The Joy of Gardening
David Matthews gets into the dirt with Andrew McConnell for Swill Magazine
“the garden…an increasingly important part of his life and routine, something to break him out of the stream of dockets and rosters and order sheets, a place to slow down.”
Flicking through the latest Swill Magazine sure does feel swish.
If it’s not the wonderfully obnoxious large format size and the grippy feel of the fancy pages that makes you a fan, it’ll be the gorgeous photography and thoughtful articles throughout.
The 4th edition covers everything from the World’s Most Hated Drink (spoiler alert: it’s the Amaretto Sour) to an insightful article about the history and legacy of Melbourne’s Flower Drum ~ a restaurant that has seen a heck of a lot in its 50 years.
Speaking to writer David Matthews, Andrew shares the story of how he and Jo spent four years overhauling the gardens of their home to create a landscape of lush vines, ferns and trees that grow harmoniously next to a bountiful vegetable garden and small orchard.
“The results are striking” writes Matthews. “Vines creep around pillars and awnings, monstera stretches its leaves over maidenhair ferns, bursts of colour break up lush green garden beds as shrubs come into flower. Among established trees - fiery flame trees, walnuts, ornamental pistachios - there are larger examples, an ancient gnarled fig, say, a rubina, a weeping willow and an elegant 30-year-old ginko, with fan-shaped leaves that flush yellow in autumn. As for newer species, McConnell has recently planted three Chinese elms, and the six jacarandas the couple planted along the driveway came into flower for the first time last spring.”
To read the full article which includes Andrew’s recipe for healthy soil and plenty of other great stories, pick up a copy of Swill.
Issue 4 of Swill Magazine is available to purchase at Morning Market.