The Open Gardens Victoria spring season kicks off with two beautiful native gardens in Bass Coast, opening on the weekend of September 28-29.
Nestled in Woolamai's rolling Bass Hills, Eden Rise has stunning views out to Western Port Bay, French Island, and Phillip Island. Originally a horse agistment property with little more than sheds and a handful of trees, owners Daphne and Joe Proietto have spent the past 13 years transforming grassy paddocks into a stunning five-acre garden.
Work commenced on the garden long before the house was built.
"The first thing we did was remove the many internal paddock fences," says Joe.
"And then obtained a Landcare grant for 1000 trees, all of which are indigenous to the area. We planted these trees to create a wide perimeter border."
The planting of the 80-tree orchard came next, with olives and a wide range of fruit and nut trees going in. Two large water pipes on the original property were cleverly co-opted to create two 'creeks', bringing water from the hill above the garden to the two dams. And then, after five years, the house was finally completed in 2016.
With a degree in botany and a diploma in horticulture, Daphne and Joe's eldest daughter, Claire was responsible for selecting most of the plants in the garden, including a multitude of flowering
Australian natives such as kangaroo paws, banksias, bottlebrushes, and the tufted perennial grass Themeda trianda, all of which attract a variety of wildlife, especially beautiful birds.
An interesting sculpture garden adds another dimension, along with a walled vegetable garden and a chicken coop with a large run. The spectacular children's play area includes a shallow wading pool, a sand pit, a hill designed especially for rolling down (what fun!), a large playing ground for ball games or kite flying, and a giant outdoor chess set. Visitors will discover a garden in springtime bloom with natives, succulents, and fruit trees in flower.
Eden Rise, 42 Clematis Road, Woolamai.
Grevillea
Just 20 minutes south, Binchy's Garden in Dalyston is a grevillea lover's dream, with a collection of nearly 200 hand-grafted rare and endangered species gathered over two decades by garden owner and horticulturalist David Binch.
"If you are obsessed with grevilleas and Australian gardens created for habitat, you should enjoy this garden," says David.
Five years ago, David and Cathie Binch purchased two small blocks of land in a recent subdivision, with the plan to build the house on one block and dedicate the entire 500-square-metre block next door to creating a garden. David started the garden first, to get the plants in the ground and growing.
Today, the earthy green house is complete, with all windows on the west side facing out to the garden, allowing year-round views of the different plants and the perfect vantage point for watching the many birds that visit the garden.
The majority of grevilleas in David's collection are from Western Australia, species that struggle to grow in southern Victoria. Grafting them onto more tolerant and strong rootstock is the best solution he has found.
"I'm also growing grevilleas from all over Australia, two from New Caledonia as well as the odd hybrid, and two grevilleas that are extinct in the wild," says David.
"I've added some eucalyptus and banksia species to grow up as an upper canopy for the birds, giving a natural look and blocking out the other houses in the estate."
Binchy's Garden, 6 Barrier Avenue, Dalyston.
Extras include morning and afternoon teas, exhibition and sale of outdoor sculptures, live music, native plant sales, bird watching guide and indigenous plant guide supplied
Open: Saturday September 28 and Sunday September 29, from 10am - 4.30pm.
Tickets are Adults $10, Students $6, under 18 free (each garden).
Tickets for both gardens available at the gate or via Trybooking.com.
For more information visit: www.opengardensvictoria.org.au