Home Stories: Jane Penders and Jay Dryden

Posted on 5 July, 2019

A few weeks ago, I was invited to check out a soon-to-be flower farm out at Lade Vale, which is situated somewhere in the bush between Yass and Gunning.

So, I put on the closest thing I have to country boots, grabbed Peppie my Cavoodle, and we set off on the 45-minute drive.

I say ‘soon-to-be’ flower farm, as Jane and Jay only bought the land a year ago and have just planted their first flowers—nearly 100 peony tubers—which have been safely tucked in the ground and will produce blooms come November.

Jane and Jay use the property as a weekend getaway from their busy lives in Canberra and, of course, to keep working on the flower farm preparations.

When Peppie and I arrived, I realised that the property was a perfect fit for Home Stories. Not because of its grandeur, but because of its simplicity.

I didn’t have a photographer with me but, as John Lennon once said, “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making plans”, so I pulled out my phone and did my best pro influencer impression.

My photo session was interrupted, however, when Jane rounded the corner and said ‘Ah Ashley, are you sure you don’t want to do this another time when the house is more complete and some flowers might be blooming?’

‘Well,’ I replied. ‘There’s no time like the present Jane, and these autumn colours are really pretty … plus after seeing how dusty my car and these boots got on that dirt road into here, it might be a while before I return.’

That excuse seemed to work, and from then on, the only thing chasing me around was their farm duck, Daffodil. I don’t know what its problem was—I did explain to her that I don’t even like duck pancakes.

When the couple bought the farm, the cottage was no more than a tin shed. To make it more comfortable, Jay transformed the space by putting up new internal walls, adding new doors and windows and a few creature comforts including a new kitchen, bathroom and that pot belly stove. It is now a self-sustaining home.

Speaking of creature comforts, you’ll notice how Jane and Jay have added interesting elements to give the place some character.

The outdoor seating sets, the fire pit, the external bath, the stained-glass kitchen window (made by Jane’s late father), lots of lanterns and quaint little pots, vases and wall decorations.

My two favourites are the blue guitar as a wall installation and the single blue chair overlooking the pond which just invites you for a spot of deep contemplation.

I tried it out, and with the sun on my back and the sound of gentle wind in the trees, I felt an overwhelming sense of relaxation (until that bloody duck came back again).

As you can see, there are no flowers in sight yet—the pitchfork stabbed in the soil defines where the flower nursery will be.

But I’m certain it’s going to look great, and despite my OCD nature protesting at the thought of having to dirty the car again, I can’t wait to see how this turns out.

Besides, my partner Emily loves peonies so I’m hoping I can make it out of there with a basketful, like a bandit.

As the sun dipped behind the hills, it was time to leave. It was getting dark, Peppie lost his ball in a really large hole (which I was too scared to go into, to retrieve), and I swear I heard a wolf howling.

Jane started to light the lanterns and the string lights outside of the hut, and as I looked back from the road it had that storybook homely glow. Between the lights, the creature comforts and the simple décor, the cottage is definitely a home.