Beach gallery unites art and nature

The Blue Ocean Gallery is the work of Irene Powell and Adrian Toomey. This unusual garden of artefacts and plants on Ocean View Drive, Green Head, is a testimony to the creativeness and care of its owners.

They were previously at Dongara with an art gallery and before that, Adrian was in the fishing industry in Geraldton.

“This is still a work in progress, ” said Irene.

“Outside we have a sculpture park, an inside gallery plus mini-golf out the front. Adrian has built the garden based on waterwise plants that have been proven to grow in this area.

“With the building of the great wall out there, the garden is protected from the strong summer winds that come in off the beach.”

The secret garden is hidden by the great wall of Green Head.

“Intermingled among the garden are Adrian’s sculptures, there are meandering paths that take you through and hidden artworks appear before you, ” Irene said.

“Because of his fishing background, the sculptures are related to the ocean. My art is hanging inside, paintings and drawings.”

On the garden tour Irene pointed out some aloe vera in pots — of which birds are attracted to the flowers.

There were mother-in-law tongues, a great plant for coastal holiday homes. Agaves were thriving but controlled and nearby were donkey ear succulents, which put out flowers from the centre. There were variegated succulents and a dwarf variety of pigface with a bright orange flower.

“We used to have a yellow pigface and it nearly took over the yard and over here we have a dwarf variety of grevillea just coming into flower, ” Irene said.

“Look, there is a rogue tomato. We use lots of cow manure from a local farmer and I think that is where it came from.

“We did have a heap of Moses in the Cradle, the oyster plant, with its purple and green flower. It was everywhere, then my husband developed a rash to it and we found out it was toxic, so out it went.”

Nearby, a three-year-old poinciana was thriving and Irene said it was the first thing they planted.

The poinciana has responded well to pruning. It puts out great shade in the summer and creates a darker place in a corner of the garden.

Vibrant pink frangipanis added colour to the scene. Geisha girl (duranta or pigeon bush) with its pinks and purples joined in the colour display.

Blue metal and rainbow stone in the garden and paths add contrast to this coastal garden gallery.

Green Head has always had a special connection for me and my family.

Way back in 1966, while farming at Mingenew and hailing from Three Springs, I heard several of the locals were building shacks on the coast between what was to become the towns of Green Head and Leeman.

I met a bloke in the local pub, a Sydneysider. We teamed up and purchased the old weatherboard wash-house behind the Three Springs Police Station, dismantled it, chucked it on the back of our truck and set off for Leeman, just south of there at a place now known as Little Anchorage.

We stopped close to the beach between the dunes and I said to this bloke from Sydney: “We will build our shack here.”

And we did — it stood there and served our family well for nearly 20 years.