ABOUT ME


 
Photo by Clare Palmer

Photo by Clare Palmer

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OWNER / PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

I grew up gardening with my beloved grandmothers; mostly picking their cherished flowers, but also absorbing their practical wisdom and plant knowledge. I have always had a garden, or at least commandeered a corner of someone else’s. I’m lost without one.

After decades as a veterinarian, raising a family and informally designing garden spaces, I graduated in Garden Design from Burnley College, Melbourne in 2015.

My best career move. Ever.

My own gardens have ranged from suburban plots to rural properties, spanning from Perth to Melbourne. I have grown vegetables, tended orchards, turned compost and raised chickens. I wholeheartedly endorse sustainable practices, reducing waste and making informed decisions about what we use. I am a frustrated townie currently live on an inner city block with limited space but a glorious northerly aspect. I am practising the art of restraint in designing this new garden space.

Clients’ gardens are equally varied in location, size and features. I’m discerning about the jobs I take on and I never have more than two going at the same time. This allows me to give personalised service and deliver on my commitments.

I’m inspired by the people I meet and their ideas. I simply help to clarify those ideas and turn them into a beautiful space that is meaningful to its people.


My Studio

My little bespoke studio is a bright, plant-filled home office that overlooks our own garden. This is a constant reminder that gardens are for the people who live in them. I am surrounded by a library of glorious books all celebrating plants, gardens, planting design and the people who love them. It’s a happy, productive space. It is also, frequently, a creative mess with our young Weimaraner snoring in the sunshine by the door.

Ruby Chewsday

My Design Ethos

It’s modest really. I want to pique your curiosity about plants and foster an enjoyment of watching things grow. I want to encourage you to get out into your garden. I want to show you that functional can be beautiful.

My aim is to design a beautiful, dynamic and perfectly imperfect garden that will inspire and delight you. I will listen to your ideas, analyse the site and design a plant-filled garden that carefully synthesises aesthetics, functionality and quality. What may appear to be “just a garden” is actually a complex, multifaceted outcome of detailed observation and artistic, intuitive design. Your bespoke garden will be like no other.


Awards

Gold Award in the AILDM 2016 Landscape Design Awards (Recent Graduate category)

Gold Award in the WALDA 2021 Landscape Design Awards (Rooftop, Balcony or Atrium category) for the West Leederville Roof Garden