By Irene Ingold
On a glorious winter’s morning, calm and colour embrace the visitor as they step into Five Trees Estate- open to the public for the very first time in this year’s Springtime Open Gardens Trail.
Ellen and Derek Middler named their property in homage to the gums that once stood.
Formerly an avocado property, they started working here ten years ago.
Derek bulldozed over one hundred dying avocado trees, then created earth mounds- berms- for their new plantings.
Being long time mountain residents, they were familiar with our periodic deluges of intense rain, so they grassed the gullies in between the berms creating natural watercourses.
Ellen says their second lesson learnt was to consider the strong winds when designing their new home and garden on this two-acre property.
Plantings and home would be low, hunkered down, under the vast sky.
Keeping the healthy avocado trees, they propagated hundreds of plants themselves. Researching, sketching plans, then marking out areas with hoses, crystalised Ellen’s vision of a tapestry of colour.
Strolling from the front with its spectacular display of huge, white tropical impatiens, past the colourful azaleas closer to the house, the garden behind unfolds.
Whites, pinks, reds, and purples sparkle in the winter sun.
Meanwhile, jonquils, Dutch Iris, Banksia roses, dianthus, wisteria, statice, poppies, ranunculus, lobelias and anemones are silently preparing a vibrant display for Springtime on the Mountain.
This all-seasons park-like masterpiece sprawls past the bountiful vegetable garden, statues and garden structures to the serene Japanese garden with its arched bridge built by Derek, a talented craftsman.
Five of the six private gardens on the Springtime Open Gardens Trail are open for the very first time.
Visitors can pre-purchase tickets online. Your $25 ticket allows you the privilege to visit all six gardens, over three days, from Friday September 25 to Sunday September 27. Tickets can also be purchased at any garden on the day. If you are short of time, pay $5 at the gate of the garden you plan to explore.
For further information go to www.tamborinemountaingardenclub.org.au.
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