SPRING has sprung and gardens around the region are looking fresh and vibrant thanks to a good dollop of rain.
From September to November there is an abundance of open gardens, flower shows and other garden events on offer providing a delightful day’s outing and inspiration for the garden back home.
An asterisk (*) denotes Gardens open under the Australia’s Open Gardens Scheme. Open 10am to 4.30pm. Admission $6.
1-26 September
Hancock’s Daffodil Garden Show, Menzies Creek
FIELDS of flowers colour the hillside and more than 200 daffodil varieties are in bloom.
Where: Jackson’s Hill Road.
When: Monday-Friday, 11am to 4pm, Saturday-Sunday, 10am to 5pm
11, 22-25 September
Drewitt Gardens, Silvan
PLANTS, Bulbs and Trains for the Garden, says it all. Extensive plantings of extraordinary daffodils and other rare bulbs, rockeries and unusual plants share this garden with a model railway including and English village and trestle bridges. A delight for all ages.
Where: 8-10 Henderson Hill Road
When: 10am to 4pm
11-12 September
Telopea Gardens, Emerald*
MAGNOLIAS, maples, cotinus, pittosporums, conifers, feature in this garden of diverse trees and shrubs, including rare and unusual species. Proteas, leucadendrons and waratahs grown for cut flowers.
Where: 80 Beaconsfield Road
Casador, Kallista*
A SECLUDED woodland garden of sweeping informal beds enclosed by hedges. Well-established trees include an avenue of cherries underplanted with azaleas. There are drifts of hellebores, galanthus and other early spring bulbs as well as trees including Dawn redwood, copper beech and birches.
Where: 56 Ridge Road
Spring Show, Sassafras
FERNY Creek Horticultural Society’s Spring Show features all things related to spring in the garden, also plant, cut flower and craft stalls and light refreshments. Held in the surrounds of Ferny Creek Ornamental Gardens.
Where: 100 Hilton Road
When: 1pm–4.30pm Saturday, 10am-4.30pm Sunday
Admission: $5
16 September to 13 October
Tessellar Tulip Festival, Silvan
SEE more than a million spring flowering bulbs, live entertainment, traditional Dutch foods and more.
Visit www.tulipfestival.com.au for full program details.
18 September
Phillip Johnson – Sustainable Gardens, Olinda
LEARN and share sustainable landscape design insights and practices with multi-award winning designer Phillip Johnson.
Where: Address on ticket
When: 10am to noon
Admission: $36
Book: 9751 1009
19 September
Hanami/Cherry Blossom Day, Olinda
CELEBRATE the blossoms at the National Rhododendron Gardens with a traditional tea ceremony, ikebana floral work, calligraphy, origami and Japanese food.
Where: The Georgian Road
When: 10am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Karwarra Sprint Plant Sale, Kalorama
ENJOY the tranquil botanic garden at Karwarra Australian Plant Garden featuring a wide selection of quality Australian plants in tubes and 6” pots.
Where: Mt DandenongTourist Road
When: 10am-4pm
9-10 October
Highways, Sassafras*
MAGNIFICENT deciduous trees feature in the rambling hills garden surrounding and English-style house. Shady woodland areas open onto mixed borders planted for year-round interest. Features include a stone-walled sunken garden.
Where: 7 The Crescent
Hillcrest, Sherbrooke*
MOUNTAIN ash and redwoods surround spectacular colour from hundreds of rhododendrons, azaleas, kalmias and camellias. Mature oaks, beeches, maples and dogwoods feature.
Where: 2 Braeside Avenue
The Poplars, Taggerty*
BOUNDARIES hidden by dense plantings create an inward-looking, informal garden with an air of mystery. Mature exotic trees shelter rhododendrons, viburnums, weigelas, azaleas and ferns. Features boardwalks, a stream and Balinese garden house. Extras – miniature horses.
Where: 3305 Maroondah Highway
Yankalilla, Taggerty*
FOLIAGE, colour and form are prime considerations informal groupings of Australian natives in this garden. Blending with bush directly below Cathedral Peak, it is low maintenance, water wise and designed for fire protection. A young orchard and vegetable garden feature. Extras – blacksmith demonstrations and sculptures.
Where: 12 Knafl Road
16 October–2 November
Rhododendron and Azalea Show, Olinda
SEE prized rhododendron and azalea blooms on show including the Golden Jubilee Rhododendron Society Show (16 and 17 only) at the National Rhododendron Gardens.
Where: The Georgian Road
When: 10am to 5pm
Admission: Free
16-17 September
Yarra Valley Spring Orchid Show, Seville
A DAZZLING display of native and exotic orchids goes on show at the Seville Public Hall
Where: Warburton Highway
When: 9.30am to 4pm
2, 3 and 19 October
Kenloch Gardens, Olinda
DISCOVER the woodland plants of historic Kenloch on 3 October, and learn to cultivate and propagate trilliums on 19 October. Guided tours at 10am noon and 3pm on 2 October, 3pm on 3 October.
Where: 487 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road
3, 10, 17 and 24 October
Gardening Q and A, Olinda
CLOUDEHILL Gardens will host the Gardening Q and A Roadshow.
Where: 89 Olinda Monbulk Road
When: 11am, 2pm and 3.30pm
Admission: $10
23-24 October
Giverny, Toolangi*
THE large water lily pond is the centrepiece of this cool-climate garden flanked by tall native trees. Weeping maples, rhododendrons, azaleas, clematis, irises and tulips abound. Features a bush walk around the lake and a Kiwi fruit orchard.
Where: 69 Cherry Lane
Nanna’s Garden, Toolangi*
MATURE trees shade intimate areas including a secret garden. Younger but now established rare and unusual trees and shrubs include halesia, kalmia, alniphyllum, zenobia, physocarpus. Features bulbs and espaliered apples.
Where: 1718 Healesville-Kinglake Road
23 and 24 October
Flower Festival, Sassafras
FERNY Creek Horticultural Society’s Flower Festival is a magnificent display of seasonal flowers with plant, cut flower and craft stalls and light refreshments. Held in the surrounds of Ferny Creek Ornamental Gardens.
Where: 100 Hilton Road
When: 1pm–4.30pm Saturday, 10am-4.30pm Sunday
Admission: $5
30-31 November
Open Gardens, Upper Yarra
UPPER Yarra Valley Garden Club will hold its annual open gardens weekend featuring five local cool-climate gardens. Each garden is a unique reflection of its owners’ gardening knowledge and enthusiasm. All owners will be on hand to answer questions. Gardens will be signposted. Each garden will provide a location map and description of the garden. Refreshments available at some gardens. Proceeds to local CFA and SES units.
When: 10am to 5pm
Admission: $5 per garden or $15 all gardens. Children under 16 free.
30-31 October and 2 November
Halcyon, Healesville*
BEAUTIFULLY designed garden features mature conifers, deciduous trees and eucalypts underplanted with cool-climate shrubs. Drystone wall retains perennials and roses. Also features manicured lawns, hydrangeas, a parterre orchard and walled vegetable garden.
Where: 466 Maroondah Highway
Admission: $7
6 November
Flower Show, Steels Creek
STEELS Creek Garden Club’s annual flower show features an extensive display of named roses, plant sales of unusual plants, Devonshire teas. This year the show will be held in the magnificent gardens of Cuttagee Estate. Proceeds to community groups.
Where: Willow Bend Drive, off Steels Creek Road
When: 9.30am to 3pm
Admission: Free
6-7 November
Yarra Valley Summer Orchid Show, Silvan
ANOTHER spectacular orchid show by Yarra Valley Orchid Society.
Where: B and T Orchids, Wiseman’s Road
When: 9am to 5pm, Saturday, 10am to 4pm, Sunday
13-14 November
Kinvarra, Wandin North*
A PHIL JOHNSON designed garden skilfully blending two contrasting garden traditions. Set in a landscape of primarily Australian plants, water flows over large rocks into beautifully constructed pools. Cottage-style plantings of old-fashioned annuals, roses and perennials feature.
Where: 13 Rodger Road
27-28 November
Fernhill, Kallista*
THIS English-style terraced garden of ornamental shrubs, trees and hedges is home to choice collection of alpines and woodlanders. Trilliums, arisaemas and cyclamen join drifts of dicentra, astrantia, corydalis and pulmonarias. Bulbs include gladiolus and ixia.
Where: 4 Anderson Street
The Nook, Monbulk*
ARBOURS of roses and clematis enhance areas of romantic and colourful cottage-style plantings. Mature walnut trees shade woodland plantings of hydrangeas and hellebores. Meandering brick paths lead to a secret garden. Features include a rockery.
Where: 5 Tavisock Road
Mid September to mid October
The Dandenongs Garden Festival
THE inaugural festival will take place in various locations with 72 registered activities including, kids and family activities, music and entertainment, stunning private and public gardens open to all, garden tours and walks, exhibitions, shows, and more.
Where: Various venues
Full details: Phone Dandenong Ranges Tourism on 1800 645 505.
