glenice_buck_designs_gardens

If I had to name the single most priceless feature

If I had to name the single most priceless feature in any garden... it’s this.....the canopy of established trees.

You can buy beautiful outdoor furniture, lay expensive materials, and plant rare flowers, but absolutely nothing compares to the magic of a mature tree canopy. It’s the dappled afternoon light dancing on the grass. It’s the cooling shade on a blazing hot day. It’s the gentle rustle of leaves overhead that instantly drops your shoulders and makes you exhale.

A beautiful canopy doesn't just decorate a garden; it creates a living, breathing ceiling that turns a yard into a sanctuary.

What’s your favorite tree to sit under? Let me know below!

It is peak Bearded Iris flowering season here in t

It is peak Bearded Iris flowering season here in the Hilltops region, at the moment.

Did you know the "beard" on a bearded iris isn't just for show?
The fuzzy, caterpillar-like hairs in the center of the lower petals (the "falls") act as a landing pad and runway for pollinators, guiding them directly to the nectar.

Another interesting fact about the Iris genus is that they are named after Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, which makes sense given their massive color spectrum from all shades of purples, pink, blue, yellow, orange, white and then the striking bi-colors too.

QUICK GROWING TIPS

🌿Sunbake the rhizomes - unlike most bulbs, iris rhizomes need their tops exposed to the sun to prevent rot and encourage next year's blooms.

🌿 After flowering remember to deadhead spent blooms to stop the plant from wasting energy on seed pods. Allow this energy to go back into the rhizomes for next years growth and flowers.

Design - Install - Grow - Thrive - Flourish This g

Design - Install - Grow - Thrive - Flourish
This garden in Young, NSW was designed and installed a year ago.

Our designs always have a focus on year round structure and interest. This design relies upon the framework of the walls, evergreen shrubs and pathways to give the garden form and shape.
The soft epehermal plantings flow off from these structures giving the garden its softness, colour and movement.
The overall design embraces a colourful naturalistic feel with a mixture of flowering perennials. The sweeping curve of the gravel path and the gentle bend of the stone retaining wall softens the landscape, drawing the eye through the space and inviting visitors to wander through the densely planted perennial beds.

Landscape Design - @glenice_buck_designs_gardens

Hardscape - @b.l_landscaping
(Site exacavation works, Pathways, Garden Edging, Granite Steps, Granite Walls, Granite Paving

Softscape - @glenice_buck_designs_gardens (Soil Prep, Planting, Irrigation and Mulching)

I have now been writing my garden newsletter here

I have now been writing my garden newsletter here on Substack for two years. My garden newsletter has been running in some format since November 2016. The previous two email platforms I used were purely a newsletter platform there was no ability for readers to go back and read previous posts in one place. Whereas now on Substack you can actually go to my page and read previous posts. Some will be for paid subscribers others will be for everyone. It is almost like a website for my writing or I have heard it described as a magazine or a publication. Every writer on Substack has a publication page which shows all articles/ posts they have ever written. Some of the posts will be public for everyone to read and others will be for paid subscribers. I really appreciate those subscribers who have a paid subscription. They do get that extra information each week and first access to any special events I may run.
Substack is available on an app and also on a desktop. The desktop version I think is possibly easier to navigate.

Things I love about Substack
🌿 You can read or listen to all my most of my past articles. Paid subscribers can read them all.
🌿 Within the App you can have articles read to you.
🌿You can also do a search of particular topics which may bring up other helpful articles for you to read.
🌿If you are interested in gardens and landscape design you can now go to this category within Substack and scroll through numerous other newsletters that are available within this topic from other writers.
🌿Every time I make a post you will be notified of my latest news via an email. Even if you are not a paid subscriber you will be notified and given the option to become a paid subscriber.
🌿Within the app you can also go to my Chat page to speak directly to me or my Notes page (similar to instagram stories) where you can see a short update that I may post.
🌿There is also the opportunity for me to posts videos and podcasts.
🌿To become a paid subscriber it only costs $8 per month.
Link in Bio to subscribe

WEEK IN REVIEW Peak Rose Season Has Arrived her

WEEK IN REVIEW

Peak Rose Season Has Arrived here in the Hilltops Region. What an amazing garden to work in amongst these blooming beauties.
There is nothing quite like the rose garden when it hits full bloom. Inthis garden we have Roses in every form

Standards: Elevating the garden with high, perfect globes of bloom. Their lollipop shape give the garden more height and some structure.

Bushes: Dense, vibrant, and bursting with colour and fragrance.

Climbers & Ramblers: Covering arches, fences, vertical structures and spilling over walls in endless waves of colour through garden.

I love Roses with fragrance..having a whisper of scent pass you by whilst walking or working in the garden just enhances your experience.

Kolkwitzia amabilis Commonly called Beauty Bush, f

Kolkwitzia amabilis
Commonly called Beauty Bush, for obvious reasons as when it is in flower it is a stunner. It is a deciduous shrub with arching stems that form a vase shaped habit. Beauty Bush can reach 3 metres in height and also grow to a similar width. It is a native of eastern China. It is cold hardy and also heat hardy although it is best grown in a location with protection from the hottest western sun and strong winds. The shrubs I have seen growing well have access to very good light all day but are located in part shade. Beauty Bush will prefer a well drained soil however it seems to be tough enough to tolerate quite average soils.

In Spring it becomes smothered in small tubular flowers that are a pale pink with a golden yellow coloured throat. After flowering you can lightly shape the shrub although the main pruning is best completed in winter when you would thin out its canes, remove any diseased or dead wood. Some growers also cut this shrub to the ground in winter to encourage fresh new growth and improve its habit however this type of pruning if completed in late winter will mean that the shrub does not flower well that spring as it flowers on old canes.

In Autumn this plant will get yellow foliage as part of its autumn colour but it is not a highly desirable shrub for autumn leaves. The Beauty Bush can be used as specimen shrub within a garden bed, as an informal rambling hedge or as part of a tapestry hedge or even as a feature shrub within a lawn area.

UPCOMING OPEN GARDEN DAYS Visiting open gardens

UPCOMING OPEN GARDEN DAYS

Visiting open gardens I think is one of my favourite things to do. You will always learn something from fellow gardeners, you will most likely meet other like minded people and somehow you can always find a good coffee close by too. Here is a selection of some open gardens happening in and around our area. Let me know which gardens you go to and what you think.
Ive linked pages where possible

Narrandera Open Garden Day - Sunday, 25 October 2026 @narranderaopengardens raopengarden

St Annes Garden Day (Temora) - Sunday, 25 October 2026 @stannesgardenviewing

Orange Open Garden Day - Sunday, 25 October 2026 @orangeopengardens

Bundanoon Garden Ramble - Friday, 24 October and Saturday 25th October @bundanoongardenramble ngardenramble

Coolah Open Gardens - Saturday 31st October 2026 @coolahgardens

Millthorpe Garden Ramble - Saturday, 31 Octover and Sunday 1st November 2026
@millthorpegardenramble

Young Open Garden Day- Sunday 1st November 2026

Rockley Gardens and Art Festival - Saturday 7 October and Sunday 8 November 2026
@rockley_garden_and_arts

PLANT PROFILE Tulipa saxatilis (Candia Tulip or a

So my first task for you this month is to make the

So my first task for you this month is to make the time to enjoy your garden. Now that daylight saving has started, take the time to have a walk around the garden in the evening with a refreshing beverage to enjoy the garden or select a spot to take a seat where you can admire what you have created and cared for. As the old saying goes “Always make time to smell the Roses”. I think I will try to take some of my own advice too and share with you when I actually do this.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO TWO OF THE BEST DADS ! 💚Dad

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO TWO OF THE BEST DADS !
💚Dad - Our Bull Bull. Thank you for always being the most reliable, loving, caring, kind, supportive and dependable Dad and Grandfather. We are lucky to have you. Also thank you for giving me your love of gardens! Xxx @jan.buck000
💛 Phil - My Love. Well brilliant husbands do make the best Dads. Ethan and I love you so much and are so very lucky to have you! XYZ @phil_davies_1

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Posted at 17:35h in Garden Tips by GleniceBuckDesigns

Glenice Buck

glenice@glenicebuckdesigns.com.au

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Glenice Buck Designs (GBD) is an award winning horticultural business offering landscape design, garden management, consultant arboricultural services, horticultural advice both onsite and virtually, garden coaching, garden workshops and freelance garden writing.

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Phillip Davies
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