Styling Gardens by Coty Farquhar

Robertson, Southern Highlands - A beautiful Private Garden with a croquet court.

2011-07-07T14:32:00.001+10:00

Some of you may remember from my earlier blogging days, that when Andrew and I first moved to the Southern Highlands 18 years ago we lived in a little country town called Robertson in a lovely old two story sandstone home with very similar views to this home, but we couldn't see the ocean.

I really don't know why we ever left, What was I thinking?.. it's such a special place.

There is something wonderful about Robertson and there is something wonderful

about having a long view from your home and garden.

.....a view to the sea whilst living in the the country.....

.....it's the best of both worlds

This is a beautiful home just on the edge of Robertson, I posted this

on my main blog last month. The garden is amazing!!

Complete with a croquet court, gorgeous hedges, topiary trees,

stone walls and a rain forest.

What a very special place this is, you know there is even a fabulous artist studio.
An ideal place to create!! I don't think I would ever want to leave.

Wishing you a wonderful week
......Namaste xxx Coty

If you want to know more (yes it's on the market.....it's been a wonderful family home for over thirty years but the time has come for the owners to down size)
click here to talk with Estate Agent Judy Fisk at R.J. Mackey Real Estate in Robertson

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Southern Highlands Homes and Gardens in Autumn

2011-05-06T15:04:00.000+10:00

As I have mentioned over the last couple of weeks

I have been out and about almost every single day photographing and styling for my book and blog.

Here are a few snippets of some of the lovely homes and gardens

that I have been photographing and some special people that I have been working with.

The beautiful house and garden above is the home of my 'new' friend Bee Smith Gilbert and her family. Bee, who is also a stylist and blogger came into my studio last year when I first opened and we talked for hours (still do most days). A couple of weeks ago Bee dropped in again and she was talking about her selection of jams 'Bee Bon Belle' that she makes and sells at her shop at Dirty Janes in Bowral and she said that she was about to pick some quinces . Well...that was it!! the beginning a beautiful friendship. I said, Bee...let's do a shoot and I'll photograph you and your quince jelly - from the tree to the table. When I arrived at her home to pick her up, I drove into her amazing old property and I said, forget the quinces today, I think I need to photograph your home and garden.

The light was amazing as it flooded in through the french doors into her living room on a beautiful, beautiful Autumn morning. There's more to come...Bee and I will be setting up a wonderful table setting next week and shooting it on her patio under her Japanese Maple tree, it's just about to change colour.

Bee's blog - "Bee Bon Belle"

A couple of days later we finally went off together to a gorgeous old farm in Berrima (above and below) to pick the quinces and to my delight the farm was gorgeous, old slab buildings, stone walls, lovely old trees and it also needed to be photographed. Look at the all the wind flowers in front of the house and the colours of Autumn. I have so much more to show you over the next couple of weeks on this property.

As well as the quinces I have been photographing and working with so many of our Autumn fruits and berries, so much so that when I came into my studio yesterday I had a fruit bug breakout. I have been picking and styling still lifes with these beautiful fruits that I completely forgot to check them. Every thing's fine now...

Last week I had a call from another friend, Real Estate agent Judy Fisk who called to say, Coty, come and have a look at a property that I have for sale in Robertson, it's just Divine and the view is breathtaking. The owners of this home have lived here for over thirty years and it's hidden down a country lane on the edge of the town with views from the top of the Southern Highlands escarpment to the Coast. I will share this story with you next week, it's fantastic! The topiary garden is so pretty and there is a croquet lawn as well....The owner is an artist and what a wonderful place this is to create and paint.

Then one afternoon a couple of weeks ago I photographed a small home

filled to brim with old wares and antiques

It's a stylists dream cottage......anything and everything you could possibly imagine is in this home,

He is the one that the dealers drive to the Southern Highlands to buy their wares from.

More to come soon on this home soon..............

Then back at my studio I have been working on some Autumn still life shots.

It really is a magical time to collect things from the garden. I have boxes of pines, baskets of leaves, sticks, raffia, feathers and more.

It's a wonderful world that we live in........Mother Earth is an amazing

xx Coty

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Beautiful Greens, Seasonal Changes and some open Gardens in the Southern Highlands this weekend - The Southern Highlands Botanical Gardens

2011-04-14T16:18:00.001+10:00

As many of you in the United States and Europe head into the warmer seasons of the year,

we here in the Australia are heading towards Winter.

As you may know, I'm out photographing gardens

and homes most days and I am especially noticing the changes

in our wonderful shady trees that are changing right now.

So I decided this morning that I would celebrate the

wonderful colour green,

ever changing green gardens, fabulous green glassware and china,

green vintage paintings, green interiors,

and just the sheer inspiration

that we get from the colour green.

________________________________

Open Gardens this weekend

Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens

There are some very special and beautiful gardens open
this coming weekend here in the Southern Highlands.

The Gardens

Bruce Rosenberg's beautiful property, Yarrawa in Burrawang (above)

(I have photographed Bruce's garden for my book and garden blog...coming soon)

Carisbrooke in Bowral

Linden Cottage in Bowral,

Vine Cottage in Burradoo

Quindalup in Sproules Lane, Bowral

Prittlewell in Bodycotts Lane Fitzroy Fall

Rain or Shine......It is well worth the trip to see these gardens,
even if you can jump on a plane from Sweden or New York...come along.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,
x Coty

Southern Highlands Botanical Gardens website click here
(Entry $20.00 per head for all six gardens or $5.00 individual garden)

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and a little more green.........just because I love it so..

one of my very favourite clients to have worked with over the years
and such an incredible company
Hermes Paris
Just look at these fabulous green ads, wow...isn't it wonderful what green can do!

and click below to see my latest post on my Styling Blog
Styling an apartment in Bowral

Beautiful Blues - Inside and Out

2011-03-28T19:30:00.000+11:00

Misty gardens

2011-01-12T12:51:00.011+11:00

An ever changing view in my Sister's garden

A beautiful ship comes into the heads on a misty day

I often think about what my sister in laws (yes, two sisters live by the sea) are looking at while they look out their front window or while they're hanging out their washing or sweeping their veranda with all the ships & sailing boats on the water.

While below, my parents looks out onto a misty paddock.

Photographed at both family Christmas lunches

One in the Southern Highlands and the next day at Pittwater.

Country roses in the Southern Highlands

2010-12-10T11:05:00.005+11:00

Sitting pretty in a paddock for only the birds & rabbits to see...

Climbing up over this old cattle yard are these fabulous old pink country roses that I found recently on an old farm here in the Highlands.

Wishing you a lovely weekend

xx Coty

My daughter's new blog

2010-12-06T14:34:00.001+11:00

Move over Mum.... I'm blogging too

My 16 year old daughter now has a blog and she is posting a story nearly every day.

I wish I could do that.... I'm hopelessly only doing a post every couple of weeks.

She would love you to pop over and visit her new blog

and don't forget to say hi while you're there.

Have a great week everyone... xx Coty

Bec Farquhar above

Visit Bec's blog

click here

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...........and to see more of my stories and posts click on the links below

In my Moss Vale Shop this week

2010-11-11T13:55:00.002+11:00

Hi Everyone,

Here are some images of my shop this week,

It's looking very much like Christmas as well, sorry to those that are not ready for it yet.

I wasn't ready for it either, until some of my customers started asking me if I had any decorations.

So.....off I went, and here they are...

Most have already gone... which is fabulous

Some to other stores for their decorations, perfect.....that's what I like...

Some to the Bong Bong races corporate tents,

and some to Sydney

Please drop in if you're passing through the Southern Highlands,

486 Argyle Street, Moss Vale

and just up the road....

and if you are here tomorrow, you must visit "Whitley" a garden in Sutton Forrest, it's truly magical... and only open once a year.

Wishing you a wonderful week,

xxxxxx Coty

My spring garden this morning

2010-10-18T11:39:00.004+11:00

The gorgeous Sarah from the wonderful blog A Beach Cottage in Sydney commented on her face book page this morning saying "I can't get my mojo going this morning" and I replied ""me too...""

then as I was hanging out my washing I looked at my garden and thought, hmmmmm if I don't get moving I'm going to miss my Spring garden for another year. So I grabbed my camera, some lovely old props and set up a table setting under my apple tree, (which is full of blossom) for Tablescape Thusday, I will be posting the story this week on my main blog.

Now, I'm happy, invigorated and planning a few more fun things to photograph. I thought I was going to have a day full of boring domestic.... cleaning etc . But, I'm back on my blog with some new shots. Yay, yay.... thanks Sarah...

Have a happy day everyone.

and good luck to all the little ones doing the HSC today, including my baby boy.

xx Coty

White gardens

2010-10-12T12:21:00.011+11:00

There is nothing more beautiful that a white garden, my garden is filled with white blossoms at the moment and I wish I could spend more time soaking it all up.

Wishing all my Aussie friends a happy Spring

and to the rest of you wonderful readers, I wish you a wonderful week ahead.

xxx Coty

I'm off to create some hand made white flowers and some new displays in our new store,

please drop in if you're passing by

2010-09-14T22:58:00.001+10:00

The Southern Highland's Mist

2010-07-28T12:25:00.002+10:00

As a visual artist I have to admit I live in one

of the most inspiring places in the world

A couple of weeks ago here in Bowral I captured this amazing misty morning

The most wonderful thing was the silence

It's a privilege to live here

xx Coty

Early Morning Winter's walk

2010-07-09T09:36:00.006+10:00

I really should go for a walk every morning, but I just don't.... probably because there is always so much to do and also I can get a little lazy in winter. Since my two children (teenagers) are on holidays at the moment I have had more time to do some favourite things. There is a wonderful walking track along the river near where we live and Bec and I went for an early morning walk this week and it was wonderful. The wind was very cold and it blew all the cobwebs out of my brain. Yay.... now there's room for some more ideas, I always get so inspired and filled with ideas when I walk. There is nothing like a good brisk walk in winter.

That's me above, and look at those yummy rays of energy coming down from the Sun that Bec caught in this photo, I wonder what I was thinking at that time.

If ever you're in the Southern Highlands, you must walk this track. It's perfect for all ages and bike riders as well. It's almost like walking right through the middle of someones country property with all the cows & horses on one side. I love the colours of the grasses and the fields in Winter. Don't forget to bring your gloves..... it's really cold.

Bec down on the river, and yes the water was freezing

Wishing you a wonderful week xx Coty

Dramatic Red Winter

2010-06-11T11:10:00.007+10:00

Winter is here and the ski season opens this weekend in Australia

and it is really cold here in the Southern Highlands today.

I'm sure it may snow soon.

My little office is nice and warm this morning as the sun flows in through the window while I type this and as the last of the red leaves are leaving our gardens

What a rich and wonderful colour it is!!

Wishing you a wonderful week

2010-05-31T08:58:00.003+10:00

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead and I hope all your plans & wishes come true.

My new on line store is open and a special giveaway

2010-05-06T17:36:00.005+10:00

Over the last two years I have had many, many requests & comments from wonderful readers asking me about my photographs and if they're for sale. I am so excited to announce today that I now have a little on line shop selling my prints. I am often also asked if I have a book, well, not yet!! It is something I have been working on and hopefully I will have one soon.

Welcome to my new little shop, I have carefully picked my very favourite prints for the shop which are available in a few different sizes. Cards are also coming soon... And to celebrate the opening this week I have a special give away. I am releasing today a series of four prints called "Blossoms & Birds" and I have two sets of these (8" x 12" ) prints to give away.

All you have to do is click on my shop below and find the special name of the image with the squirrel, then just leave a comment below with the name of the squirrel. Good luck and I do hope you like my new shop, oh, and I hope to add many more interesting things to the shop each week. .......and in a weeks time I will pick the two winners from a hat.

Please don't forget to tell a friend about my new shop and especially about my very special give away this week. xx Coty

I just love these old garden stairs

2010-04-07T21:46:00.006+10:00

This is another great old home in the Southern Highlands, 'Hillview' at Sutton Forest,

I just love these little stone stairs built into the side of the hill, overgrown and beautiful.

I photographed this a while ago when Andrew and I went to look at leasing this amazing property for 40 years. Hillview was the country residence to seventeen Governor's of NSW from 1882 - 1957.

We decided or should I say Andrew decided he wanted to have a life instead, as there was sooooooo much to do and restore at Hillview. From memory there were at least fifty or sixty rooms in the main home. Can you just imagine the fun I would have had doing them up.

If we had gone ahead and leased Hillview, there would have been a room for all of you when you visited us in Australia and how wonderful would that be!!

xx Coty

'Currawong' - Come for a walk with me around this beautiful old property

2010-03-15T11:18:00.001+11:00

My first visit to 'Currawong' was over ten years ago when the original owners were having a huge auction and clearing sale. It was filled with farmers bidding on machinery & tractors and hundreds antique dealers and collectors busily packing their cars with treasures. Andrew and I went up for the day and I remember walking around thinking to myself this is such a wonderful old place, it just needs someone clever to buy it and bring it back to life. It was quite rundown and definitely worn out, but had all the right elements for a great place to live. Then along came two friends of ours, Al & Lyn Bailey who have quietly over the last decade transformed this property into a magnificent home & garden and made it one of the Southern Highlands most desired homes.

I can't imagine that there isn't anyone that doesn't look up to 'Currawong' when they drive by on the country road. I always do! the house looks so peaceful sitting up on the hill and I love the way it nestles into the surrounding countryside. Lyn and Al have been planting & growing hundreds and hundreds of olive trees and making their own olive oil to sell. They have also beautifully landscaped the old gardens and added a large new wing to the home and renovated the old part of the house.

'Currawong' was built in the 1920's and if you have ever visited an old Australian property or station you would know of the energy in the air that lives in these places that can only come from years and years of farming & history. 'Currawong' definitely has it, with the very long white driveway that leads up to the house and around past the original cattle yards to the old sheds. You really do feel like you're way outback somewhere in Australia. As you all know I love spending time photographing the beautiful gardens of the Southern Highlands where I live and this is one home that I really wanted to share with you.

I love the beautiful whites and blue/greys that Lyn and Al have used everywhere around the home, it's soft and calming. Lyn said that the colour is a favourite of hers and she even had her bridesmaid dresses made in the same colour for their wedding. The soft grey concrete walkway around the house is really quite clever and randomly positioned and is made from the original old pathway that the previous owner had laid from the house up the hill so his feet didn't get wet while he went on his daily walks. Lyn and Al dug up the old pathway and brought it down the hill piece by piece to reset around the house. There are huge, beautiful trees around the house that give perfect shade through summer and they have planted masses and masses of blue Agapanthus flowers which line the gardens, the entrance and around the tennis court.

It is still a working farm after all, but a Southern Highlands style farm, which means there are beautiful views in every direction. Both Lyn and Al have cleverly modernised 'Currawong' without taking away the wonderful old history of the place. It's time to move on and find another place, "just like this one, but smaller" said Lyn. We both love 'Currawong' and we love our olive trees and this year's pick will be amazing as we have had so much rain. They pick their olives in May and hopefully they might win another medal for the oil. Lyn and Al's olive oil has won two gold and many others at the National Show in Canberra.

View from the living room across the pool to the front paddocks of the property and below the long driveway up to the house.

Thanks for visiting me today and I wish you all a wonderful week ahead, the weather is changing fast here and I have been busy photographing the last of the Hydrangeas and the gardens for the season. Where has this year gone, can you believe we are already in the middle of March, does anyone have any secrets on how to slow things down a little ?.

xx Coty

If you would like to contact Lyn and Al Bailey to talk about their farm or their beautiful home you can email them on lynda_bailey@bigpond.com or you can just leave me a message and I would be delighted to pass it on to them.

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Also welcome to everyone from Susan's Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer You should drop over to Susan's blog and see some 'very green' St Patrick's Day celebrations Happy St Patrick's Day

Vogue Entertaining Guide Cover & my Highland apples

2010-02-24T11:06:00.007+11:00

Nearly twenty four years ago when I worked with Vogue Magazine I styled and directed the photography of this cover and story for Vogue Entertaining Guide, (does anyone remember it?). I remember travelling to Robertson in the Southern Highlands early one morning with my dear friend and photographer David Haddon and we created this story on a wonderful artist in her studio shed and set up many images around her garden. Little did I know that eight years later I would be moving to this very town with my husband and young family and eighteen years later, we're still here and loving it.

Our apples:

These are the apples from our lovely old tree in our garden at Bowral, but this year I didn't get one single apple, why? can anyone help me? Look at the tree below last year when I styled this table setting the tree was full of apples and every year since we have been here it has been filled and overflowing with apples even the birds who normally feast on our apples are confused.

Wishing you all a wonderful week xx Coty

Beautiful style - Blue & White

2010-02-11T09:29:00.001+11:00

I met a lot of lovely people over our summer break while we were staying at Mackerel beach, it is such a small world and everyone is connected somehow. Next door to my sister in law's home is a very pretty little old original fishing cottage painted in the palest of blue with white washed timber. This home belongs to a beautiful lady named Rhylle. Rhylle's late husband found this fishing house twenty four years ago and over that time they have lovingly restored and added extra rooms to their holiday home.

This house still has many of the original features of the old fishing house, but with Rhylle's elegant and feminine style it is today a very beautiful home and she has created a perfect holiday haven by the seaside. Rhylle swims every single day of the year and spends much of her time visiting her holiday home at Mackerel Beach throughout the year. These last holidays, Rhylle brought her delightful little six year old granddaughter with her for some special one on one Grandmother - Granddaughter time together.

It's hard not to gaze into these homes when you pass by them on the beachfront, each home has the most wonderful character and they're all unique in their own way. There are a few modern homes on Mackerel, a lovely old sandstone beauty perched high on the hill and many little old original 'Aussie style' beach houses. These homes are so gorgeous and are very sought after, especially when they are on the waterfront at Pittwater.

I just couldn't resist asking Rhylle if I could take some photographs around her beautiful home and after a chat one morning we realised we knew many of the same people. Rhylle knew many of the women that I worked with in Sydney in my magazine days. I ended up photographing most of Rhylle's beautiful home over a couple of days and I also took some portraits very early one morning of her and her granddaughter on the beach, (to come soon). But I must say this table setting, with all of Rhylle's wonderful treasures was my very favourite settings this Summer. Just look at these chairs, they're absolutely amazing, they normally sit inside her kitchen but I had to bring them out for this shoot, there is also a table to match. The blue flower on her deck was in full bloom and a perfect backdrop, so of course everything just had to be blue and white and Rhylle's home was full of interesting things to use. I especially love the deep blue woven coffee pot and all of her cane baskets. Being a lover of all things blue and white....everything was just perfect.

Oh and I must also mention, the light beam that appears in some of these photographs above just appeared out of nowhere, it looks like we had an extra lovely guest with us for lunch.

Thank you again for all your amazing & kind comments from my last post, I wish you all a wonderful week and happy times with your loved ones on Valentine's Day this coming weekend.

Rhododendron trees at Robertson

2010-02-01T11:24:00.007+11:00

We used to live in this lovely old home in Robertson when my children were little and on the weekend I was sorting through some old images and found this one of my young son Thomas, yes, time does fly, as he is just about to do his final year 12 at school.

I remember every year I was so overwhelmed with all the flowers on this gorgeous pink Rhododendron tree which sat at the front of the house. It was enormous and the flowers lasted for weeks and weeks. There were a few more larger Rhododendron trees further down the long driveway that weaved around the property. I really wished I had actually taken more images back then, I think I must of been busy washing nappies or something.....

and below, are some images that I took on a very misty day in Robertson recently of some more enormous Rhododendron trees on the side of hill sitting in a wonderful old rainforest in Robertson. If you look closely through the mist you can just see how tall they are.

I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this blog, I planned to be doing many more posts on this garden blog of mine, I have taken all the photographs but each month I have been getting so far behind with my time and also my main blog takes up so much time. Please accept my apologise for not putting up many stories in the last couple of months, I hope I will find more time in my life this year to spend much more time pottering in my garden blog.

Happy gardening, xx Coty

and don't forget to pop over to my main blog

"Styling"

I have been posting some stories about the beautiful beach holiday we just had on our Summer Holidays at Mackerel Beach at Pittwater, Sydney.

Wishing you a Wonderful Christmas

2009-12-24T10:53:00.009+11:00

Wishing you a Wonderful Christmas & may 2010

be a year filled with Happiness and Love for you and your family.

xx Coty

I love green and white

2009-12-17T10:41:00.001+11:00

I am still fluffing over my Christmas tree and dining table decorations and I hope to finish today so that I can post it before Christmas comes and goes. I have been making some different style decorations this year and it is taking me a little longer than planned.

I have always loved green and white table settings, white flowers with green, especially set in a garden under the shade of a gorgeous tree. It is particularly hot today and any shade is welcome especially an old willow tree. So just like Susan at Between naps on the Porch, I have a few old Christmas images and some new ones to share today.

Have a happy day, please pop back in a couple of days to see my Christmas decorations in my home. and 'Happy Tablescape Thursday' to everyone x Coty

Goodmorning little blue bird

2009-12-17T07:59:00.007+11:00

I'm up really early this morning with the birds and it's already quite hot. It's the best time of the day to get all my chores done before it gets too hot. What a lovely site it is to look out into the garden and see blue flowers. These Agapanthus flowers always make me so happy as they always look so wonderful in mass. I remember planting them with Andrew and wishing at the time that they would double and create a mass of flowers. Well, it's happened and this year, even with the lack of rain we have more Agapanthus flowers than ever.

I honestly do apologise for my lack of posts here on my 'Garden's Blog' this year, I need to somehow blend my two blogs together, another task for the new year. Wishing you all a happy week, stay calm and cool on these hot days (to my Australian Friends) and lucky you if your having a winter Christmas, one day I will plan to be overseas at Christmas time to experience a white Christmas, I'm sure it is very magical. I'm off to do some more shopping today, at least the stores are air conditioned, but crowed, mmmmmm I'm not good with crowds anymore. x Coty

Pink Hydrangeas & a little wish

2009-12-15T11:21:00.001+11:00

This afternoon we will finally be putting up our Christmas tree and replacing my beautiful pink hydrangeas that I have around the house at the moment with Christmas bling. Hmmm maybe I should mix them together. I have a exhausting afternoon ahead, you see, I have hundreds and hundreds of decorations that I have collected over the years and it is such a big job to bring them down from the attic in our roof and unpack each one and we also have a pretty big tree. My 15 year old daughter actually said to me this week, do you really think we should put the tree up this year Mum, it always takes so long and where are we going to put it?....can't we just get a little tree?

I almost agreed with her, but today after waking early, cleaning my silver and clearing my home of unwanted clutter, I have decided to do it, a little late I know, but I know how nice it will look when it's done and after all it is Christmas time. We will just need to live with less house space for the next month. Santa, please, please I really need a bigger house, you see when you're a collector of everything and live in a small cottage with three others life can get rather awkward. Would it be possible........... could you fit a couple of extra rooms and bigger kitchen in your sleigh and maybe a few extra cupboards? You know me I don't usually ask for much. xxx

Two old "stylish' bowerbirds from Bowral

2009-12-09T15:25:00.001+11:00

Silver, white and grey, glorious summer colours.

I'm not sure why I am so attracted to these colours, I always have been, it may be my 'new look' silver grey hair that has arrived in 2009, it may just be the softness of the colours, I think I am also inspired by my Scandinavian blogger friends beautiful white homes that I visit often via their blogs.

I have always loved silver and white, when I was a teenager I loved wearing white in summer with lots of silver jewellery and a silver and white table setting is so serene. Plus, now the weather is warmer it's time for outdoor dinners and entertaining and white is just plain simple & very stylish. I have also had this feeling all week that I want to white wash everything in and outside the house, the walls, the kitchen, the fence and everywhere, a fresh new look for summer.

The Two Bowerbirds from Bowral - There is someone else in town just like me.... I would like to introduce you to my dear friend Vicki and her beautiful garden, I styled this table setting and a few others in Vicki's delightful home a few weeks ago just when her garden walls were massed with flowering Jasmin. I will be posting some more in the next couple of weeks for this Christmas season. Vicki's funny, she is always asking me why I buy so many accoutrement's and table setting objects and sometimes I wonder why myself, but do you know that when I first went to Vicki's home I was shocked as she has many more items than me. Not possible, I thought, yes, it's true, I have found another Bowerbird in Bowral and you will love all her wonderful collections. I do!

.........and by the way, whilst I was quietly setting this table setting in her garden, guess what, there was also a real Bowerbird in her garden watching my every move, as well as all the chooks, dog, cockatiel parrot and other animals that live there. It is a very special garden..

Above: Vicki and her gorgeous daughters, Casey and Erin and some of her chooks

I wish everyone a wonderful festive season, please take care whilst you rush around shopping and getting ready. Enjoy your time with your family and friends. I am visiting all my favourite friends at Susan's party today, we have some major chatting to do with our Christmas decorations for our table settings. Come along too, to Between Naps on the Porch. I plan to set up my Christmas tree and decorate the house over the next couple of days.

So much to do and what fun!! x Coty

A little more Clematis and my love for flowers

2009-11-17T10:55:00.002+11:00

When I look back over my blog I have realised that most of my posts have revolved around flowers. Even though my background is from Interiors, fashion and entertaining I find that the one connection throughout all my styling and my images over the last 28 years is flowers. Even when I design costumes my ideas come from the shape and colours of flowers.

I just don't know how we would survive in this world without them.

The white Clematis above is in my garden and the flower arrangement I photographed a couple of weeks ago. I found this lovely little old sugar bowl covered in the most wonderful patina and perfect for a vase.

and below, my friend Maria's garden in Burradoo, a garden that comes to life with Clematis everywhere at this time of the year, her tennis court is covered in both white and pink and the archway leading into the court is absolutely glorious.

and one of my favourite blogs to visit in Norway who also loves Clematis is Lisbeth, and her blog

Lisbeth's Little World

click below and visit her beautiful home and garden.

Wishing you all a happy week xx Coty

Clematis, Vogue and Kennerton Green

2009-11-08T23:14:00.000+11:00

Lovely little Clematis, if only this flower stayed around a little longer, I do so love clematis and I have finally managed to have it growing across my front veranda at the entrance of my house. This is one of my images above in a garden in the Southern Highlands called Kennerton Green and I have photographed many images for the different owners over the years, I also organised this garden for my friend Fashion Editor Tory Collison at Vogue Australia to come and do a fashion shoot just over a year ago, (as you can see the model sitting on the same garden chair under the clematis).

Above: My clematis in my garden growing against an old shed, and a pic from Vogue Australia

Tory called and asked, Coty does this garden have lots of flowers at the moment? yes, they are everywhere and very beautiful I said, you just have to come and see, trust me you will love it... everything about this garden is divine!

I love what Tory and photographer, Richard Bailey have produced, (featured in Vogue Jan 2008) the little old vintage boat that the model is sitting in belongs to a friend of ours and was delivered to the shoot by Andrew on the top of our car.

Above: More of my pink Clematis and another shot from Vogue by Richard Bailey

All these images above I photographed for Marylyn Abbott's book "Thoughts on Garden Design" and other garden stories, you will, I'm sure recognise the lovely statue with white rose, I did love photographing her and I always adorned her with the most beautiful roses from the garden, the statue now lives someone else as she was sold at the Auction when Marylyn Abbott sold her garden.

and...... for a real treat you must really must visit another beautiful garden in the Southern Highlands, Brabourne Farm, Leigh who I'm sure you all know her beautiful blog well, showed us her amazing garden and a few images of her home on the weekend, you must visit her.

Welcome to all from

Susan's Outdoor Wednesday party from a Southern Day Dreamer blog in the U.S.A

White flowers

2009-10-26T12:38:00.005+11:00

What can I say about white flowers, they are little gifts from heaven

and I have no favourite, they are all beautiful.

This post is in memory of my wonderful Grandmother Mary who died this week,

Goodbye Grandma, these flowers are for you xx

"Willowvale" - My sister's beautiful home

2009-10-25T15:55:00.000+11:00

About ten years ago my sister Caroline and my brother-in-law Mike found this wonderful old 1880's sandstone home called "Willowvale" in the N.S.W countryside just past the Blue Mountains in Australia. It it was to be their little bit of country, a place to get away from the City on weekends and holidays with their four children.

We were all so excited for them when they found it and I couldn't believe how beautiful it was when I first saw it. It became a wonderful place for all our families and children to spend some of their holidays together. My two children learnt to ride motorbikes and drive a Ute around the paddocks, and yes, there were a few little accidents around the farm. Caroline, who is the only one in my family with a 'green thumb' was aways gardening and has created a wonderful garden and planted some gorgeous trees around the farm.

The only thing missing from all these images are all our children playing everywhere, on bikes, playing tennis, swimming and just running around, it is a perfect playground for children.

Visiting them over the years we have watched the place change. We have been there through many different seasons and my very favourite...spring... it is absolutely delightful with bulbs and blossoms everywhere. I spent many holidays helping Caroline decorate and re-arrange the furniture around the home.

After a day to settle in, Caroline would say, o.k. Coty what should I do with this room. I was thinking.......... and a couple of days later we would have together totally re-arranged the entire house.

With lot's of muscle, lot's of fun and laughter and some crazy ideas and the odd glass of wine and you can create anything.

Caroline would call Mike before leaving Sydney and say, Coty wondered if you could just fit a couple of chairs and a lamp in the car to bring up to the farm tonight, she needs them in the sitting room. Mike was always so gracious and would fit them in somehow.

Winter, the willows are bare

While I was helping Caroline, Andrew (my husband) was helping Michael set up his own woodworking workshop in the old barn. Andrew didn't really get much of a chance to relax under the willow tree when ever he came away to "Willowvale" (he never does) as there was always something that Mike and Caroline had planned around the house to do and Andrew was always delighted to join in and help. Timber plate racks, woodwork repairs on furniture and around the house and many other things that boys find to do in the workshop. They spent hours and hours in Mike's workshop and the kids just loved visiting them and seeing what they were up to.

My darling Andrew is always in demand when he arrives somewhere. He just loves to get in and help and he is so good at it (except around our house). A couple of weeks ago he did the most amazing job pruning all the hedges at my parents home. He doesn't really mind as long as he is near me of course (ha ha) and all the family. I raked the grass and made coffee and breakfast while he shaped a perfect hedge, it was something different to do and I know he loved doing it.

Caroline and Mike transformed a little two story timber cottage on the farm (below) into a gorgeous little guest house as well as there was always lots of visitors to sleep. It has a lovely little loft area upstairs and the main bedroom downstairs with a beautiful view across the tennis court to the hills. This was perfect for the families with little babies and for very tired parents who needed to escape from the main house for an afternoon nap.

"Willowvale" countryside is very different to the Southern Highlands where I live, both beautiful, both quiet and both filled with stars at night time. I'm not sure what it is about their farm, it must be the history of this property, it is filled with a wonderful Australian style energy and charm that I am so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of.

Sadly Caroline and Mike have decided to sell "Willowvale" and put it on the market, so I thought before it goes I would show you this beauty in the country before someone else buys it and moves in. My only wish... that if they ever go looking for another farm they come down near us in the Highlands, we would just love to see them more.

Thanks Mike and Caroline for all the fun times we had at "Willowvale" we will all miss it, but no where near as much as you will, we know you loved it so. You added so many lovely touches to to this beautiful place.

To see more about the sale of "Willowvale" click here....

Welcome to everyone from Susan's outdoors Wednesday Party at A Southern Daydreamer

Wonderful Wisteria and the delicious colour purple

2009-09-23T15:30:00.012+10:00

I look at these gorgeous Wisteria flowers and they just make me want to create, create all sorts of things. Nature is amazing and as a designer and stylist I cannot tell how wonderful I feel when I am outdoors, especially when the flowers are blooming. My natural instinct is to cut the flowers and find some amazing vessel or vase and create a wonderful flower arrangement and then photograph it. Or to get out my drawing pad and design a gown or some costumes for the stage or use them "now" for a wonderful entrance for a wedding for someone special

My family home in Sydney where I grew up had a huge Wisteria vine growing up a tree in our front garden. This lovely figurine above belongs to my Mother and I remember decorating the Wisteria on the mantle in our living room next to her. It just looked gorgeous and I can still see it today. I think I did the same arrangement in the same vase every year as a young girl. I just copied my Mother's arrangement and I'm sure she did the same one as well each year.

The colours are perfect, the many different tones are perfect, they are perfect. I just want to paint them now. I just wished they stayed out for a little longer than a couple of weeks.

I am sharing this favourite flower of mine today with Susan's Outdoors Wednesday Party. Please pop over to Susan's blog to see more wonderful gardens at http://www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Stop press: New Image .....I couldn't resist taking a photograph this morning, so I jumped out of my car in a busy street in Bowral and stole some Wisteria from some one's gorgeous garden just to photograph it in this old green glass comport. Oh dear, I hope no one recognised me!

and I have also joined in on Julia's Hooked on Fridays blog party, you should visit and see this cute little cottage that she is posting today and all the gorgeous other blogger stories.

Click on my image below to go to my Styling Blog to see my latest post on

beautiful pale blue china and vintage objects.

The Softest Pinks

2009-09-08T12:28:00.018+10:00

There is a lovely old lady in my garden wearing a beautiful pink dress

This week in my garden a beautiful old tree blossoms into a mass of pink colour, the bees come from everywhere and feast on her and can you just imagine what the honey would taste like. People slow down as they pass our front garden. My car is covered for week or two in petals and as I drive off down my road the blossom fly into the air behind me. She is very close to our neighbours garden as well and I really don't think they like her much as leaves her sprinkling of blossoms in Spring and leaves in Autumn. I would never let her go though, she is gorgeous, she is a lovely old lady that has been standing ever so proudly in my front garden for many many years.

I would love you to leave a comment and if you have time, drop over to my Styling blog to see the Debutante Ball gown that I created.

Burradoo Blossoms

2009-08-18T16:56:00.015+10:00

I have only just realised that it has been three months since my last post in my garden blog, I am so sorry, the thought that I may have dropped off blog sites is terrible and I cannot believe that I have missed a whole season of gardening.

Well I am nearly back, a few more weeks of work and I'm free to get back to my blogging. I have spent the most wonderful spring day today with one of my best friends, MY CAMERA. We went to Burradoo this morning to drop off Thomas to school and had to stop and look at all the gardens on the way. (I really don't think my children are aware of how lucky they are to be surrounded each day by such beautiful country side and gardens). We, (me and my camera ) then spent the rest of day together in the garden under my blossom tree having tea.

For more of my tablesettings under the blossom tree in my garden today visit my Styling blog this week.

This is a gorgeous little house in Burradoo across the road from my Son's school, it sold recently and I thought it would be an interesting house to buy, beautiful on the outside, very tiny inside with little windows. It is almost like a dolls house, unfortunately if we bought it, I would have to live there on my own as I couldn't fit the family in.

Welcome to all from Susan's at A Southern Day Dreamer blog Outdoor Wednesday party

for more amazing outdoor images visit Susan's blog and all her guests by clicking below

www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com

Autumn gardens in the Southern Highlands

2009-04-30T11:16:00.010+10:00

Bowral, Mittagong, Moss Vale, Sutton Forrest, Robertson, Exeter, Kangaloon, Wildes Meadow, Burrawang and more...(great names!!!) these are all the names of the towns in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Here are some of my images from some of my favourite gardens. I will be back later to add some more............ I'm running to a quick meeting, life is suddenly busy. I wish I could just sit under one of these trees and have a little sleep. till then...

Come and visit my main blog as I have lots of yummy Autumn table settings and more

Beautiful Ivy

2009-04-09T15:04:00.007+10:00

Even the Ivy is changing colours, what would I do without Ivy, for so long now it has always been a favourite of mine for display. Here are a few of my styling images using Ivy. It is the quickest and easiest thing to work with when putting a display together. Plus it grows so quickly and almost grows anywhere.

Gorgeous little gardening sheds

2009-04-03T12:43:00.017+11:00

It's here, one of the biggest weekends in the Southern Highlands. Not only is it the weekend for Brigadoon in Bundanoon (the largest Scottish Highland Gathering in Australia) it is also one of the biggest gardening weekends. The smell of blood and bone drifts through the air, every one's in their garden pruning and clipping, the chain saws are out and mulching is a must. We have had the most wonderful rain all week, our trees are looking very happy.

Get out the rakes and clear those leaves, there are bags and bags of wet leaves to be removed. I love it......I'm hooked

It's also Hooked on Friday party at Julia's blog Hooked on Houses, you must visit and see what everyone is hooked on this week.

I thought I would share some of my very favourite gardens sheds in some of our local gardens, some of them are so gorgeous I wouldn't mind living in them. Covered in roses with little verandas they are such a delight to have in any garden. I love the corrugated iron walls, the old pane windows and the pretty little touches here and there, see the hearts on the wall and the cock on the roof.

Come over and visit my main blog,

This week - An Easter table setting on a country veranda and white roses in hedges for a wedding.

High on a hill in Burrawang

2009-03-25T11:14:00.003+11:00

There is something about a country home that is good for the soul, especially one that sits high on a hill overlooking the countryside. I am delighted to show you this beautiful home and garden in Burrawang, a little town in the Southern Highlands. Designed and built by two very creative friends of mine sixteen years ago when their first of three daughters was born.

The misty views across the surrounding properties to the lake in the distance are breathtaking. This very stylish two story home is really a perfect place to live, within walking distance to town, only two hours drive to Sydney and one hour to the coast. The buildings have been positioned well on the land, with a long driveway leading up to the main house, then another guest house further up the hill with large entertaining rooms surrounded by a long veranda. Gosh, am I starting to sound like a real estate person........

What I do love about this home is the garden is simply just beautiful green lawns, topiary trees and lots and lots of white flowers throughout the year. The stone slabs have weathered and settled into the hill, the trees surrounding the house are now well established and each year there are more and more white flowers. They are so lucky to wake each day to such a delightful surrounding.

Imagine the weddings in years to come, ooooh aaaah, perfect.

White Water Lillies - Nymphaea Lotus

2009-03-17T11:45:00.000+11:00

Paint them, photograph them or just gaze at them, the White Water Lilly is a very special flower.

I took all these images at a beautiful famous old garden in Mittagong called Kennerton Green. They are floating in a lovely stone heart shaped pond which is surrounded by a small white woodland. I took many photographs over the years a Kennerton Green for books and websites and these are some of my favourites. I was lying flat on the ground to take some of these images and I was quite lost in the moment.

Kennerton Green is a very special garden and on every visit I always loose total awareness of time whilst in the garden. I really do enjoy my job sometimes.....

The Beautiful Magnolia Lady

2009-03-05T18:33:00.000+11:00

We all need time to relax and just feed the birds

2009-02-27T11:35:00.000+11:00

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I'm finding this year is just speeding by so quickly, I cannot believe that we are nearly in March. It is really important to stop sometimes, clear our mind, think about the good things in life and relax. I grew up with this lovely lady, my mother bought her when she was very young. She is actually a lamp base and she always looked so pretty in the bedroom.

Those were the days, imagine being able to just wake up, dress up in beautiful gowns, swan around the garden sipping tea, feeding the birds and waiting for prince charming to arrive at your door.

I'm off outside to my garden to relax and feed the birds, unfortunately I don't think I will ever look as pretty as this lady,

there's house work to be done today and you should see what I'm wearing .......

Thank you to everyone who left me a comment, I really to love receiving them and I treasure your comments so much.

Autumn has arrived and the leaves are falling......

2009-02-19T09:55:00.001+11:00

The mornings have become a little chilly, the air smell fresh and whilst driving my son to school this morning all the leaves were falling from the old trees along the road. I think after such a hot summer the leaves are exhausted and ready to let go. Gosh, I know how they feel. I have been talking to so many people and everyone is just so tired at the moment, the change of season it upon us. I really need to get into the garden soon as most of the plants were badly sun burnt and effected by the heat we had only a couple of weeks ago.

At sunset, this beautiful of tree in Burradoo catches the last light of the day.

I just couldn't resist dressing these little dolls up with the Autumn leaves, I have been spotted around my town collecting other peoples leaves.

Yes, I am the one that steals the leaves from your front garden.

A beautiful lake nearby on a private property, this garden is amazing in Autumn and I will be showing more of this garden soon.

Styling by Coty Farquhar

Inspiration from the garden, beautiful vintage perfume advertising

2009-02-17T15:51:00.000+11:00

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Deliciously beautiful perfume illustrations and advertising all inspired from the garden. Christian Dior Diorama's beautiful Water Lily lady. What a wonderful mind French artist Rene Gruau had.

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Styling gardens by Coty Farquhar

2009-02-09T14:58:00.000+11:00

As a little girl I grew up in a big garden, not grand, just full of large trees, seasonal flowers and wonderful places to play with my brothers, sisters, cousins and friends in our street.

We did everything in our garden, played, entertained, raised little animals, we had all our Christmas parties, and birthday parties and many family gatherings in our garden. We really didn't spend much time inside, we were always outside playing. My Grandfather, Pa (who lived with us) sat everyday in our garden, on hot summer days and the cold of winter in his very own special chair on the patio.

My grandmother (Nana) loved gardening, she always wore a large garden hat and she just had a knack for growing things, Nana would pour the tea leaves from our tea pot every day over our gardenia tree which was always full of flowers and near the kitchen window. This gardenia tree was always fragrant and very beautiful, it is one of my very favourite flowers (I do have many) and we always had a vase of gardenias in our home.

We had a huge wisteria growing in our front garden, camellias, fruit trees, magnolias and white azaleas. On Sundays we would drive off to many local nurseries and while my mother talked with the growers we would play in the rows of plants running over little bridges and playing hide and seek. I just love the smell of fresh soil and a good sprinkle of manure. I know that sounds crazy, but I do!

Growing up on the North Shore of Sydney every weekend the lawns would be mowed then the clippings and cuttings would be burnt. (You would hear mowers for miles) How crazy were our parents, not only was there a haze of smoke covering Sydney's North, (not to mention what they were doing to the ozone layer) but they were burning all that wonderful garden mix.

A garden is a very special place, a sacred place, a breathing space. Somewhere to clear your mind and then fill it back up again with lovely fresh thoughts.

I have a lovely long view from my back garden looking across to a mountain. There are cows in the paddock in the distance, I have many fruit trees, apples, plums, a cherry, lilac, roses and even a peppercorn tree which is just outside our bedroom window and is very popular at the moment with the native birds. We live next door to a large bush area which I love very much as the bird life is incredible and many people stroll through with their dogs.

As some of you may know, we have now lived in the Southern Highlands of N.S.W for 16 years and there are magnificent well known gardens here. Bowral has tulip time every year which attracts thousands of visitors from the city. Many of our friends have beautiful large gardens and there are many local garden clubs, shops and associations. My garden is very small and nothing compared to the many homes here, but I am very lucky as I have visited many of these special spots and have many memories of lovely times spent with friends. Many have full time gardeners, some are just for show, but the gardens that I love the most are the private old gardens hidden away behind a high hedge or down an old country lane.

Welcome to my very first post for my new blog "Styling Gardens by Coty Farquhar"

I do hope you enjoy your time here and come back to visit me again soon.