Open Garden "Wongawilli" Montville

Please come and see this wonderful garden at Montville as the owner Rowena is raising money for families in Fiji who were affected by Cyclone Winston. All money raised on the weekend is going directly to the purchase of building materials so people can rebuild their homes.
The thing about opening a garden now without the layers of costs that were associated with opening through the now defunct Open Garden Australis scheme is that there is no longer a middle man wanting 65% of the takings.
 People continue to ask us why the Open Gardens Scheme no long exists and as we were not part of the inner circle we were fed a lot of lines about the running of the organisation. I only observed hard working people at the State level and very generous garden owners who voluntarily opened their gardens and worked tirelessly to achieve successful weekends.
Unfortunately the organisation at the top level was not transparent and as stakeholders ,which includes all garden owners we were never given any financial reports to purse on an Annual basis as is required by all other organisations from the local soccer team , local garden clubs and bigger companies.
As garden selectors it became very hard to justify the high percentage of money going back into the coffers to garden owners especially the business savvy people . After all it didn't make sense to us.

'Wongawilli" is being opened for the first time and it has been a privilege to help Rowena to prepare for her weekend. The garden is set on a difficult slope which has well constructed terraces where an amazing selection of plants has matured . There is something to see at every direction and will be inspirational for gardeners who are just starting out as well as for the gardeners who just love seeing beautiful gardens.  Rowena has had a long connection with Fiji and has done a lot of things to help the settlement that she returns to several times a year including sending containers of books for the school and families as well as containers of tools and things that are not readily available.
Rowena has purchased her own insurance for the day and has been advertising the opening and arranging helpers and stall holders so it should be a great success.
The garden is at 19 Manley Drive Montville . If you are in the main street of Montville simply turn down Western Avenue and Manley Drive is the first street on the right just before the Baroon Pocket Dam turn off. There will be refreshments available at the garden. For people who have mobility issues there is some level access and a lovely terrace around the house .
Hope to see you there Kyleigh