“I was also fortunate to have Ken Officer return often to assist me in the garden, to mentor and tell me the histories of the plants, garden design and local history.”

“This was so good as we had three very young children and I was also working off farm, so my time and knowledge of all things flora, soils and the Trangie climate were very limited,” she said. 

The garden was designed and created by Doris Officer, who arrived in Trangie as a young bride from the Riverina district in 1928. 

She bought with her many plants, but a favourite was Woodbine which still exists in this garden and in the district.

“The garden was watered originally from a ground tank until 1937, when a bore was used for back up, though that water was very hard,” Mrs Irving said. 

“Irrigation came to the district in 1960’s and so the dam was filled from irrigation in dry times.”

Plants generally where chosen for drought hardiness due to inconsistencies in the rainfall. 

“Due to my South Australian origins I have continued to chose plants for drought tolerance,” she said. 

Mrs Irving said despite her off farm commitments and her involvement in volunteer groups their garden survives neglect and limited watering, creating its own personality. 

She said this has allowed natural selection of plants, quickly eradicating high maintenance plants. 

“Many plants have propagated from family and friends gardens thus creating a sentimental disarray,” Mrs Irving said.

“Also my menagerie of poddy lambs and calves, poultry, dogs and WIRES rescues have often created havoc,” she said.

“The back and side gardens have been changed radically from the original for ease of maintenance, the cactus patches went west when the children were young.”

“I also enjoy potting and sharing plants and cuttings with family, friends or donating them to charity stalls,” she said.