The season’s colour

Ridgefield at Coldstream is a spectacular combination of formal and informal plantings with expansive lawn terraces and colonnaded terraces as features. 60832
THIS is one of the most stunning times of the year in the garden.
12-13 March
Rare Plant Sale and Garden Expo – Sassafras
THE Ferny Creek Horticultural Society’s annual Plant Collectors’ Sale and Garden Expo is a great opportunity to pick up an unusual plant for the garden, and to speak to the experts about everything gardening. At 100 Hilton Road, 10.30am to 4.30pm. Entry $6 adults. Phone 9755 1882.
16-17 April
Lonsdale Park – Launching Place
INTIMACY and a sense of space from vistas are nicely balanced in Lonsdale Park’s well-designed cool-climate garden. Foliage colour is used effectively in masses and accent plantings and interesting trees and shrubs including ginkgo, liriodendron, taxodiums and magnolias. The young woodland is underplanted with bulbs and there is an orchard, vegetables and herbs. At 40 Lonsdale Park Lane, 10am to 4.30pm. Entry $7.50.
23-24 April
Crimson’s Rest – Mount Evelyn
A RICH combination of choice and often unusual exotic plants, and Australian plants selected for hardiness, structure and colour are found at Crimson’s Rest. The site is terraced with a semi-formal front area and a back garden of profuse plantings beneath Japanese maples and Eucalyptus leucoxylon ‘Megalocarpa’. At 74b Falkingham Road 10am to 4.30pm. Entry $6.
23-24 April
Minton Park – Mount Evelyn
BROAD terraces and sweeping lawns spill down a gentle slope in this extensive, semi-formal garden. Stone walls and brick edgings provide further definition to box-hedged beds of roses and perennials beneath a framework of exotic trees. A summerhouse and pergolas add to the effect. At Lot 43 Clegg Road, 10am to 4.30pm. Entry $6.
23-25 April
King Parrot Valley Retreat – Strath Creek
THE impressive landscape features mostly Australian plant collections. Individual areas are devoted to particular species including grevilleas, hakeas, banksias, waratahs and callistemons. Other areas showcase proteas, conifers and olives. Indigenous grasses line the creek and there are interesting areas of bush food. Bush tucker and other guides walks will be held during the day and there is a small gallery on the property.
At 26-66 Wentworths Road, 10am to 4.30pm. Entry $6.
30 April – 1 May
Ridgefield – Coldstream
MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE courtyards and long colonnaded terraces link house, garden and vineyard in this exciting and impressive garden. The formal elements of Robert Boyle’s design are softened by rich and spectacular plantings of roses, shrubs and drought-tolerant perennials and there are expansive lawn terraces. At 58 Boundary Road, 10am to 4.30pm. Entry $7.
30 April – 1 May
Ferny Creek Autumn Show – Sassafras
SET in four and a half hectares of magnificent ornamental gardens the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show is a celebration of the colour and form of the thousands of magnificent exotic trees that abound in the Dandenongs.
The show includes sales of plants, gifts, cut flowers and light refreshments.
At 100 Hilton Road Saturday 1pm to 4.30, Sunday 10am to 4.30pm. Entry $5 adults. Phone 9755 1882.
7-8 May
Beechmont – Olinda
A SERIES of formal and informal rooms in this large hilltop garden hold collections of trees and shrubs including mature northern and southern hemisphere species. A walled garden with parterre has replaced the tennis court. A serpentine rill flows into the reflection pool. A secret garden, sculptures and an art display add to the experience.
At 12 Mernda Road, 10am to 4.30pm. Entry $6.
March, April, May
Alowyn Gardens – Yarra Glen
ALOWYN, the masterpiece of ABC 2008 Gardener of the Year, John Van de Linde, is open to the public for most of the year. The garden has been designed and planted on a grand scale by Mr Van de Linde.
The gardens have been developed into six distinct areas all leading from one magnificent 100-metre long wisteria and rose covered arbor. The total garden space takes up approximately four acres and on the Labour Day weekend in March will host the Yarra Glen Art Show, an added attraction to the magnificent garden experience.
At 1210 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen. Weekends and public holidays from 10am to 5pm. Entry $9, $7.50 concession. Children 17 and under free. Phone Prue and John Van de Linde 9730 2400.