WITH all the ups and downs that have come with the last few years of the pandemic, it seems that getting out and enjoying the garden is a welcome activity for many, and recent downpours definitely haven’t dampened the spirits – or gardens – of Montville’s Open Gardens’ organisers.
Michael and Kyleigh Simpson will once again open the their beautiful property, “The Shambles”, to the public at the Open Gardens at Montville event over the Easter long weekend.
The event has been running for over two decades, having started with a fundraising event for the couple’s kids’ school back in 2001. Over the years they have raised money for various charities and organisations including $10,000 for the Queensland Drought Appeal in 2019. This year money raised from the event will go to Cittamani Hospice.
From 9am to 4pm on Easter Saturday and Sunday, visitors can admire the gardens of the Simpsons’ property, their neighbours Louise and Jeff Tasker’s property “Lower Woontooba” and Rowena Cavanagh’s property “Wongawilli”.
The event has been 12 months in the making, with organiser Michael and his wife Kyleigh hard at work preparing a number of projects to bring new life into the gardens.
“It’s been a very good season and the rain has allowed a lot of our newer sections of the garden to establish, so there’ll be plenty of new areas for returning visitors to see,” said Michael.
“Rowena has previously opened her exotic gardens for display, and this year Louise and Jeff will be opening their wonderful landscaped garden for the first time.
“We’re looking forward to showing three beautiful gardens to our visitors.”
Jeff and Lou started their garden from scratch five years ago, but in that time have created a beautiful and sprawling garden with many varied spaces for people to enjoy.
Visitors can enjoy three fascinating large country gardens, each with a different character in their beautiful borrowed landscapes, with refreshments from Rising Scone Café and plants of all sorts for sale at ‘The Shambles’.
Entry to this all-weather event is $10 to each garden and children are free. For more information visit www.montvillegarden.com or search Montville Garden on Facebook.
Main image: Kyleigh and Michael Simpson with the dog, Shadow, ahead of their open garden this Easter.