By Jesse Graham
THREE acres of pristine garden will be available for exploring on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November, with an Open Gardens weekend coming to the valley.
Ridgefield, at 58 Boundary Road, Coldstream, will be opening its gates over the weekend as part of Open Gardens Victoria’s season.
Owners Warwick and Paulette Bisley will be presenting their three-acre garden that boasts views of the valley, box hedges, a fountain and some 450 roses in bloom.
“It’s a big garden, it costs a lot to run, and when my wife and I are in there, all we’re doing is working,” Mr Bisley said.
“It’s kind of crazy not to share it with people.”
Mr Bisley said they had opened the garden every year since 2003, except for 2009, putting money raised from entry fees towards the Gruyere CFA.
The CFA, he said, would also be running a sausage sizzle at the gardens and providing Devonshire tea to gather funds.
Some of the key features of the garden, Mr Bisley said, were the views out into Coldstream, Healesville and the rest of the valley, with each side of the garden offering its own scenery.
“In all directions are views, and most gardens don’t have that because with views there comes wind,” he said.
“The garden is very wind-exposed, which makes it difficult – but on a day with no wind, it’s quite glorious.”
Mr Bisley said he wasn’t sure how many people to expect coming through the garden, but that some long weekends had seen as many as 2000 visitors.
“One year we did it on the Anzac Day weekend and we were deluged with people,” he said.
“Whether we’re going to get a really good turnout or a lousy turnout, we’ll have to wait and see.”
The garden was designed by Robert Boyle in 1997, when Mr and Mrs Bisley bought the property, and there are walks, a vineyard, croquet lawn, walled green, an orchard and a vegetable garden on-site.
Entry to Ridgefield is $10, and the gates will be open from 10am-4.30pm on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November. Children under 18 receive free entry.
Other gardens, such as Halcyon at 466 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, will be open on the same weekend.
Halcyon, opposite the entrance to Maroondah Reservoir Park, will raise money for the Healesville CFA through its proceeds.For more information, visit www.opengardensvictoria.org.au.
