Take the path to award winner – The 100 metre wisteria and rose arbour is a feature of the gar

WHAT was once an occasional opportunity to discover John and Prue Van de Linde’s outstanding Alowyn Gardens is now an every weekend event.
The 1.5 hectare garden on the Melba Highway just north of Yarra Glen has been open for special events in the past but in October the Van de Lindes officially launched their new tourism venture, opening the gardens to the public during spring, summer and autumn on weekends.
The garden, clearly a passion for the couple, has been 10 years in the making as it has been transformed from a featureless paddock into an award-winning garden. John, who works in the industry, last year won the Gardening Australia Magazine Gardener of the Year title.
The garden is designed along strong symmetrical lines with five clearly defined areas within the gardens – a perennial border designed for spring and autumn, a silver birch forest consisting of about 500 trees, an extensive edible garden with avenues of fruit trees, a berry garden, beds of organic vegetables, flowers and herbs.
The formal parterre garden, built along 17th century design principles takes visitors through a series of small individual courtyards and garden spaces.
Alowyn Gardens at 1210 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen, is open from 10am to 5pm weekends.