Open Gardens Victoria - Hanami

About this event

This richly diverse acre-and-a-half landscape has been transformed over more than 20 years from a former paddock into a series of garden rooms. From the beginning, the owners' vision was that the garden should not all be revealed at once, encouraging visitors to keep moving, looking and wondering what lies beyond the next path.

The garden is divided into three distinct areas: semi-formal, cottage and arboretum. Around the house, David Austin roses at the front and mixed roses at the rear are framed by box hedging, trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs. A sweeping lawn and camellia border create a welcoming semi-formal space, which has hosted many weddings.

Beyond a hedge of Rosa 'Complicata', meandering brick paths lead through the cottage garden to a potting shed, fountain, raised vegetable beds, chook house and summerhouse. Garden arches, decorated fencing, sculptures and water features add character, while a rose arbour leads towards the arboretum.

Here, established deciduous trees create a parkland setting, underplanted with bulbs providing seasonal colour. Throughout Hanami, visitors will find places to pause and enjoy the garden. Since its previous opening in 2014, new features have been added and some less successful plantings removed, allowing resilient species to flourish as the garden continues to mature.