Alstonville garden to go on show
Enthusiasts of Australian plants should not miss a visit to Peter and Barbara Swain’s Alstonville garden, pictured, when it opens for Australia’s Open Garden Scheme on Sunday, September 30, and Monday, October 1, of the Labour day long weekend.
To enhance the native plant experience, bush tucker teas will be served throughout both open days. Lemon scented myrtle tea and home-made Davidson plum jam brings a new dimension to morning or afternoon tea. A collection of bush tucker plants is also grown in the garden,” said Liz Chappell, northern NSW co-ordinator of Australia’s Open Garden Scheme.
“Visitors can enjoy a stroll around the 3.5 hectare property, around the lawns beds of grevilleas and palms or venture down paths through the gullies to experience the restored rainforest and creek side vegetation. Waratahs and grevilleas are coming into full bloom and seem all the more vigorous after the cold winter. The property is alive with scarlet honeyeaters, lorikeets and warblers the garden is a delight this spring.
“Over a period of eight years the Swains have turned their block of 3.5 hectares of grazing land and weed-infested scrub into a spectacular landscape of restored to native plantings and rainforest. Restoration work is ongoing but the main structure is well established.”
Details of the garden are:
1 Formal front gardens of totally native plants including new cultivars of grevilleas and rainforest plants
2 Restored rainforest gullies and slopes with sections planted after extensive weed control, new plantings and regeneration blocks
3 Increased wildlife habitat with small dams, boxes for birds and native bees
4 Extensive use of fencing and tree guards to counteract damage by swamp wallabies
5 Landscape feature of ’standing stones’
6 Feature gully/creek side walks
7 Bush tucker teas
8 Plants for sale.
Everyone is welcome and children are admitted free. There is an entrance charge of $6 per person and all profits will go to the local Mental Health Support Group.
ADDRESS:- 26 Eden Valley Drive, Alstonville.
DIRECTIONS:- South of Alstonville on the Bruxner Highway turn onto Teven Road; after 1.5 klm turn right into Gap Road; after 1.5 klm turn right into Dillons Lane; then after 400 metres turn left into Eden Valley Drive.
OPEN:- Sunday 30 September and Monday 1 October. 10 am - 4.30 pm.
