Drought tolerant plants like lambs ear (Stachys byzantina) and stonecrop flank the timber entry pathway. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

Every last centimeter of Judy’s garden is filled with plants. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

Judy used drought tolerant ornamental plants such as stonecrop (Sedum spp.) in her garden. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

Drought tolerant plants like lambs ear (Stachys byzantina) and stonecrop flank the timber entry pathway. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

Low groundcovers such as thyme and chamomile are planted around stepping stones leading to the compost tumbler. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

Judy has espaliered dwarf fruit trees, like this apple, to maximize usable space in the garden. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

Judy’s indomitable eggplant plant – 150 eggplants later and it’s still going strong! Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

Pidgeon berry flowers (Duranta repens ‘Geisha Girl’). Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

A melon! Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

‘I put my Mum’s ashes underneath the rose and it’s just gone mad,’ says Judy. ‘Its been blooming for eight months now!’ Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

One of Judy’s roses. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

A lone sunflower preparing to bloom. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

A dwarf avocado tree, one of Judy’s many fruit producing trees. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

The leaves of marigold flowers are edible – throw ‘em in your next salad. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

A bay tree (Laurus nobilis) growing in a garbage bin. Nice! Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

The cor-ten steel entry gate, with a single sunflower on the entry path. Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.