

“They do really well down here because of the weather,” Mrs Silvester said.

“In our previous garden in the north, you could only get one season out of them. But down here, they just keep growing. They’re beautiful.”