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RETIREMENT & LIFESTYLE PLANNING | |
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| ISSUE - 27 - Autumn 2006/2007 | |
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Gardens on the go
Whether it's a sprawling acreage or a tiny courtyard, your garden is where you can escape to relax, replenish your reserves and regenerate. And, says Teena Crawford, visiting other people's gardens can be a similarly uplifting experience.
Have you ever walked past a tall fence and been intrigued as to what lies beyond? Visiting private gardens when they are opened for public viewing is an enjoyable and relaxing pastime, providing the opportunity to see, and often be surprised by, what's behind the front fence.
Gardens come in all shapes and sizes, reflecting the owner's particular taste and garden style. Spending time in someone else's garden and chatting to the owner or other garden visitors is a very social activity, with benefits that include the joy of simply being in a beautiful place or being inspired and motivated to broaden your vision for your own garden. There are gardens open in all areas of Australia throughout the year, but particularly during spring and autumn when the gardens look their best. If you have a few days or more to spare, you might even choose to join a formal ‘garden tour'.
Organised tours have the benefit of eliminating most of the guesswork from your visiting. A well-balanced touring program will show you a selection of public and private gardens; Mother Nature's ‘gardens' will often be included, plus other local sights and attractions of the region. You will also have the opportunity to meet many of the garden owners or creators, and gain insight into the gardens' history and the gardening challenges they pose, besides asking questions and comparing your own experiences. I recently enjoyed a four-day garden tour called Victorian Fork to Fork, organised China calling!
by Botanica World Discoveries.Escorted by our very capable botanical guide, Talei Kenyon, the group, which had gathered from all over Australia, headed off first to the Macedon region north of Melbourne, where our first stop was Woodend for a ‘Potager to Plate' cooking demonstration class hosted by Diana Marsland. A tour of the produce garden, some cooking lessons and a delicious lunch accompanied by local wines made for a great start to the tour.
Next came Tugurium, a garden in nearby Macedon brimming with unusual plants. Following a personally-conducted tour, owner Stephen Ryan entertained us with his gardening philosophy and wisdom; a visit to his nursery, Dicksonia Rare Plants, was testimony to his commitment to plant diversity. Then it was on to a local winery for sampling and enjoying the views from the terrace until we headed back to Woodend and beautiful Campaspe House.
Nestled in the middle of Edna Walling gardens and natural bushland, this was our destination for an evening that included a hearty dinner with a focus on local produce. A cosy sleep and a hearty breakfast under our belts, and it was off to the Garden of St Erth, Blackwood. A booming gold-mining town in the 1850s, St Erth now boasts a single remaining stone cottage: it forms the centre of this beautiful cool-climate garden nestled in the bush. The near-freezing conditions that greeted us – rain, sleet and snow – only added to the experience! The head gardener told us the history and future plans for this attractive garden, giving us inspiration and ideas to incorporate at home.
After a lunch stop in Ballarat we visited a private garden at Toora West where host Caroline Kimpton explained how she created her oasis in the middle of windswept pastures. It was amazing to see the types of plants flourishing in such a remote place. We then hit the road for our evening destination, the Royal Mail Hotel at Dunkeld, with its coveted Australian native gardens designed by Paul Thomson. We were given some insight into the gardens and the owners' philosophy on the Dunkeld District and enjoyed a guided tour of the nearby historic farming estate, Mt.Sturgeon, one of the region's extensive sheep-farming enterprises, with a tour of the interiors of the 1860s homestead and woolsheds as a bonus.
The evening's dinner in the hotel's restaurant consisted of local produce, seasoned with great conversation with my fellow travellers. To wake up in the morning to the arresting view of Mt Sturgeon and Mt Abrupt, at the southernmost end of the famous Grampians Range, augured well for another exciting day of touring, this time in what is known as the Western District. We first stopped at Green Hills, an impressive garden that surrounds a historic bluestone residence and features an extensive collection of roses.
Then it was on to Noorat and Dalvui, a grand English garden. I had read about Dalvui on many occasions, so it was a real treat to experience it first hand. After a stroll along the pathways winding between mature trees and plantings, a picnic lunch in the grounds was the perfect way to absorb and appreciate the magic of this amazing garden. It was inspiring to hear the passion in the owner's voice as she spoke about caring for and improving the garden.
Our next stop, William Martin's garden, Wigandia, also in Noorat, was equally beautiful and inspiring, but in a totally different way. An award winner and internationally recognised, Wigandia is a contemporary garden consisting of terraced beds on the side of a hill filled with an array of plants with strong architectural forms (such as yuccas) and sweeps of perennial plants, all chosen for their low water requirements.
Geelong was our destination for the evening. Before arriving at our hotel we had a guided tour of the Geelong Botanic Gardens with a special focus on the new 21st Century Garden, a dry-tolerant garden showcasing plants from around the world. Another delicious dinner followed, with some lively debate about the virtues of the diverse gardens we'd visited that day – although we each agreed all had been ‘interesting' at the very least.
The final day started with a short ferry ride across Port Phillip Bay to Sorrento, then a 10- minute drive to Heronswood in Dromana, the home of The Diggers Club (Australia's largest garden club). The head gardener provided us with insight into their garden – also dry-tolerant – which is planted to be interesting all year. The vegetable garden is both decorative and functional, yielding most of the produce for their café, where we enjoyed a special ‘fork to fork' lunch. The menu is created daily, dictated by what produce is available for harvesting from the garden. It was a fitting celebration to end a wonderful few days packed full of stunning scenery, great food, good company and some magnificent gardens.
After completing this, my third tour, I can confidently recommend organised tours as the perfect way to see gardens whether you are on you own, with your partner or with a group of friends. Along the way you get to know other tourers; there is always lively chatter about your adventures; and it makes garden visiting so much more interesting when you can exchange your thoughts and ideas with others enjoying the same experiences.
Join Teena for a 14-day tour of China departing 12 May 2007. We'll visit fascinating ancient gardens and iconic sights and enjoy Chinese culture and cuisine. For further information contact Botanica World Discoveries (see MORE box).
Question and Answer
Q. Are there any rules or guidelines to follow when visiting gardens?
A. Not so much rules as ‘etiquette'. Flowers, leaves, seeds or any other parts of plants should not be picked. Keep to the paths and do not walk on the garden beds. Follow the signs or directions in the garden. Ask for permission to take photographs. Respect the privacy of the garden owner: do not enter the house uninvited or peer through windows or doors. Only visit during the designated opening times.
Q. I saw a fantastic plant in a garden I visited. How can I identify it, and where can I buy one for my own garden?
A. Often the garden owner will know the name. Alternatively, ask if it is OK to take a photograph of the plant. Take the information to your garden centre. They will identify the plant. If they do not have the plant in stock they will order it for you.
More
Teena Crawford travelled as a guest of Botanica World Discoveries, who specialise in small group garden and gourmet tours around the world.
Ph 1800 335 003
Australia's Open Garden Scheme is a non-profit organisation that aims to spread the pleasures of gardens and gardening by opening inspiring private gardens across Australia to the public. The Scheme's Guides for 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 (available August) can be purchased at ABC Shops, newsagents and online.
Ph (03) 5428 4557
Web www.opengarden.org.au
Email national@opengarden.org.auMembership of the National Trust of Australia gains you free entry to all National Trust properties (both houses and gardens) worldwide.
The Diggers Club was formed in 1978 to provide gardeners with a wider choice of plants, seeds and advice than can be found in garden shops.
Ph (03) 5987 1877
Web www.diggers.com.au
Email info@diggers.com.auPHOTOS: TEENA CRAWFORD
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