This spring, Benalla garden lovers will get to experience it themselves when Deidre and her husband John’s beautiful garden on Mitchell St is open to the public on October 17 and 18.
Redding House, Benalla’s oldest residence, sits in the midst of a formal garden that features a parterre garden at the front, a distinctive window hedge and Deidre’s favourite section, the walled garden at the rear.
“Much of the garden is quite formal but the rear garden is something that’s just happened,” Deidre said.
“There are some beautiful roses growing over the wall and I’m hoping they will be in flower for the opening.”
Three other gardens will open on November 1 as part of the Benalla Festival, with all four raising funds for Benalla’s community foundation, Tomorrow Today.
“Over the years John and I have been supporters of Tomorrow Today so I’m more than happy to be opening the garden for them,” Deidre said.
Lois Smith, who is organising the garden openings this year assisted by Kathy Ragg, agrees.
“I think Tomorrow Today is an amazing thing, and I think that it’s something very worthwhile that should be supported, so if we can do that in some small way, then we are happy,” she said.
Lois and her husband, Neil, have been busily preparing their Thomas St garden, Mont Alto, for the event, too.
Under the gentle guidance of Deidre and her artistic eye they’ve remodelled parts of their garden to include focal points, including an antique garden mirror and chaise lounge.
The ornamental elements complement roses, sculptured palms and a magnificent Chinese elm.
“We last opened the garden in 2018; but we’ve made some significant changes since then so returning visitors will have a new experience of the garden,” Lois said.
Another garden that will be open on November 1 is Sarah and Richard De Cresigny’s Florence Court on Samaria Rd.
When Sarah and Richard arrived at Florence Court in 1989, the garden had a wonderful outline created by many mature deciduous trees but the rest was rather disorganised.
Since then, they have spent many years establishing lawns, creating a classic English border garden, planting extensive daffodil areas and tending to the trees.
This established country garden features an impressive ha-ha wall and an interesting range of plantings that complement their beautiful home.
The fourth garden to open is Georgina Burston and David Elford’s Holland Park on Emu Bridge Rd.
This large garden has been designed to withstand the extremes of hot dry spells, heavy rains and deep frosts.
Its survival is a testament to Georgina and David’s tenacity and their vision to create a balanced garden that sits comfortably within the landscape.
“We do not see ourselves as gardeners, but rather practical farmers. But, we have had fun designing and then creating everything within this space and maintaining it ourselves,” Georgina said.
“We are not sure that this garden is ready yet for public viewing, it is still very much a work in progress; but if a garden can inspire or give some ideas to others, it is always worth a look.”
On Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, Redding House, located at 9 Mitchell St, will open between 10am and 4pm, with performances by Benalla Guitar Club to backdrop the atmosphere.
Mont Alto, at 30 Thomas St, will open between 10am and 4pm on Sunday, November 1, including a stall with honey, a botanical art display and performances by Rose City Band.
Holland Park, 270 Emu Bridge Rd, will open on the same day and time, and will feature a coffee van, and stalls selling preserves and jams made by students in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program at Benalla P-12 College.
Proceeds made will go back into the program.
Florence Court, located at 758 Samaria Rd, will also open on Sunday, November 1 between 10am and 4pm.
Entry cost will be $7 per garden, with cash to be the only accepted payment method.
All proceeds will be donated to Tomorrow Today.
Raffle tickets will be available at each garden for $2 each, or three for $5, and prizes will be drawn on Sunday, November 1.
