Why Open a Garden ?

There are a few reasons to put yourself “Out there” and open up that most private of space ,”your garden” to be  viewed by the public. Firstly there is a desire to share the garden with people who like gardens or are keen gardeners. It is also a way to pass on information about plants and to share views about maintenance and care of plants. It is also a way to support a Charity through gate and refreshment takings.

The gardens that will be opened in Montville on October 1^st &2^nd are abundantly full of plants both common and rare, exotic and native to the area. As there is only tank water in Montville the plants have to be resilient with many getting bucket watered in the initial stages and then left to fend for themselves. Michael and Kyleigh of “ The Shambles” have collections of roses and salvias and an interest in garden history that has seen every plant in the garden documented as to its origin and date obtained in Australia. The  plant explorers of the 19^th Century were responsible for many of the plants we see in our gardens as well as the crops and fruits we eat .  Rowena the owner of “Wongawilli” has spent a lot of time living in the tropics especially New Guinea and Fiji and has an interest in tropical and sub-tropical plants that can be seen growing superbly on here terraced land.

Just the act of sharing the gardens brings a wide range of people together and as gardeners we hope that people will take some inspiration home to their own gardens.

Farm life in Montville . 

'Citrus crops being subject to a wide range of insect pests and some plant diseases Harry Oakman recommended application of Lead Arsenate dust for the leaf eating insects and caterpillars, Nicotine spray for the Aphids and application of Lime Sulphur in Winter .' Gardening in Queensland  Harry Oakman , Jacaranda Press 1958