Gardener’s garden opens

By Melissa Donchi
ASPIRING gardeners in the Upper Yarra will be able to admire and inspect more than 1200 roses at Shadowlea as part of the Open Garden Weekend on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November.
Tucked away in Seville East, Shadowlea boasts more than 1200 modern and old-fashioned roses over more than one hectare including native plants, trees and a lake.
Planted by Ron Arbuthnott and Diane Oates in 1986, the garden started off small with mostly native plants until Mr Arbuthnott was bitten by the rose bug and joined the Victorian Rose Society and Heritage Roses Australia.
Since then, the garden has expanded with old horse paddocks and training areas converted into rose gardens.
“This is a gardener’s garden, not a designer’s garden,” Mr Arbuthnott said.
“There’s over three acres to stroll through, with landscaped dam, large shade trees, ponds, lawns and a bush area.
“There are about 1200 roses of about 900 varieties, most with names on them, ranging from species through Chinas, teas, rugosas, bourbons, floribundas, David Austins, Alistair Clarkes to modern hybrid teas.
“A few other exotics have also managed to sneak in.
“The native garden has grevilleas, banksias, acacias, dryandras, correas, boronias, thomasias, lomandras and restios.”
With such an extensive range of roses Mr Arbuthnott admits it hasn’t been easy maintaining them all.
“Some areas have had to be redeveloped after the drought,” he said.
“The garden is very sparingly watered from the dam via a fire pump and dripper system.”
All proceeds of the day go to the Hoddles Creek Red Cross which will also be providing morning and afternoon tea including a sausage sizzle.
Open Garden Weekend for Australia’s Open Garden Scheme at Shadowlea Garden, 135 Bridgewater Road (corner Douthie Road), Seville East, is on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November from 10am to 4.30pm.
There is wheelchair access.
Call 5964 3027 for more details.