Redesdale plays host to three private country garden openings for Open Gardens Victoria on the weekend of October 19-20.

Coliban Springs is a beautiful and tranquil five-acre garden, set in the middle of a wider 200-acre sheep property.

Owners Kathy Hall and Rod Gibson have spent nearly 20 years creating an oasis from a bare paddock.

“We have very hot, dry summers and frosty winters,” says Kathy. “So from the beginning, we planned a drought-resistant garden filled with mostly natives.

“We have no straight lines. Gravel paths meander from one room to another, where there is usually a place to sit and watch or a little sculpture to contemplate. There is a definite ‘dry creek bed’ look about it.”

Located 15 minutes north-east, Gibbards Crossing is a three-acre garden nestled within the undulating hills of the local landscape.

Surrounded by a 40-acre olive grove and vineyard, with a remarkable one-kilometre river frontage on the Campaspe, the property is named after the old bluestone river ford at the end of Gibbards Lane.

Owners Frederika and Mark Laurie stumbled across the property about eight years ago and set about renovating the original bluestone homestead and rejuvenating the property’s soil.

Organic compost, mulch, fertiliser, and an advanced irrigation system have ensured a flourishing garden of established trees and striking mass plantings, set against locally sourced stacked stone walls.

Highlights include the kitchen garden with a stylised labyrinth, bursting with herbs and citrus trees, and a fully enclosed vegetable garden mass planted with garlic, chillies, and tomatoes, all for preserving.

A nearby enclosed area for fruit trees also houses the chickens in a fun log cabin made from repurposed vineyard posts.

Located a further five minutes on and sitting high above the Campaspe River, Rocklands (pictured above) is a peaceful, rambling five-acre garden created by owners Peta and Gary Prendergast over the past 10 years.

Blessed with stunning views across an expansive lawn area towards the river valley, the garden uses volcanic rock, collected from the surrounding paddocks, to create low walls along meandering paths, as well as backdrops and edging for plant beds.

Paths wind in and out beneath 30-year-old English oaks – planted by the original owners of the property – and entice the visitor to venture forward and discover what lies around the next bend, including deep, colourful perennial beds with mass plantings of blue and white agapanthus, swathes of pink and white belladonna lilies in late summer, and purple iris in spring.

Link: www.opengardensvictoria.org.au

Police are preparing a report for the Coroner following the light aircraft crash that claimed the life of a man in Redesdale last Friday afternoon.

It is believed the pilot was flying over private property on Coliban Park Road when the aircraft crashed about 12.30pm.

The pilot died at the scene and police had earlier confirmed that he was the only occupant of the aircraft.

The tranquil private garden of Gibbards Crossing at Redesdale is opening this October as part of Open Gardens Victoria.

The garden is part of “Gibbards Crossing” – a 40 acre property growing grapes and olives that sits besides the Campaspe River.

Because the garden is nestled within the undulating hills of the landscape, the stacked stone walls help to create beautiful individual areas of mass plantings.

There is a paved labyrinth with citrus and herbs and a nearby bed of vigorous caperberries.

A young orchard does very well here and produces copious amounts of fruit and pomegranates The lovely Buddha Pond overlooks a small Casuarina Forest. There are lots of quiet areas to sit and wonderful views of water and dams.

Visiting is a chance to enjoy standing on the monticule (little volcanic hill) with a pergola on top with stunning views over Redesdale.

The garden is set to open on the weekend of october 19-20 and there will be a local artist’s botanical photography of the flowers from this garden on exhibition and available for purchase.

In addition, the owners own Gibbards Crossing wine and extra virgin olive oil will be available for sale. 

Some of the proceeds from this garden opening will be donated to both the Redesdale CFA and the Redesdale Recreation Reserve Committee (RRRC). 

Two other Redesdale gardens will also be opening under the Open Gardens Victoria scheme over this same weekend: Coliban Springs and Rocklands.

The beautiful Coliban Springs private garden at Redesdale will open to the public over two days in October as part of the Open Gardens Victoria scheme.

Once a sheep paddock, this amazing mature garden is full of native plants, many propagated by the owner.

Located at 866 Coliban Park Rd, Redesdale, it will be open from 10am-4.30pm on Saturday October 19 and Sunday October 2.

This large garden is drought tolerant and a wonderful home for birds. The landscape is undulating with paths leading to deep beds with massed plantings and to quiet areas to sit and look at the garden.

There is also a large lake that is home to water birds including crakes and rails and with places to sit and admire the view.

The many garden sculptures are placed either in open spaces or near the lawn. A children’s play area is integrated into the garden plan.

Another planting surprise is the row of grass trees with a backdrop of a forest of casuarinas.

Highlights of this garden include Beryl’s Deck overlooking the lake, the grass trees with casuarina forest and the peacefulness as one walks around the many paths in this large garden.

Some of the proceeds from this garden opening will be donated to the Bridge Connection Community Newspaper and the Redesdale and District Association.

Further details are available on the Open Gardens Victoria website with tickets able to be purchased online through Trybooking, or on the day.