Garden that sings loud

By Kath Gannaway
CJ DENNIS’S mum would have loved to have a Devonshire tea at her son’s place on Mother’s Day.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be. The good news? Your mum can!
It’s only in the last 25 years that Jan Williams has been serving up her specialty, home-made scones with locally made jams and fresh whipped cream at The Singing Gardens Tea Rooms at Arden in Toolangi. So, Mrs D missed out.
Arden was the home of one of Australia’s, and certainly Toolangi’s, most loved poets.
Jan and husband Vic bought the property, with its botanical gardens, 40 years ago and the restaurant has become a favourite with locals and visitors to the pretty, mountain-top village.
The Williams’ son Michael now shares the kitchen with Jan and together they continues the winning recipe of fresh, flavourful, home-cooked dishes, cakes, desserts and other goodies.
Mother’s Day is the ideal day to experience The Singing Gardens Tea Rooms.
The gardens are bursting with autumn colour and the atmosphere is ideal for a relaxed family day. For older families there is the opportunity to just sit, enjoy and chat over a wine, coffee or tea. If children are part of the party, there are great expanses of lawn and secret gardens to explore.
The Mother’s Day menu is a roast – lamb, beef or chicken and a choice of desserts.
The popular Devonshire Tea is always a favourite for morning and afternoon tea, but on Mother’s Day there will also be a good selection of cakes to choose from. Rhubarb and apple pastries with custard and ice-cream come highly recommended.
As a special treat, there is always ice-cream. It’s hand-made by Michael and, according to his mum, who is his greatest fan as well as an honest critic, it’s ice-cream to die for!
The Singing Gardens Tea Rooms is a mix of the old-fashioned and the modern. For instance, they specialise in meals which cater for diverse dietary needs, including celiac.
“People can just ring us and let us know what their needs are and we can meet them without any compromise in taste and quality, and for no extra cost,” Jan said.
That’s new-age thinking.
On the other hand they don’t take credit cards, or have eftpos. They do take cash.
Some might say that’s a little old-fashioned, but few would say they can’t accommodate it.
The Singing Gardens Tea Rooms have a BYO licence and seat 60.
Bookings are staggered.
“We give people a time to arrive so no-one feels like they are jammed in and that way we have tables organised so everyone is served promptly and without any bother,” Jan explained.
While some tables are left unallocated, booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Be quick to book for Mother’s Day, or, like the famous poet’s mum, you could miss out! Phone 5962 9282.