Ah yes, it's Australian Open Garden Scheme season from September right through to May, and boy, are there some great opportunities out there. The biggest decision is working out which ones we can get to.

Unfortunately we didn’t make it to the Hall Garden open in Yarrawonga last weekend. We decided that there’s one thing better than taking in inspirational gardens, and that’s putting in some quality time in our own!  

We’re also going to miss the two gardens opening in Lockhart this weekend (9 & 10^th of October). I went along last year (different gardens), as they open in conjunction with the town’s Spirit of the Land festival which includes an awesome sculpture competition, art exhibition, market on Saturday, dunny tour and lots more! It’s a fantastic day trip from Albury/Wodonga, so keep it in mind if you’re at a loose end for the weekend.

We will be doing some travelling this weekend. We’ll be attending Louise Costa’s open garden in Rushworth. Louise’s garden was featured on Gardening Australia earlier this year (see here) and her blog details her use of recycled and reclaimed materials to create and decorate her garden. And it turns out Louise is friends with several friends of ours ... how could we resist the chance to check it out? 

As luck would have it, having decided to head to Rushworth on the weekend, I discovered a beekeeping field day near Bendigo on Sunday ... so we’re heading there too. I gave the organisers a call and there’ll be hands on opportunities to learn from other beekeepers, check out the wares of beekeeping suppliers and even watch some honey extraction. Very cool! Will keep you posted on how it goes.

And save the dates – later this month there are two more Open Garden opportunities locally.

Thurley Garden in Norris Park will be open the weekend of October 23^rd & 24^th. It’s a relatively new, water wise native garden. Entry is $6 for adults, no charge for children.

On the 30^th & 31^st of October the National Environment Centre will also be open, with a workshop on the Saturday, guided tours of the organic farm all weekend, and the opportunity to check out their Permaculture gardens and enjoy Devonshire tea with proceeds going to the Sanctuary refugee group. Entry is $6 for adults, kids are free.

More info on upcoming open gardens with the AOGS is available on their website - http://www.opengarden.org.au/visityourstate.html or see the Pulse section of the Border Mail on Saturdays.

 

A sculpture in Lockhart at last year's Spirit of the Land festival