Now in its 29th year, the Griffith Garden Festival continues to be an integral part of Griffith Spring Fest.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It showcases the many local gardens that come to life at this time of year and the work of the gardeners who tend to them year-round.
Coach groups and independent visitors travel from far and wide to visit Griffith's wonderful gardens and enjoy the unique hospitality.
This year the seven open gardens range from small town gardens with neatly trimmed edges and creative ideas for turning tight spaces into wild havens, to expansive rural gardens, where visitors will be overwhelmed by the huge potential of taming and nurturing such spaces.
"This year we really want to showcase the local talent we have here," Griffith City Council event co-ordinator Georgina Horton said.
"As well as open gardens, there'll be talks provided by experts on topics ranging from worm farming and a DIY bird bath workshop, as well as lunch, morning and afternoon tea/ refreshments available at the gardens.
"The gardeners are full of knowledge and some will be offering their own tours and handmade products, such as bird houses and potted succulents."
For those visitors and locals wishing to enjoy the sights and tastes on offer in relaxed comfort, the Griffith Visitor Information Centre is once again running bus tours.
Chairperson of the Griffith Spring Fest working group, councillor Rina Mercuri, is delighted with the way things are shaping up.
She is urging people to take advantage of the buses.
"The buses really are great value and hassle free, you get five gardens, a light lunch, a winery visit and tasting, and a local driver to give you all the local information and show you the hospitality Griffith is known for," Cr Mercuri said.
"This is all included in these daily tours running Friday, Saturday and Sunday."
The Griffith Garden Festival will run from Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20, from 9.30am to 5pm.
Garden bus tours will run on Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday, October 20 from 8.30am until 5pm.
Tour cost is $60, which includes entry to five gardens, lunch, wine tasting, a tour guide and bus fare.
There will also be a series of garden workshops and attractions:
- Talk by Grant Glinksi - Wirlinga Park Dorpers and White Dorpers. Friday, October 18. Learn Dorpers, including their suitability for the Australian landscape.
- Tours with Tori - Davit Farm. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, October 18, 19, 20. Take a tour with owner, Tori Horder.
- DIY bird bath. Saturday, Sunday, October 19, 20. Design and mould your own bird bath.
- Talk by Deanne Raccanello - Wormtech, Yenda. Saturday, October 19. Wormtech at Carrathool is a producer and supplier of compost worm products.
- Talk by Alex Forster - Pleasant Valley Red Metal, Binya. Sunday, October 20. Learn about artistic landscaping using decorative red pebble.
For more information and bookings, visit griffithspringfest.com.au or call 1800 681 141.
Sam & Roslyn Catanzariti
48 Harward Road, West Griffith
This garden is a small formal garden with a variety of hedges including murrayas, lillypillies, Japanese box, English box, ligustrums, all being used along fence lines, around urns, water features and divides the garden into different areas.
There is also a small selection of bush roses & Iceberg roses. Entering the backyard you will find potted camellias, little gem magnolias and a variety of succulents and archways.
Explore the rustic areas full of items like mirrors, ladders, bicycles and old doors.
- Providing: Refreshments
- Added attractions: Rustic bird houses, succulents for sale; raffle
- Supporting: Local charities
Lawrence Salvestrin & Tori Horder
"Davit Farm"
Farm 2527, 667 Cashmere Road
Widgelli
Davit Farm is a constantly evolving, gracious, three-acre garden divided into large spans with French and Italian influences.
The main delights are a formal lily pond, a Monet lake and bridge, a white trunked forest in which a huge sculpture, "Irony", resides, a may and mulberry walk, species rose garden, beautiful bronzes and spectacular dry stone work.
Every seat has its purpose, whether it be to enjoy the view, a cuppa, a beverage or a chat to an old friend.
- Providing: Morning/afternoon tea and lunch
- Added attractions: raffles, garden tours
- Tours with Tori: 10.30am and 3pm, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, October 18, 19, 20
- Supporting: Griffith Riding for the Disabled
Mick & Marj Careri
"Rosewood Park on Stokes"
Farm 2355A, 121 Stokes Road
Hanwood
This spacious botanical garden is rich with hundreds of roses of all colours, sizes, shapes and textures.
Surrounded by a range of beautiful orange trees and a vineyard, this garden truly captures the magic of the festival.
Hedged by a wall of roses, flowering trees and a variety of shrubs, this garden has many rooms to explore.
An idyllic gazebo and jetty over the picturesque pond complete the property.
- Providing: Morning/afternoon tea and lunch
- Added attractions: Karen's garden ornaments, various stalls providing food and crafts
- Supporting: Binya School
Trish & Lou Sartor
102 Leonard Road
Hanwood
This picturesque country garden is set amongst a citrus orchard near the village of Hanwood.
It has recently been extended to compliment the original garden, featuring an abundance of roses and cottage plants.
Visitors can wander through the many different sections of this expansive garden enjoying the rose arbours and colourful walkways.
Throughout this setting, sunshine gates, cast iron water fountains, a Furphy water cart and various other Australian memorabilia add character to this beautiful rural garden.
- Providing: Morning/afternoon tea and lunch
- Added attractions: Plants and crafts for sale
- Workshop: DIY bird bath, Saturday, October 19 at 11am and Sunday, October 20 at 10.30am, $40. Bookings required
- Supporting: Country Hope
Peter & Ines Taprell
98 Lakes Road
Tharbogang
The garden is 19 years old and provides the owners with a relaxed and informal space planted with a mixture of natives and exotics.
The garden features a large vegetable garden and rose gardens, while including an archway, walkways and arbours, and is always growing and changing.
"We're not overly fussy and not in the garden all the time," Ines Taprell said.
"The garden is for our enjoyment and the enjoyment of our family and friends."
- Providing: Morning/afternoon tea and lunch
- Added attractions: Various stalls providing food, refreshments, crafts and goodies
- Supporting: Tharbogang Public School P&C
Emeri De Bortoli
"Il Campo"
De Bortoli Road
Bilbul
Walking through Emeri's garden is like stepping into another world far removed from the busy winery and vineyards surrounding it.
The breathtaking garden also features an impressive dam and a rock waterfall that overlooks the internationally renowned Noble One vineyards. Discover your own story in Emeri's garden, which has been a decade in the making and immerse yourself in the tranquillity.
Stay and enjoy a cuppa and browse the stalls by Griffith CanAssist.
All funds are used to directly financially support Griffith cancer-affected families.
- Providing: Morning/afternoon tea and lunch
- Added attractions: Food and refreshments available at the garden as well as a variety of crafts and books. De Bortoli Wines cellar door is located across the road.
- Supporting: CanAssist
Patricia & Sally Jones
"Yambiana"
69 Halse Road
Yenda
The garden at "Yambiana" is a traditional country garden that has been 54 years in the making.
Patricia Jones, now 98 years of age, has nurtured both exotic and native species of trees to create a sanctuary that has survived through drought and flood.
The garden has undergone restoration during 2019 following a period of extreme weather variability.
"The most important thing is to have enough money to grow beautiful trees," Patricia Jones said.
- Providing: Roasted lamb lunch from 11.30am
- Added attractions: local presentations on Dorper sheep; composting with Wormtech products; and landscaping with local red metal, all to be held at 2pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, October 18, 19, 20 respectively
- Supporting: Griffith Anglican Cathedral and Country Hope