Some Festival Highlights
Wes Fleming Opens the Dandenongs Spring Festival
9th September 6.30 - 8.30pm SkyHigh Mt Dandenong, Observatory Rd, Mt Dandenong Tickets $25 from Dandenong Ranges Tourism 1800 645 505
Wes Fleming, of Flemings Nurseries in the Dandenong Ranges and Gold winner at this years Chelsea Flower Show in the UK has generously volunteered his time to open the festival and talk about the winning Australian Garden and how his team accomplished it. www.flemings.com.au/chelsea2010/ “In 2004 Fleming’s Nurseries presented the first ever all Australian Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. Since then we have showcased some of the best that the Australian horticulture industry has to offer. This is reflected in the Australian gardens being awarded 3 Gold Medals and 2 Silver-Gilt medals – a record of which we are enormously proud. Along the way enormous positive media attention has been generated for the Australian Horticultural Industry on the world stage and within Australia. Our gardens have also added a unique element to the Chelsea Flower show itself. This year we presented a garden that again reflects the passion that Australians have for an outdoor lifestyle. Over the past years we have learnt that the thing that sets Australian Gardens apart from other gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show is that they are designed to live in. Visitors to the show can imagine themselves being in the garden and interacting with elements of the garden.” Annual Garden Events
Tesselaar Tulip Festival 16th September - 13th October www.tulipfestival.com.au
With more than a million spring flowers in the fields and live entertainment daily, this is not to be missed. With Turkish, Dutch and Irish themed weekends, Children’s Days and a Food, Wine and Blues weekend, there is something for everyone.
Hancocks Daffodil Garden Show – 20th August – 26th September Free Entry
Wander through Hancocks display garden and see hundreds of different varieties of daffodils and other spring bulbs.
National Rhododendron Gardens Spring Floral Festival - 16th Oct - 2nd Nov 2010 Free Entry Enjoy a self-guided tour, strolling through 40 hectares of scenic botanic gardens and view the colourful array of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and more. www.parkweb.vic.gov.au 13 1963.
Top Garden and Landscaping Experts share their expertise (and their gardens)
Phillip Johnson - Sustainable Landscapes
10am - 12 noon - 18th September, 2nd & 9th October At Phillip Johnsons property in Olinda Tickets $36 (Limited to 25 per session) Call 9751 1009
After a quick sell out session, this year, Phillip is sharing his knowledge and garden in 3 sessions this year. Learn and share sustainable landscape design insights and practices with Phillip Johnson - the 2009 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show overall “Best of Show” winner & finalist in the 2010 Premier’s Sustainability Awards. Phillip is undeniably one of Australia’s more passionate and irrepressible landscape designers. Phillip will host a tour of his own magical, multi-award winning landscape, and explain his design objectives and philosophies along the way. Tim Orpin
Lecture & Tour - Woodland Plants
12noon Sun 3rd Oct Tickets $45 on 9751 1009
Lecture & Tour - Cultivation & Propagation of Trilliums
12noon Sat 9th Oct Tickets $45 on 9751 1009
Kenloch Private Garden Tours
10am, 12noon & 3pm Sat 2nd Oct & 3pm Sun 3rd Oct Tickets $30 on 9751 1009
Tim Orpin, owner, botanist and collector of rare plants, hosts walking tours of the historic Kenloch Gardens. Sweeping lawns shaded by mature trees, soaring Himalayan rhododendrons, beds of rare woodland treasures and a lush fern gully are just a few of the many elements that combine to create one of the finest private gardens in the country.
Craig Wilson - The Art of Bonsai
Sun 10th Oct 10am Tickets $20 on 9751 1009 - Held at Gentiani Nursery, Olinda
We are fortunate to have Craig Wilson of Gentiana Nursery lecturing on the basic horticultural and artistic principals of bonsai alongside a display of Craig’s bonsai trees. Bring your own trees for an advice session following the lecture.
David Daly - Cool climate plants for today’s landscapes
Sun 10th Oct 2pm Tickets $20 on 9751 1009 Held at The Conifer Nursery, Ferny Creek
David Daly, owner of Conifer Gardens Nursery will take participants through the best uses of conifers, maples and other cool climate plants in today’s dryer landscape. This knowledgeable talk will invite participants to ask questions and get answers and will be followed by a guided walk through the older part of the nursery where you will be able to see older specimen trees up to 50 years old as well as the Peony garden, Kalmia and weeping Maples, Dogwoods and Magnolias.
New to the Dandenongs Spring Fest
Gardening Roadshow at Cloudehill Gardens - A Sensational Gardening Q&A
Sunday 26th September, 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th October
Cloudehill Gardens, 89 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda - Entry $10
Something new to the festival this year, bring your gardening problems for a Q&A session with garden experts. Held in the beautiful Cloudehill Gardens, the advice will be enlightening and the surroundings inspiring. A different garden expert hosting 3 sessions on each day at 11am, 2pm and 3.30pm.
Open Private Gardens - an opportunity to see ‘the secret gardens’ that are rarely open to the public
Saturday 23rd October & Sunday 24th October 10am - 4pm $6 entry (a CFA Fundraising event)
Hillangully Homestead Private Open Garden,126 Falls Rd, Olinda
This property is most interesting for its indigenous restoration project through the assistance of the Olinda and Vic. Landcare Groups and Melbourne Water. The project includes clearing and restoring the property’s patch of rainforest to its natural condition, free of weeds and restocked with indigenous species. Includes 1 acre of European Gardens.
Gentiana Private Open Garden,
138 Olinda Monbulk Rd, Olinda
Take a wander through the private garden created by Craig Wilson. Gentiana is an owner operated nursery in the true sense of the word and all stock is propagated on site and in an open air north facing aspect.
Allandayle Private Open Garden, 1461 Monash Ave, Olinda
Purchased in 1980 with a very overgrown blackberry and holly infested garden, the landscaping was designed by owner Ray Cordon in stages in an Arts and Craft style. With son Aaron building many of the dry stone walls, it is a plant collectors garden with many rare Alpine, woodland, bulbs and shrubs. It also features 2 glass houses for raising seed from overseas. There will be some plants for sale.
Australian Native Private Open Garden, 75 David’s Hill Rd, Monbulk
Experience the beauty of Australian native plants at Shirley Carn’s garden in Monbulk – a flowering masterpiece as seen on Gardening Australia May 2010. Enjoy the dainty and colourful nature of Epacris Impressa in amongst Silver Princess eucalypt, Scarlet Blaze wattle and blue Hovea Elliptica plus masses of daisy like flower Brachyscomes, Dampierias, Leschenaultia and Darwineas. There will also be an information table on the progress of the newly formed Monbulk Landcare group and a collection of local plants.
Coonara Springs Open Garden, 129 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda
Coonara Springs Restaurant sits within 4 acres of beautiful Edna Walling gardens, with unsurpassed views of the Yarra Valley. The terraced gardens are full of mature trees including a 100 year old Weeping Elm, Magnolias, Copper and Tri Color Beech and many more, with Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Hydrangeas, Hellebores, Clivia and Cyclamen all adding to the understory. A beautiful secret garden well worth visiting.
The Patch School Open Garden, The Patch Primary School, Kallista Emerald Rd, The Patch (Sunday 24th only) This is your opportunity to see this special garden which was the Winner of Victorian School Garden of the Year in 2009. There will also be kids activities and garden lectures on the day.
Saturday 30th October & Sunday 31st October 10am - 4pm $6 entry (a CFA Fundraising event)
Beechmont Private Open Garden, 12 Mernda Rd, Olinda
10 acres of beautiful gardens features a formal walled garden, perennial borders, hedges and parterres. A serpentine rill connects to a reflective pond and is surrounded with collections of exotic trees and shrubs. Sculptures, a card parterre and a secret garden add further interest. Plants for sale, wine tasting and teas. Picnickers welcome.
Coonara Springs Open Garden, 129 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda
Coonara Springs Restaurant sits within 4 acres of beautiful Edna Walling gardens, with unsurpassed views of the Yarra Valley. The terraced gardens are full of mature trees including a 100 year old Weeping Elm, Magnolias, Copper and Tri Color Beech and many more, with Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Hydrangeas, Hellebores, Clivia and Cyclamen all adding to the understory. A beautiful secret garden well worth visiting.
Mernda Heights Private Open Garden, 10 Old Road, Olinda (Sunday 31st October only)
In 1937 F.G. Coles Esq. purchased a hillside covered with bracken and blackberries, known as Mernda Heights. Four generations later the family are caring for the six acres that boasts glimpses of Western Port Bay. Enter through a drive lined with large rhododendrons. Search for the vivid Mollis Azalea Garden and the Magnolia lawn. Highlights include standard and weeping maples and a large semicircle of Bhutan Cypress.
Key Food and Wine Events (with a Spring Garden Theme)
‘Cloudehill - A Year in the Garden’ Book Launch & Lunch
Seasons at Cloudehill, 89 Olinda Monbulk Rd, Olinda $55 includes lunch, a glass of wine and entry to the gardens Call 9751 1009
Your opportunity to meet Jeremy Francis, author of ‘Cloudehill - A Year in the Garden’ and hear about the making of the book whilst enjoying a gourmet lunch. The special guest will be award winning garden photographer Claire Takacs, who has provided the hero shots for the book. Claire has won a first, second and a third place in the ‘International Garden Photographer of the Year’ competition hosted by Kew Gardens in conjunction with the Chelsea Flower Show. Luscious Lunches
$30 lunches at restaurants and cafes throughout the Dandenong Ranges
Monday 4th - Friday 8th October and Monday 11th - 14th October
The restaurants and cafes of the Dandenong Ranges bring you their Spring menus with $30 lunches to temp you away from the beautiful gardens. The theme is the edible garden and you’ll see some interesting dishes with lots of fresh garden produce and maybe even a few flowers. See www.villagesofmtdandenong.com.au for a full list of participating restaurants and cafes.
Brunch with Holly Kerr Forsyth
Rose Cottage, 25 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Monbulk $30 includes brunch
Garden designer, historian and author Holly Kerr Forsyth is the creator of beautiful gardens and the author of sumptuous books. Her gardens have been featured in Vogue Living, Home Beautiful and Country Style. Holly writes a regular column in the Weekend Australian and is the author of a number of books including Remembered Gardens (2006), The Constant Gardener (2007) and Gardens of Eden (2009). Holly joins us from Sydney for this very special event. Entertainment
As with last years Festival there will be art exhibitions, music events, kids activities and family entertainment across the villages and at key attractions making it a great time out for everyone. The Dandenongs is the place to to take your kids for the school holidays with a Children Week of activities daily at SkyHigh, Thomas the Tank Engine making an appearance at Puffing Billy, Childrens Week at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival and an array of other activities throughout spring. With the Villages of the Dandenongs being decorated with the Spring Fest theme and fresh flower stalls in each village and plant sales and craft and produce markets throughout the Dandenongs, the buzz will be great.
A full schedule of events can be viewed at www.inspiringinspring.com.au
