IN AND around the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges, residents with gardens ranging from the tiny cottage variety to magnificent acreages open their gardens in spring, summer and autumn.
1, 2 & 5 October
Katandra Gardens Wandin North
IMPRESSIVE parkland showcasing extensive range of Australian species.
Where: 49 Hunter Road.
89 October
Mimosa Sassafras
RHODODENDRONS, banks of azaleas, plaited wisteria and mature trees. Gracious 1920s conservatory.
Where: 24 The Crescent.
Fairview Sherbrooke
ELEGANT 0.8 hectare garden of beautiful trees, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas.
Where: 27 Sherbrooke Road.
Hillcrest Sherbrooke
A CANOPY of towering mountain ash and redwoods shelters a mature hills garden with stunning vistas.
Where: 2 Braeside Avenue.
16 October
Bickleigh Vale Village Mooroolbark
EDNA Walling’s Bickleigh Vale remains the finest example of Walling’s ability to achieve harmony between buildings and landscape. Six of her magical gardens, Badgers Wood, Devon Cottage, Downderry, The Barn, The Shielan and Hurst will be open.
Where: Bickleigh Vale Road and Edna Walling Lane.
Entry: $20 for six gardens.
2223 October
Mast Gully Gardens Upwey
AWATERFALL tumbles over rocks into a lily pond in this welllandscaped garden.
Where: 20 Dealbata Road.
2930 October
Valley View Coldstream
FORMAL plantings flow into relaxed parkland set among remnant eucalypts.
A large orchard, vineyard and expansive views complete the picture.
Where: 21 Boundary Road.
Wallace Garden Coldstream
UNCOMMON standard rugosa roses surrounded by clipped hedges feature in this generous country garden. A vegetable and flower potager garden also feature.
Where: 7 Maddens Lane.
Woodbine Mount Dandenong
BEAUTIFULLY designed, Woodbine has elegant terraced beds and impressive areas of unusual shrubs and foliage plantings.
Where: 2 Prion Road.
Cloudehill Olinda
AN EXCEPTIONAL pair of colour coordinated perennial and ornamental grass borders lie at the heart of this renown Lutyens/Jekyllinspired modern garden. Remarkable old trees also feature.
Where: 89 OlindaMonbulk Road.
Entry: $6.
Range View Olinda
DATING from early last century and originally part of the Woolrich stock nursery, this is a fascinating and significant woodland garden. Features include mature trees such as weeping beeches, conifers, maples, dogwoods and magnolias.
Where: 20 Woolrich Road.
1 November Melbourne Cup Day
Valley View and Wallace
Garden as above
5 November
Flower show and plant sale Steels Creek
THE Steels Creek Garden Club show and Steels Creek Stitchers’ craft exhibition is a perennial favourite.
Where: 699 Steels Creek Road.
Open: 9.30am to 2.30pm.
Entry: Free.
56 November
Open Gardens Weekend Upper Yarra
EIGHT gardens from Seville to Warburton will go on show during the Upper Yarra Valley Garden Club’s annual open gardens display.
Where: Location map available on the day. Phone 5966 2828 or 5967 1158.
Open: 10am to 5pm.
Entry: $35 family, $20 single, $5 one garden.
1213 November
Nieuwesteeg’s Rose Nursery Coldstream
ROSES are the star attraction at the 10th annual Open Rose Garden Weekend at this outstanding nursery.
Where: 4 Tarrawarra Road.
Open: 9am to 4pm.
Entry: $5, $3.50 pensioners, $2 children.
Bibo’s Billabong Silvan
WATER cascades through massive boulders into a series of pools in a young, strongly designed Australian plant garden.
Where: 197 MonbulkSeville Road.
Australian Open Garden Scheme gardens are open from 10.30am to 4.30pm and entry is $5 unless otherwise stated.
