Lila and Jane talking in the garden

Cape kids series; Native gardens, frog ponds and more as Lila learns about Jane’s garden

What makes a garden come alive?

For Lila, the answer started with a visit to Jane and Martin’s home at The Cape, a house called Kakawari, meaning “evening breeze”. As part of The Cape by Kids series, Lila visited Jane’s beautiful native garden to find out why the plants around our homes matter, not just for people, but for birds, frogs, insects, lizards and other wildlife too.

The first stop on the tour was hard to miss: Jane’s large frog pond in the front garden.

While the frogs are usually quiet during the day, Jane explained that at night the pond comes alive with sound. She has heard three or four different types of frogs there, and the pond has also become a favourite place for birds, which perch nearby before diving into the water to cool down.

It was a simple but powerful example of what a native garden can do. With the right plants, water, shelter and open space, a garden becomes more than something to look at. It becomes a habitat.

At The Cape, gardens are part of the bigger sustainability story. Native planting, open front gardens and connected landscapes all help create a community where people and wildlife can live more gently alongside each other.

Lila and Jane talking in the garden

Why native gardens matter

Jane explained to Lila that her garden is mostly made up of native plants, along with some indigenous plants that naturally grow in the local area.

Native plants are well suited to Australian conditions, including the coastal climate, sandy soils, salt-laden winds and changing seasons at Cape Paterson. Once established, they generally need less water and less maintenance than many traditional garden plants.

Jane told Lila that when she first plants something, she waters it during the first year. After that, once the roots are established, the plants usually need much less water.

But the real magic is what native plants give back.

They provide food, shelter and habitat for local wildlife. Flowering plants offer nectar for birds and insects. Grasses and shrubs create cover. Dense planting gives small creatures places to hide, feed and rest.

As Jane showed Lila some of the tiny flowers in her garden, she explained that little spinebill birds get right into them to suck out the nectar.

Lila asked whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

“That’s a good thing,” Jane explained, because that is how the birds feed.

Jane's native garden

A garden full of visitors

One of the loveliest parts of Jane’s garden is the way it attracts wildlife.

Jane told Lila that she has seen echidnas in the garden and sometimes kangaroos visit at night. In summer, they even come to drink from the pond. While she has not seen a koala in her own garden, she has seen one in the street.

For Lila, who loves koalas, this was a pretty exciting discovery.

Jane also sees lots of different types of birds. Some are drawn to the nectar-rich flowers, while others use the trees, shrubs and pond. Bees, butterflies and other insects also move through the garden, feeding from flowers and helping keep the garden full of life.

Some visitors are easy to spot. Others are quieter: a rustle in the leaf litter, a bird moving through the shrubs, a pollinator working its way through a tiny flower.

Jane showing Lila different native plants in her garden

A garden without a front fence

At The Cape, this kind of garden is not an accident. The design guidelines encourage an open landscape character, with fencing carefully managed so vegetation can continue between private gardens, streets and shared open spaces.

That matters because wildlife does not understand property boundaries.

A bird does not see where one block ends and another begins. A lizard does not care about a fence line. Bees, butterflies and other insects move through flowers wherever they find them.

When gardens are open and planted with local species, they become part of a bigger network. Instead of each home being an island, gardens become stepping stones, helping wildlife move, feed and shelter across the community.

Jane’s front garden is a beautiful example of this. With no front fence cutting it off from the street, the garden connects with neighbouring gardens, nature strips, walking paths and the broader coastal landscape of Cape Paterson.

Jane showing Lila the native animals painted on the wall of her house

The design features that make it work

Jane told Lila that she had the idea for the garden in her head, then worked with a landscape designer to help draw it up.

The result is a garden that feels natural, but is also carefully considered.

A successful coastal native garden uses layers. Low plants protect the soil and help reduce evaporation. Mid-storey shrubs provide shelter and food. Taller plants add shade, structure and habitat. Flowering plants bring colour and nectar through the seasons.

Jane’s garden also shows how important water can be. The frog pond is not just a feature; it supports frogs, birds and other wildlife. It gives animals somewhere to drink, cool down and gather.

Mulch, rocks, logs and natural materials can also help create habitat and protect the soil. Together, these features make the garden more resilient, more useful and more alive.

Good native garden design is not about letting everything become wild or messy. It is about choosing the right plants, thinking about water, creating shelter and allowing the garden to support life in a way that suits the coastal environment.