Starting a new garden, planning a makeover or you just love gardens?
If that’s you, write Montecatini on your calendar for September 26th, 27th or 28.
It’s one of the six private gardens open to the public in this year’s Springtime on the Mountain Open Gardens Trail.
Montecatini Kaleidoscope Gardens are just that- a kaleidoscope of changing patterns, colours, textures and design.
Walk up the driveway, slowly turn 360 and your breath will be taken away by the magnificent coastal panorama, then you will be drawn forward into the garden Anne and Kerry Jones have created in the twelve years they have lived here.
Their two-acre garden spans the hillside, starting with a terraced area bordered by hedges leading to a formal parterre entry with neatly clipped squares within squares.
Then ramble through the informal gardens, edged with rocks, sometimes massive boulders, all sourced from the property.
There are so many exciting ideas to be gained from visiting Montecatini- from the practical to the creative.
Thinking colour?
Anne and Kerry have planted azaleas, camellias, magnolias, vireyas, gardenias, viburnum and tibouchina all which thrive in the acidic Mountain soils.
Grevilleas, bottle brush, banksias and waratahs also do well when the right spot is found.
Interested in fruit trees? Anne and Kerry harvest avocados, oranges, cumquats, nectarines, lemons and figs.
Staples in their vegetable garden include snow peas, artichoke (for their flowers), asparagus, parsley, blueberries, rosemary and comfrey as a compost accelerator and nutrient rich fertiliser.
Potted bay trees and olives grow nearby.
Whether you are a newcomer to the Mountain, a gardening novice, a plant enthusiast, creative landscaper or gardening legend you will leave inspired and buoyed ready for your next project.
Be curious; $25 gives you access to all six fabulous gardens over the three days. Dependent children are free.
Go to tamborinemountaingardenclub.org.au.
