A garden design that flows and guides the eye from one feature to the next is both calming and beautiful to behold. Shoyoen and the Sensory Gardens at the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden both soothe and restore the spirit in this manner.
Groundcovers play an important part in unifying a garden. They can also surprise and delight by providing a swathe of colour in a shaded area and reduce maintenance by keeping weeds down.
Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Tricolor' always catches visitor’s eyes as they stroll through the sheltered walkway between Shoyoen and the Sensory Gardens. It has covered the ground with delicate mottled and variegated leaves of white, pink and green.
Trachelospermum is a genus of about 15 species of evergreen woody vines in the dogbane family Apocynaceae. All species are native to southern and eastern Asia except for one. Trachelospermum comes from the Greek, literally meaning "neck seed", and referring to the seed shape.
Another groundcover used to great effect in Shoyoen is Juniperus horizontalis “Blue Forest”. The distinctive dense, steely blue foliage is very attractive. The scale-like green leaves turn a dull purple in winter.
The genus Juniperus (Juniper) belongs to the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50 and 67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the mountains of Central America.
Specimens belonging to the genus Juniperus are amongst the oldest trees in the world. A Juniperus occidentalis in Sierra Nevada, California, United States has been estimated as being 2,200 years old.
Juniper chinensis (Chinese Juniper), a cultivar of which may also be found in Shoyoen is one of the most popular species for use in bonsai. It is also a symbol of longevity, strength, athleticism, and fertility.
By Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan