Last November(08), as part of the Open Garden Scheme, we went to visit Tickle Tank in Mt. Barker which is about half to three quarters of an hour from Adelaide. It's a pretty spot situated in the Adelaide Hills. It was lovely and cool on the morning of our visit. As we approached the property not much was visible,apart from a glimpse of the roof .It is soon apparent that it is not a garden you can see in a hurry. There are no straight paths and few are level. It is a garden that only yields its secrets gradually.
Tickle Tank is a marvellous garden if you have an eye for detail. The garden was planned with children in mind, and as you might expect, it appeals to and delights them. The first thing that children want to do is runalong the paths as they are windy and always lead to something special and intriguing. The special feature might be a collection of ceramic figures, a small mosaic water feature, stone masks, woven objects made with sticks and wool, and stone seating set into a grotto-inviting sitting and reflection.
On entering the garden, children are given the task of finding the dragon which is hidden within the garden. the concrete head appears near the entrance to the garden, and its arched back winds along for several metres, forming a natural space in which to place a seat, the back of which is the dragon's tail.The children are encouraged to slow down and to look carefully which is as much for their safety as their enjoyment. Most of the children we saw missed the dragon, but
spend a good deal of time searching every corner and possible hiding place. The children don't know how big the dragon is , so they inspect everything minutely.
The garden covers an area of 450 square metres, and surrounds Irene's home which was once a 50,000 gallon concrete water tank.Three smaller tanks were lowered into the original, and these are now rooms within the home. Holes were cut for doors and windows. Irene's home was also open for viewing. What a serene atmosphere pervaded every room. It was palpable, as people spoke in hushed voices, and walked thoughtfully and respectfully throughout the house. There is something comforting and ancient about a round house. There was a preponderance of natural materials on the walls, floors and furniture, and each object seemed to have been placed with the utmost care. Irene is an artist, who uses her home as inspiration for her art works. Every nook presented groupings of objects to delight and beguile. Subdued lighting through stained glass windows suffused the interiors with soft ambers, reds or greens, depending upon the time of day.
Tickle Tank is a marvellous garden if you have an eye for detail. The garden was planned with children in mind, and as you might expect, it appeals to and delights them. The first thing that children want to do is runalong the paths as they are windy and always lead to something special and intriguing. The special feature might be a collection of ceramic figures, a small mosaic water feature, stone masks, woven objects made with sticks and wool, and stone seating set into a grotto-inviting sitting and reflection.
On entering the garden, children are given the task of finding the dragon which is hidden within the garden. the concrete head appears near the entrance to the garden, and its arched back winds along for several metres, forming a natural space in which to place a seat, the back of which is the dragon's tail.The children are encouraged to slow down and to look carefully which is as much for their safety as their enjoyment. Most of the children we saw missed the dragon, but
spend a good deal of time searching every corner and possible hiding place. The children don't know how big the dragon is , so they inspect everything minutely.
The garden covers an area of 450 square metres, and surrounds Irene's home which was once a 50,000 gallon concrete water tank.Three smaller tanks were lowered into the original, and these are now rooms within the home. Holes were cut for doors and windows. Irene's home was also open for viewing. What a serene atmosphere pervaded every room. It was palpable, as people spoke in hushed voices, and walked thoughtfully and respectfully throughout the house. There is something comforting and ancient about a round house. There was a preponderance of natural materials on the walls, floors and furniture, and each object seemed to have been placed with the utmost care. Irene is an artist, who uses her home as inspiration for her art works. Every nook presented groupings of objects to delight and beguile. Subdued lighting through stained glass windows suffused the interiors with soft ambers, reds or greens, depending upon the time of day.
The things that made this house and garden particularly memorable, was its effect upon the visitors. Every available seat was taken. Some were laughing and chatting companionably, while others sat quietly in reflection. The gardens are used regularly for Meditation, so this may account for some of its serenity. I have tried for several months to write a poem about the garden, but haven't been able,despite my best efforts. My memory of the garden and the feeling it left me with, is almost as strong as the day we visited.
