Open Gardens Canberra

Els' Garden
2018-10-20 10:00 - 2018-10-21 16:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Els’ garden, 3 Ramage Place, Flynn, Canberra, ACT, 2615, Australia
Els’ garden is on a quarter acre, gently south-sloping block, and includes a variety of ornamental zones front and back including a substantial variety of native plants. Phyla nodiflora on the nature strip leads to Isopogons sheltering under a silver birch and a Chinese pistacio, near a mature Myoporum floribundum. Mauve Prostanthera, Olearia and Westringia contrast beautifully with the yellows and oranges of Micrantheum hexandrum, Pomaderris phylicifolia and multiple Banksias and Grevilleas. The stunning exotic Cercis canadensis shades white Olearia and Kunzea, and a delicate pink Ozothamnus nearby. In the back garden a small pond and creek make a lovely setting. A wisteria covered pergola creates a shady outdoor area for a cup of tea or coffee.
Supported charity: Organic Trust Australia – Research and Education

Not suitable for prams or wheelchairs.

A Relaxed Garden
2018-10-20 10:00 - 2018-10-21 16:00 | Relaxed Garden, 17 Gilmore Crescent, Garran, ACT, 2605, Australia
Enjoy the sounds of frogs and moving water in this productive cottage garden without a lawn. In Spring the garden will be abloom with fruit trees (apricot, fig, plum and crab apples) and also feature a wisteria-covered arbour, camellias and bulbs. The owner’s efforts to establish a sound basic structure of visual rooms and access paths, and to improve the soil, have paid off. Now they have garden that does not need constant attention, allowing them to simply relax in the garden, enjoying the constantly changing colours of flowers and foliage.
Garden notes are available.
Supported charity: Canberra Refugee Support Group
The garden is on a 827 square metre block.

Fetherston Gardens
2018-04-15 11:00 - 15:00 | Fetherston Gardens, Fetherston Place, Weston, ACT, 2611, Australia
The 3.5 hectare Fetherston Gardens provides a variety of garden styles which will appeal to a range of garden lovers. These include the eucalypt woodlands, the arboretum, the conifer grove, the pond, the native garden and the secret garden. The diverse gardens are linked by good paths. Comfortable seating, gazebos and shelters are located at various points. There are areas suitable for picnics.
Free Entry. Guided walks will run on the day at 11.00 am and 1.00 pm.
Information by the Fetherston Gardens Friends is available here.
The gardens are being opened as part of the 2018 Canberra and Region Heritage Festival.
Those interested in also visiting the rehabilitated Weston Community Orchards at the top of Unwin Street nearby, may contact Chris Boswell on 0431 611966.
Photos by Leslie Pattinson

Wheelchair access from Isherwood Crescent, Fetherston Heights, Weston.

The Oaks Estate Garden
2018-04-14 10:00 - 2018-04-15 16:00 | Oaks Estate Garden, 35 William Street, Oaks Estate, NSW, 2620, Australia
Two gardens, back to back, are set in a quiet, well treed neighbourhood of Oaks Estate, in a very historic part of the Region near the Queanbeyan River. The gardens have much to interest all, but are characterised by many autumn flowering perennials and shrubs. Native planted areas contrast with more reflective corners, vegetable gardens and the poultry run.
The Oaks Estate Garden – Garden Notes are available.
Supported charity: Medecins Sans Frontieres

McLeods Creek Nature Reserve
2018-04-07 11:00 - 2018-04-08 12:30 | McLeod’s Creek Nature Reserve, Marked Tree Road, Gundaroo, NSW, 2620, Australia
Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve was established in 2010 to protect a rare remnant of box-gum woodland, of which only 5% remains. Even though largely cleared for agriculture, the resultant grassland is a valuable opportunity to protect and recover this endangered community. Please join us to view native grasses and groundcover species, and discuss restoration techniques applied at the reserve.
Free Entry. Guided walks led by Ranger Susannah Power will be held at 11 am each day, with a duration of 1.5 hours, and the option of early return.
Directions: At the Northern end of Gundaroo, turn right up Rosamel street. Then bear left up Marked Tree road for 2.44 km until you see the Open Garden signs on the right.

Evalees
2018-04-07 10:00 - 2018-04-08 16:00 | Evalees, 1494 Marked Tree Road, Gundaroo, NSW, 2620, Australia
An informal country garden with views of Lake George, designed to complement rather than compete with the landscape. The garden has extensive native grass areas with informal plantings of native and exotic trees. There are colourful beds of shrubs and flowers with designated areas and garden names corresponding to places, people and events in the families’ lives, such as a Fairy tree, Christmas garden, Boston garden and several memorial gardens. The garden has many quirky additions which will delight children.
Garden notes are available.
Note: approx. 10 km of gravel road.

Lorraine and Geoff's
2018-03-24 10:00 - 2018-03-25 16:00 | Loraine and Geoff’s, 93 MacFarland Place, Pearce, ACT, 2607, Australia
This garden flows beautifully, providing comfort and inspiration and framing views of nearby Mount Taylor. Careful plantings, featuring diverse and effective groundcovers, draw your eye to different garden rooms. A feature of the front garden are the ‘steppable’ plants in lieu of a front lawn. In the back garden the sloping land allows a beautiful dry creek to run diagonally from top to bottom, linking ponds at either end. Diverse plantings surround several seating areas in which to relax and chat.
Garden notes are available.
More information on the Steppables is also available

Crace Community Garden
2018-03-24 10:00 - 2018-03-25 16:00 | Crace Community Garden, Drooka Crescent, Crace, ACT, 2911, Australia
Crace is a Canberra Organic Growers Community Garden – this is a relatively new suburb so the garden is providing a great opportunity for locals to get to know each other. The 2000-square-metre garden was built by Crace’s developers; there are 30 raised garden beds of varying sizes, and a few larger plots are shared by up to four plotholders each. There is a very wide variety of vegetables grown, with cultural differences being highlighted in the varied choice within plots. As well plot-holders vary in their methods of composting, mulching, rotating etc. Excess produce is swapped and any extra is donated to a nearby Community Pantry supporting low income families. Around the perimeter are rosemary, lavender and blueberry bushes as well as fruit trees such as pomegranates and feijoas.
Free entry.

Haven
2018-03-24 10:00 - 2018-03-25 16:00 | Haven, 31 Drooka Crescent, Crace, ACT, 2911, Australia
This attractive garden on a 540m2 flat block is just 5 years old and has achieved the owner’s aims to design a garden which is both easily maintained and fully accessible. Being a cottage garden there is interest 12 months of the year be it colour, flower, shape and/or foliage and the garden includes many rare and unusual plants both native and non-native. The backyard has a chook run, fruit and vegetable garden, and several potted citrus trees to complement the owners’ plot at the nearby community garden (also open this weekend). Despite its petite dimensions, there is even space for a patch of real lawn!
Garden notes are available.

Dragon flies and blue bees
2018-02-24 10:00 - 2018-02-25 16:00 | Dragon flies and blue bees, 19 A’Beckett Street, Watson, Canberra, ACT, 2602, Australia
This suburban oasis features a natural water pool from which you can admire the water lilies, lotus and water poppies. The garden is highly productive, containing vegetables and herbs. Espaliered pear, plum and apple trees are features, together with cherry, quince, apricot, feijoa, pomegranate and grapes. The Maran chooks enjoy their home under the inoculated hazelnut trees as the owners await their first truffles. Good design ensures that local native plantings (especially correas) integrate beautifully into this productive garden, as does the outdoor room with mobile firepit.
Garden notes for Dragon flies and blue bees are available.

Supported charity: http://www.bobbrown.org.au/

Persephone
2017-11-25 10:00 - 2017-11-26 16:00 | Persephone, 17 Julius Street, Pearce, Canberra, ACT, 2607, Australia
This mid-sized semi-formal garden features exotic trees, shrubs and perennials. Hedging and mass plantings create different spaces to relax and observe the bird life. The private backyard provides a tranquil environment for entertaining, a network of paths and a small lawn for adventure and play, and an integrated productive garden featuring chickens, a greenhouse and a variety of fruit and vegetables.
Download the Persephone Garden Notes
No pets please.

Melssen Garden
2017-11-18 10:00 - 2017-11-19 16:00 | Melssen, 5 Breden Place , Queanbeyan, NSW, 2620, Australia
This compact garden was started in 2007. The gardener has worked since then to turn a bare area into a beautiful cottage style garden dominated by bush, climbing, pillar, standard and groundcover roses. Located on a sloping site, the garden has been designed so that one person, with chronic pain, can maintain the small site to its maximum potential. There are sustainability features, including 16,200 litres water tanks and pumps for the gardens and consistent use of mulch for all beds.
Download the Garden notes – The Melssen Rose Garden
Gerry Gillespie and Carolyn Brooks will demonstrate worm farming and composting at 11 am and 1 pm each day.

Pillans Garden
2017-11-11 10:00 - 2017-11-12 16:00 | Pillans Garden, 30 Aspen Rise, Jerrabomberra, NSW, 2619, Australia
Planting of this large all-native garden began in 2003. Today the garden features over 1000 individual species, including more than 70 acacia species and more than 70 grevillea species, making for a spectacular spring display. A wide range of bird species frequent the garden and the number is increasing as the garden develops. Existing mature eucalypts are complemented by plants sourced from a wide variety of local, regional and far-flung sources, including some not normally grown in the Canberra region. One section of the garden has been developed as a dry ‘rainforest’ gully using species with glossy, dark green leaves.
Funds raised from the open garden will be given to the National Rock Garden. An inspiring collection of rock sculptures by Austrian sculptor, Andreas Buisman, will be displayed in the garden and available for sale.

See the Garden notes for more details.
Download a Map of the 11-12 November 2017 gardens

Tour Rouge
2017-11-11 10:00 - 2017-11-12 16:00 | Tour Rouge, 21 Meadows Lane, Carwoola, NSW, 2620, Australia
A delightful one acre Mediterranean style garden designed around three main axis. A series of garden rooms are delineated by plantings including Leighton Greens, Pyrus Manchurian Pears and Westwoods, Italian pencil pines, Smaragds and Flowering Cherries. Hedging plants such as English Box, Lonicera Nitida and Pileata, Green Pillar Pittosporum and Princess of Wales have also been well-utilised in the design. Structural elements reflect the owners’ interest in Italy and France and include two sand-stone terraces, a columned arbour, an archway and sunken garden, a courtyard, a loggia with kitchen, open fire, wood fired pizza oven and finally a two storey round tower with belfry – the red tower reflected in the garden’s name.
Visit the Tour Rouge website for more information about the garden.
Directions: heading east on the King’s Hwy, 1km after the Captains Flat turnoff, turn left into Weetalibah Road, then first right into Meadows Lane.
Download a Map of the 11-12 November 2017 gardens
Supported charity: ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group

Wanna Wanna Homestead
2017-11-11 10:00 - 2017-11-12 16:00 | Wanna Wanna, 149 Wanna Wanna Road, Carwoola, NSW, 2620, Australia
Historic European style garden with a heritage listed slab hut from 1830. The garden is laid out in southern highlands style and surrounded by trees dating back to the early 19th Century. The more recent additions include a water garden. A profusion of old fashioned roses complements the setting.
Download the Garden Notes

Supported charity: Ovarian Cancer Australia
Driving directions: From Queanbeyan take the Kings Hwy to the Captains Flat roundabout then up Captains Flat road for 2.2 km and then turn right into Wanna Wanna road.
Download a Map of the 11-12 November 2017 gardens

Christine's Garden
2017-11-04 10:00 - 2017-11-05 16:00 | Christine’s Garden, 48 Weathers Street, Gowrie, Canberra, ACT, 2904, Australia
A very large suburban garden with an amazing variety of plants. Rock walls allow for built up garden beds with improved soil and drainage. English box hedges divide areas including a parterre garden. Large mirrors on the boundary fences create illusions of depth.
See Christine’s garden notes 2017

Yellow Box - Spring Range
2017-10-28 10:00 - 2017-10-29 16:00 | Yellow Box, 447 Spring Range Road , Spring Range , NSW, 2618, Australia
‘Yellow Box’ comprises about a hectare of densely planted native plants of great variety, on an elevated rocky knoll. The garden, started in 1997, includes many meandering, pleasant paths taking visitors to many garden sections, including vegetable beds and an orchard. The 45 acre property, featuring some native pastures, also includes landcare shelter belts on its perimeter. Mown paths will allow interested visitors to take short walks around the perimeter of the garden and to special plantings a bit further afield.
Download the Garden notes for Yellow Box.
Driving directions: Turn right off Barton Highway, 2 kilometers north of Hall, onto Spring Range Road. Travel 4 kms east along Spring Range Road. 447 is on left, with sign ‘Yellowbox’.
Yellow Box is not suitable for wheelchairs.

Supported charity: Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation

2017 Annual General Meeting
2017-07-09 11:00 - 12:00 | The Green Room, Canberra National Arboretum, Forest Drive, Canberra, ACT, Australia
The Annual General Meeting of Open Gardens Canberra Incorporated will be held at 11.00 am to 12.00 pm on Sunday 9 July 2017 at The Green Room, Canberra National Arboretum, Forest Drive, Canberra.
The Notice of the AGM includes the Agenda, information on Nominating for the Open Gardens Canberra Committee and Special resolutions to be considered at the AGM.
AGM minutes from 15 August 2016
OGC Nomination Form

Woowoolahra - Burra
2017-04-29 10:00 - 2017-04-30 16:00 | Woowoolahra – Burra, 6 London Bridge Road, Burra, New South Wales, Australia
A classic garden to behold. Beautifully constructed rock walls divide rooms in a mature garden where lovely old trees embrace lawns and frame valley views. Cypress woodland opens to a dam abundant with bird life and water lilies. A forty metre rose arbour and berry garden enclosed with espaliered fruit trees are wonderful features of this garden. Huge deciduous trees create a stunning autumn display.
A full on café will be serving morning and afternoon tea and lunch to raise money for The Cancer Support Group and our local Burra rural ﬁre brigade. Also: plant sale, locally harvested saffron, seated massage by Entire Physio (Qbn), and a vintage and antique jewellery sale from a visiting Tasmanian dealer along with some hand-crafted goodies from some Burra locals. What a weekend!!
Download the Woowoolahra Garden Notes
See Facebook here
Driving directions: From Queanbeyan travel 14km south on Old Cooma Rd; turn left on to Burra Rd and travel 8 km to London Bridge Rd (garden on corner). Parking on London Bridge Rd.
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The Children’s Garden – Holt
2017-04-29 10:00 - 2017-04-30 16:00 | The Children’s Garden – Holt, 50 Lindrum Crescent, Holt, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
The front and back gardens are partly shaded by large deciduous trees. The garden contains more sunny sections where there are many fruiting plants and there is a fenced vegetable garden. The backyard is family and children friendly. There are rain water tanks with extensive dripper systems. Garden has composting and poultry. The garden is adjacent to a public Green Space. Emma has also planted, and maintains, the fronting strip of the Green Space. Emma is an active gardener and is keen to talk to visitors about the plants here, and the process. This garden is particularly suited to young families, new gardeners and history buffs.
Download The Children’s Garden Notes

Ysadora - Theodore
2017-03-18 10:00 - 2017-03-19 16:00 | Ysadora – Theodore, 7 Cochrane Crescent, Theodore, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
The garden is a magical space with secret nooks and unseen hideaways where frogs, garden gnomes and fairies lay hidden until they can be discovered. There are spaces for the children to sit quietly undisturbed to play, relax and watch the world go by. There are spaces where they can run, pedal, skip, walk, race and tumble with gleeful laughter. The garden is truly a child’s wonderland! Fruit trees, chickens and a myriad of native wildlife have taken up residence in the outside environment, with visiting children playing in harmony with the native plants and animals.

Charnwood Community Garden – Charnwood
2017-03-04 08:00 - 2017-03-05 17:00 | NSW
The Charnwood Community Garden was established by the Canberra Organic Growers Society (COGS) in the late 1980s and consists of 45 individual plots which vary in size averaging 35 square metres. These are planted with a variety of fruit and vegetables, flowers and fruit trees. The garden showcases many different methods of growing produce and Community gardeners will be available to discuss the garden and aspects of being a member of a community garden. Please see www.cogs.asn.au for more information.
Address: adjacent to Sports Way, off Lhotsky Street, Charnwood

Isobel's Garden - Dickson
2017-03-04 08:00 - 2017-03-05 17:00 | Isobel’s Garden – Dickson, 18 Dutton Street, Dickson, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
This garden has varied native shrubbery and fruit trees across the front and a very productive garden at the rear. Native birds abound in the varied habitat. The owner, a botanist, has special interests and knowledge of native flora and fauna. The back gardens comprise prepared beds with a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and fruit. These include brassicas, tomatoes, onions, shallots, cucurbits, asparagus, potatoes and Lima and snake beans. Fruit includes figs, kiwi fruit, orange and grapes. As well, there is a poultry area and fernery. The owner preserves some of the vegetables/fruit including by electro drying. Other sustainability features include composting systems and 24,000 litre rainwater storage and reticulation systems.

The Naturalists Garden - Hawker
2017-03-04 08:00 - 2017-03-05 17:00 | The Naturalists Garden – Hawker, 28 Marrakai Street, Hawker, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Enjoy the ambiance of the Naturalists’ garden in autumn. This large rambling native garden on a spectacular north facing block is adjacent to the Pinnacle Nature Reserve. Winding paths lead the visitor through open areas for outdoor living designed around a salt water pool. Exotic plantings of perennials, herbs, fruit trees, vegetables and roses have all been incorporated to assist with the biodiversity of the garden and attract native fauna. A list of birds which frequent the garden will be available.
Download Naturalists Garden List
Download Naturalists Bird List
