By Irene Ingold
Tamborine Mountain’s wonderful WinterFest Show heralded the start of the longer days.
For months now our Springtime garden owners have been working enthusiastically to bring out the very best in their gardens.
This year the Tamborine Mountain Garden Club is proud to welcome you into six beautiful, private gardens open three days, on the last weekend in September.
Howard Stevens and family members, Davide Pistellato and Renae Stevens, are busy preparing their gardens at Camellia House.
Through the winter months, clivias have been relocated, three truckloads of soil spread, beds mulched, pathways rediscovered and gardens created in this long-established property bordering the national park.
While Howard has been here for 12 years, the 110 camellias, dozens of azaleas, maples, Himalayin cedar, salvias, begonias, Nepalese lilies and orchids have thrived for decades in amongst majestic tallowwoods and flooded gums.
Howard sees himself as custodian of this beautiful garden originally created in the 1970s by avid plant collectors.
Howard, a retired doctor, honed his landscaping skills in Kuranda on the tableland in North Queensland.
Using these skills he has given this garden structure by redefining borders, establishing pathways and introducing statues and water features.
There are strong sentiments here too where family and friends now passed are honoured in the thoughtfully curated Walk of Reflection.
Son-in-law Davide has worked assiduously beside Howard to enhance the gardens of Camellia House.
Living next door, with his attention to ensuring nutrient rich soil, plants have thrived.
Davide also grows the herbs and vegetables for the family in the raised wicking beds he built.
Springtime 2026 holds so many surprises for our visitors.
Mark the dates on your calendar- Friday September 25 to Sunday September 27.
The fee of $25 gives you access to all six gardens over the three-day event.
For further information go to ww.tamborinemountaingardenclub.org.au
Six beautiful gardens, one inspiring weekend –
Springtime on the Mountain Open Gardens Trail 2026.
