IT is a peaceful oasis filled with irises and roses that is both a passion and an obsession for John Taylor.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is the first time the Millthorpe man has opened his garden at Eidolia Park to the public and he is just a little nervous.
The annual Millthorpe Garden Ramble is on this Saturday and Sunday and Mr Taylor’s garden is one of 10 open to the public.
“Until the garden starts to reach into maturity it looks a bit sparse, but the trees are starting to get a bit bigger,” he said.
It was the maturity level of his garden, along with the usual earlier ramble date of the October long weekend, that had resulted in Mr Taylor’s reluctance until now to open it to the public.
“I’ve been working on it for about six years, it’s been progressive,” he said.
“It’s at it’s best during spring, we start with the iris and go through the progression into the roses.”
The garden is a passion that consumes Mr Taylor every single day, but he says it is worth all the hard work and dedication.
“This is the time of year you get your pleasure from it,” he said.
Millthorpe Garden Ramble chair John Ash said this year’s ramble is shaping up to be a big one since the weekend has been put back six weeks.
“It’s created the most extraordinary interest,” he said.
Mr Ash said the weather should be warmer this weekend than in early October, and gardens will be more in flower.
Garden stalls and talks are a new feature of this year’s ramble with the village railway station set up to be the centre of all the action.
“We’ve tried to create a garden fair atmosphere,” Mr Ash said.
A ticket to view all 10 gardens in the ramble is $15, or individual gardens can be viewed for $5 each.
Entry tickets are available at the gardens or at the railway station.
Gardens are open from 10am to 4pm each day.
nadine.morton@fairfaxmedia.com.au