Victoria Spring Gardens & Garden Designfest

The relaxing coastal garden Sunnymeade, near Anglesea in Victoria is the creation of two garden designers Peter and Simone Shaw of Ocean Road Landscaping in collaboration with Sinatra Murphy Landscape Studio.
Only tough native plants that could survive in the harsh coastal conditions were selected for the garden design. Some of these included Westringea, Correa, Lomandra, Dianella, Poa, Casuarina and Eucalyptus. Hardy exotic species like Bougainvillea, Teucrium and Pistachio were also used to add colour and structure to the garden. Interesting and quirky artistic elements were incorporated throughout the garden. I enjoyed the shiny disco balls in the trees and the fairground clown at the front gate to welcome you as you enter into the garden. The superb stone walling in the garden was a labour of love over many years and adds a timeless rustic charm and framework to the overall space.
I loved the gnarled twisted trunks of the stringybark trees and the mounded lumpy lawn, for a moment, I thought that I was in Teletubbyland with Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa Laa and Po! Overall the garden is the perfect space to be enjoyed by all the family and even ‘big kids’ on a garden tour who may be passing by! 😊
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I just love visiting the extraordinary garden of Attila and Michelle Kapitany, which features over 10,000 plants that they have propagated themselves from seed and cuttings. The garden has an astonishing collection of waterwise succulent plants including Agaves, Aloes, bottle trees, the spiky Ceiba, Gymea lilies and Yuccas, that seem to rise like sentinels above the exuberant tapestry like carpet of ground-covering succulents.
The garden is screened from the road by a lush green conifer hedge with a zigzag top and two peep holes to view the garden. The perfect vantage point allows the viewer to see the different levels of the terraced garden and large ornamental lake beyond that has been created over the past 22 years.
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#aloe #agave #bottletree #gymealily

I was very fortunate to visit Cruden Farm twice in just under two weeks, and on both occasions the garden was looking superb. The farm was given to the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch in 1928 as a wedding gift from her husband, Sir Keith Murdoch. While they were travelling overseas renovations were carried out on the original weatherboard cottage. These ostentatious changes distressed Dame Elizabeth so much, that she decided to “bury the house within the garden”. Plans for the garden were developed by Edna Walling at the request of Sir Keith. The Walled Garden and famous avenue of lemon scented gums were constructed from this plan. After Keith’s death in 1952, Dame Elisabeth worked on the large garden with very little help until 1971 when she employed Michael Morrison, known affectionately as Gardener No. 2. Dame Elisabeth was Gardener No. 1.

Together, these kindred spirits further developed this magnificent garden for over forty years. There wasn’t a plant or part of the garden that they didn’t know intimately and Dame Elisabeth loved it all. I loved the iconic avenue of lemon scented gums, the charming walled garden and the colourful flower filled picking garden. What’s your favourite?
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For over seven years Annie and Susan have developed the grounds of Babbington Park in South Lyonville, Victoria in to a picturesque country retreat and farm. At Babbington Park they have nurtured and enhanced what was once a productive farm with organic certification through hard work and dedication. On our visit with our group we were given a tour of the large fruit and vegetable garden, orchard and hedgerow, that provides most of the food for Annie Smither’s superb Du Fermier restaurant in nearby Trentham.
Since my last visit the ornamental garden around the house had filled out and was awash with colourful billowing blooms.
Many of the existing buildings on the property, both historic and utilitarian have been restored and the old Wesleyan Church was moved there from the centre of Lyonville. The range of rare breed animals and birds lovingly cared for on the farm include cashmere goats, miniature Galloway cattle and Cheviot sheep, as well as Sebastopol geese. It was the ultimate paddock to plate experience, as we dined exclusively in Du Fermier later for lunch!
Oh what a treat 😊🍽️🍷
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The roses in the home garden of designer Kylie Rose Blake in Scarsdale, Victoria were overflowing in magnificent bloom during our visit last week.
The entrance to the rose garden is through a magical moon gate that takes you through into a colourful world of spectacular roses and perennials. The walled and enclosed garden is clothed by climbing roses clambering over the old fence and filled to the brim with sumptuous flowering roses of all shapes, colours and delightful scents. The romantic roses and lush perennials are in sharp contrast to her whimsical garden of rusty treasures and second hand objects that surround it.

Eye-catching climbing roses offer striking splashes of colour along the fence lines of the overall garden providing a sense of enclosure, and theatrical backdrops to the individually themed garden rooms.

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I always look forward to visiting to visiting the eclectic home garden of designer, Kylie Rose Blake in Scarsdale, Victoria. The garden sits on the outskirts of the natural bushland and showcases what you can achieve with a sense of fun, and the reuse of ‘rusty treasures and second hand objects .

The charming garden has been artistically designed with themed areas such as the Bubble and Spiral Gardens”; the “Cactus Vessel Garden”; the “Veggie Patch”; “The Oven Outdoor Entertaining”, the gorgeous rose garden with a stunning moon gate and her latest project “The Sculpture Garden”.
Kylie assures me that she has finished all her projects, but I’m not so sure! Maybe you have some more recycling ideas that she could use in her garden?🤔♻️🫖🍽️
Maybe next time you are clearing out your shed, or renovating your kitchen or bathroom, try some upcycling in your garden at home!
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When it comes to gardening in tough country, it doesn’t come much harder than the extreme climatic conditions experienced in Clydesdale, Victoria. With temperatures dropping to a very frosty -7 degrees Celsius in winter and up to a scorching 47 degrees Celsius in summer, you have to be dedicated and resilient to even think of making a garden in these severe conditions. But that is exactly what Jeremy Valentine and Grant Francis did.
The land on which the garden and property now sits was changed significantly during the gold rush years, and is peppered with rocks, old mine shafts, ruins, and disused buildings. An old Cornish style house dating back to 1857 remains along with a milking shed, dairy and stables that have been lovingly restored. A few tough trees including walnuts and peppercorn trees provide shade and cooling in the hot summer sun. Mixed plantings of unusual and interesting cacti, succulents, ornamental grasses, native shrubs and fruit trees have been added by Jeremy and Grant in the areas closer to the house. They both commuted from Melbourne each weekend and worked tirelessly to clear weeds, build rock walls and plant the remarkable gardens. Years of success and some of terrible failures have hardened their resolve to find plants that can cope throughout the whole year in these inhospitable conditions. The result is finding plants that cannot just survive and but thrive here. The garden is a testament to that!😊🌳
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Ceres Homestead in Learmonth, Victoria is an elegant country estate built in 1864 by Thomas and Joanna Bath, the first licensees on the Ballarat Goldfields. We were very fortunate to explore the delightful gardens and view the exquisite rooms of the Homestead on our visit yesterday. In the central hall of the home is a healthy and vigorous grape vine, which has been grown from a cutting of a vine at Hampton Court Palace. The vine cutting was gifted by Queen Victoria during a visit to Ceres Homestead by her son Prince Alfred.
Jane and Geordie Charles and their extended families have lovingly and tastefully restored the property to its former glory days of the early ‘Gold rush’ era. What a delightful treat it was, with a glass of champagne, a delicious lunch followed by more time in the garden. Then to top it off, an exquisite afternoon tea in the stylish new kitchen/ dining extension. Im in heaven 😊 and already planning a return visit!
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The enchanting garden at Broughton Hall is set against the backdrop and vista of the breathtaking Tarago Reservoir.
This terraced and tiered garden is the result of the vision, hard work and dedication of David Musker and Philip Hunter. From the careful sourcing and selection of rare plant varieties, to exquisite stone work and immaculate maintenance, the garden is a must visit for any lover of plants and gardens. During our visit the roses were at their peak and a joy to behold, as we stopped to enjoy and smell their exquisite perfume.

This is a garden to be enjoyed throughout every season and I can’t wait to come back and explore it some more. Over the last year I have loved reading about the story of the garden written by Phillip Hunter, ‘The Charmed Garden at Broughton Hall’ and would thoroughly recommend it for any lovers of plants and gardens.

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The enchanting Picardy Garden is a French inspired, romantic country garden created by Bryce and Marian Somes. This captivating garden is set amongst the rolling green hills in Gippsland, Victoria. The paintbox garden beds at the front of the house are overflowing with colourful roses, perennials and annuals. Malus and Cornus walks lead to rambling outer gardens and old fashioned roses. A meadow, herb and vegetable gardens, an orchard, olive grove and a vineyard complete this idyllic picture. Ooh la la!
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I always look forward to visiting Heronswood, the home of The Diggers Foundation. The garden and historic home is located on the stunning Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
The educational garden showcases the best flowers and plants for growing in Australian conditions, through inspiring planting combinations of summer perennials and heirloom vegetables. The garden shop also has a extensive range of heirloom seeds, plants and garden tools to encourage new and existing gardeners. Our group had a interesting and informative tour of the gardens followed by a tasty lunch in the historic house. #flowersofinstagram #flowerpower #flowers🌸 #flower #flowerphotography #heronswood #thediggersclub #plants #gardensfromeden #gardeningmakesmehappy #garden #gardens #plant #plantsmakepeoplehappy #rossgardentours #gardener #seed #seeds #vegetables #rt_vicspring #plant #garden #gardening #seeds #seedsaving #dromana #cottagegardens #morningtonpeninsula #succulents #succulentsofinstagram