I had always thought this area was Fairfield but apparently it’s Northcote. An inner suburb about 6km north-east of Melbourne CBD.
This story was photographed in 3 parts. The first part in Dec 2025 is HERE, when I photographed the Thomson St Cafe garden, It’s always been a favourite of mine (the cafe AND the garden). This gardens person is Ailsa and she was recovering from a back injury at the time so it wasn’t until March 2026 that we met to talk about gardening. And then life got busy and I didn’t get around to sharing the story.
Today (in July!) I went to Thomson St for a coffee and a yummo egg tart and on the way back I bumped into Ailsa in full garden mode on her footpath with husband Ian and son Hugh pruning and clipping and raking. I took a few more photos wile we chatted about life and gardens and here is a small fraction of what sounds like a full and fascinating life.
Thomson St Cafe has everything you could possibly want from a Melbourne Coffee Shop. Retro without being kitsch, it’s warm, inviting, interesting, with bloody good coffee, tasty food and friendly staff.. You can sit inside, out the front or in the courtyard out the back. It’s on a suburban street so no heavy traffic noise or fumes to contend with. It’s pretty much perfect. And did I mention the garden?
The old fashioned spoon and saucer just make the coffee taste even better.
Guerilla Gardening
Once a gardener outgrows their own plot, they start looking over the fence and down the street to see what other places they can dig their fork.
I visited Ailsa on a sunny March afternoon as she was just getting back on her feet after a back operation.
Ailsa’s gardening story started in 1984 with the purchase of their current house in Northcote. Except for a lovely old lemon tree in the back yard, it was a blank canvas with deep rooted kikuyu grass, very heavy clay soil and lots of concrete hiding under the grass.
Inspired by her mothers gardening prowess with natives, Ailsa set to work. Not blessed with her Mum’s ability to grow plants from seed, she mastered cuttings or bought tube stock. By going to Maranoa gardens in Balwyn and noting the names of plants she liked, Ailsa started her collection from local native nurseries but over latter years it’s been mainly Bulleen Art and Garden.
As the garden took shape, the neighbours noticed but lacking green thumbs, Ailsa’s garden started to organically extend beyond her boundary, with the neighbours blessings. And then she cast her eye further afield. Across the road and down a bit was Thomson’s Cafe. Here is Ailsa’s account of how things got started. (below)
Can you even call yourself a gardener unless you have multiple pairs of secateurs?
Ailsa sings the praises of these geo-felt pots. You can find them dotted around her garden with various veggies and herbs in them.
“The cafe garden started with me asking permission of the then cafe owner to plant up the side garden and front garden with drought tolerant natives. At first i kept all invoices and the owner was happy to pay for plants and mulch. I got to know a landscape architect, now a dear friend, who planned the planting spaces.
Public planting can be difficult with everyone having ideas or rejecting elements of the design. I learnt not to let the nay sayers dull my enthusiasm. Compromise is the key.
After a few years the front garden was looking a bit sad and Kelly was now in charge at the Cafe. I thought it might be nice to have colour with a mixture of meadow plants from the Mediterranean and Australia. Lots of salvias. It has worked out so well. And people love it! And Kelly is happy. I don’t charge for the plants and mulch needed but Kelly has been great with watering. By planting the salvias etc very close together it is mainly weed free. There will be cutting back needed in autumn and winter and more planting if needed. Regular top ups with ‘magic compost’ keep things healthy.
I started doing some weeding along the railway line on Cain Ave. Many people at different times have planted along there. But i came up against residents parking their cars on the reserve. I went a bit crazy during lockdown and couldnt understand the objections from neighbours. I ended up withdrawing from gardening there. My husband is a great helper and we pruned a pathway through the bush reserve and kids helped by riding their bikes along there. It was then that people started using the path. It is a well used and loved track now so i can happily back off.
Covid proved great for me to mix with passers by and get exercise. The coffee shop has also been a boon for the neighbourhood. Keeping me connected to young people who work there and not getting too isolated.
I’m proud of the way i have managed to adapt and take plants out when people objected. The idea was to dazzle them with colour and prettiness and let go of my obsession with natives. Small Mediterranean plants mixed well with small native perennials. I have salvias in my back garden. Very good for beneficial insects.
If you have the drive to do guerilla gardening go for it. Great way to meet people and spread the love. I have seen sunflowers on nature strips and they look great. People love flowers but native grasses can be effective too. Renewing the soil throughout the year is essential with compost top ups. Always good to keep neighbours informed. Although as a gardener I’ve found that many people aren’t able to envision what a garden might look like. It is not an exact science. Changing and adapting is key.
There are cheaper ways to do it than my way but in my situation now I feel fine buying plants and not worrying about payment.”
July 2026
From Modigliani in the toilet and paintings based on Wagga Quilts, kitchen side boards that look like a still life painting and a gallery of work adorning the walls in the wide hallway, Ailsa’s house is brimming with art. Come for the garden or come for the art of just come for a chat, a visit to Ailsa’s place ticks all the boxes.
