The Glenlyon Fine Food and Wine Fayre

Have you ever been to the Glenlyon Fine Food and Wine Fayre?

It might seem a strange question to ask gardeners - but it's not!  Each year a small group of people wander the nearby forests and raid each others' gardens collecting the best of winter growth to decorate the Fayre.

The huge but cosy and warm marquees are decked with huge displays of eucalypts and winter flowering boughs of camellias.  Large sprays of wattles and leucodendrons bring colour to every corner.
This year the Fayre is on Sunday 27 July - that's Sunday coming. The forecast is for sunshine and crisp temperatures - perfect conditions to enjoy the day.

Come and stroll around, glass of wine in hand and admire the flowers as you taste exquisite local produce.

Still Life in Winter

Winter presents the most delightful material for the avid still life and floral artist.

Cornus alba

The stark shapes and colours of bare branches are softened by frost and the muted colours of a winter sky.

The last flowers of R Altissimo with receding storm

Cotinus Grace, with the last of the 'smoke'

The bare branches make ideal floral arrangements, bringing inside colour and form from the garden.

Cotinus Grace, Cornus alba and Chaenomeles

Our talk at The Garden Common in Clunes

Today we had the wonderful opportunity of speaking at the The Garden Common in Clunes - sharing the story of Gardens of Glenlyon.

Below are some clips, taken by Dean Homicki, capturing some of the stories Jill Teschendorff and Jenny Corr shared with the audience. You need to click on the link in the captions to view the videos.

Click here for the video clip

Click here for the video clip

skemah.com sponsored the talk - check out their website - they produce really useful garden products.

MORE FUNGI

TWO LEGGED PESTS

Have you tried to create grass paths through your garden?  It's quite a feat.  Our 'lawns' are created when all the weedy grasses (or grassy weeds) join together and create a beautiful green patch.

Grassy weeds gradually form a path

I have been nurturing the grassy weeds along the paths to create rivers (well, creeks) of green through the garden.  They are not watered and so they die in the summer, but most of the year they meander like green threads of tapestry through the garden.

They are a bit time-intensive, as the edges need regular spading to maintain the integrity of the path and to prevent the weeds from spreading into the garden.  The grass has finally covered the paths, edge to edge, to form green thoroughfares.

Recently, strolling round the garden, I noticed the edges of the paths turning an ugly brown.  As time passed, the answer was obvious.  I had a 'helper' assisting me to maintain the edges.  Oh dear, all that work transplanting clods of grass to fill in the gaps, careful spading to create the right curve................

Autumn magic

A very late autumn- but what a beauty!

Too late for Gardens of Glenlyon, but a delight for family, friends and the critters that frequent the garden.
















Now, in June, we are watching the garden with interest.
What will inspire us for next year's Winter Gardens of Glenlyon?






The display of fungi in early winter this year has been spectacular.

No creative gardener could create something as exquisite as this.

How exciting is this??

Here's the original photo.

Hope the other - real - gardeners aren't too peeved!

Here's a list of the stallholders

Here are the stallholders who operated out of the Glenlyon Hall last weekend - just in case you need a reminder.

Morris Outdoors

Summers End Nursery

Riddells Creek Daffodil Farm

Rosemary Stevenson (seed saver)

Wombat Forestcare

Goldfields Revegetation

CFA 

Landcare

Hepburn Wildlife Shelter

Thornology

Andy Kimpton (blacksmith)

Susan Clarke Photography

Post THE weekend

Here are the gardeners, their partners and the occasional extra celebrating yet another wonderful Gardens of Glenlyon.

Next GoG is Gardens of Glenlyon: Winter. Diary date 29-30 August 2015.

Senior moments during Autumn Gardens of Glenlyon

What a wonderful weekend!  It was a delight to meet so many people and have the opportunity to share our gardens in Glenlyon.  Thankyou all for coming.

But dear visitors, please accept my apologies.  Whilst accompanying you around 'Greenlion', I incorrectly identified a plant.  The purple plant near the house is not statice, as I'm sure some of you realised, but Verbena Bonariensis.

Sorry!

Jill Teschendorff, 'Greenlion'.

Vizsla Lak in all its glory for Gardens of Glenlyon

Vizsla Lak is a large property, with one gardener - as you'll have read elsewhere on this blog.  If you were unable to visit Glenlyon last weekend, here's some of what you missed!

Now imagine what the garden will look like in Gardens of Glenlyon: winter 2015!

We are exhausted - happy but exhausted

Another fabulously beautiful day and hundreds more lovely people in town.  Our gardeners are exhausted and very pleased to have met all the lovely people who came to view their gardens - thank you visitors.

Parking directions at Viszla Lak

 And an absolutely huge thank you to all our gardeners who has spent months of time, effort and funds creating these wonderful, diverse gardens.  The money raised at this season's Gardens of Glenlyon goes towards the funds being raised to renovate the Glenlyon Hall.

And thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who worked so hard to make the weekend the success it was.

Next gig - Gardens of Glenlyon: winter 2015. Keep an eye out for info in about 12 months time or go on our email list. 

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Today in and around the Glenlyon Hall

The weather was just fabulous - sunny and warm.  Ideal conditions to welcome visitors to our gardens and all the good things in and around the Hall.

THE RIVER'S RUNNING!

How magic!  The Loddon River is running after a long, hot, dry summer.

And how the countryside has responded!  Everything is green after the rain, colours are bright and the flowers are still blooming.

DON'T BE FOOLED BY MELBOURNE OR BALLARAT WEATHER- IT'S DIFFERENT UP HERE!

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a lovely weekend for Glenlyon, with a few light showers, but mainly fine.

Right now it is sunny.

So bring your brollies and sunscreen and join us!

Rain rain rain

It's been raining for more than 24 hours now.  The gardeners are so pleased to have the water, but a little disgruntled they can't get into their gardens at the moment.  The weather bureau says it will NOT be wet on the weekend, so we are looking forward to welcoming you all to our gardens.

Saving seeds

During Gardens of Glenlyon seed-saver extraordinaire Rosemary Stevenson will have vegetable, herb and flower seeds for sale.

Rosemary has been an avid gardener all her life, and a heritage seed curator for about 20 years.

She is co-ordinator of the Pyrenees Grampians Seed Savers network, and for the past 10 years has been trialling and testing varieties suitable for the local climatic area.  The PGSS have saved several  unique locally developed vegetables and have an annual seed exchange and workshops.  These are free events usually held in Ballarat or Stawell.  People bring food to share, often made with their own produce.

Before moving to Elmhurst, Rosemary was involved in Canberra Organic Growers and helped to set up the seed bank with that group, and was co-ordinator of one of the community gardens COG managed.

She is a member of Biodynamic Gardeners and has always grown plants organically.

Rosemary says, the increasingly erratic climate and ever increasing costs of water and fuel has forced her to cut back on production of seeds, but she still grows out quite a variety.

We're lucky to have Rosemary join us for GoG - she used to sell at farmers markets but now appears only at some community events and special events - like ours!

If you can't make it to the Glenlyon Hall during Gardens of Glenlyon you can contact Rosemary by email or tel 03 5354 8393.

THE GARDENS OF GLENLYON

GARDENS OF GLENLYON allows you to see seven gardens evolve over time and through the seasons- Summer 2012, Autumn 2014, Winter 2015 and Spring 2016.

Located in one of the most picturesque parts of Victoria, the gardens fit comfortably into the beautiful landscape.

The gardeners have some major obstacles to tackle: Back breaking clay soils, gale force winds, heavy frosts, floods, prolonged droughts and varmints such as bush rats, deer, rabbits, hares, wallabies and cockatoos.

Find out how these gardeners take a sustainable approach to gardening in this relatively unspoilt part of the country.


DOLL'S PADDOCK     38 Morton St     Dee & Tony Briscomb

Nestling into the side of a hill is this elegant, beautifully designed 1 acre garden with haybale house. Key features are curving gravel paths, stone walls, established deciduous trees, perennial borders and a cascading rill.  Volcanic soil.  Check out the well designed veggie patch.

JENNY'S GARDEN    21 Moyston St     Jenny Corr & Peter Stripes

Converted 1860's stone hotel with beautiful meandering one acre garden in the heart of Glenlyon.  Brimming with Autumn perennials, rare mature deciduous trees and delightful sculptures along meandering paths.  Look for the sculpted gate.  Volcanic soil.                

VIZSLA LAK    1310 Malmsbury Rd      Margret Lockwood

Delightful 16 hectare bushland property with a fire responsive house and 3 acre garden.  Magnificent central lake reflects the riotous colour of the surrounding garden.  Chooks in quaint chook house, fruit trees, productive veggie patch and a propagation shed.  Heavy clay soils.  Watch for the 'ducks crossing' sign.







ELLENDER ESTATE    260 Green Gully Rd    Jenny and Graham Ellender

















This 40 acre vineyard features a garden of mature deciduous trees, eucalypts, mediterranean plants and masses of roses surrounding the winery.

A landscaped gully cascades down to the lake.  Excellent views of the surrounding countryside.  Clay soils.

Wine tasting and delicious lunches available.






GREENLION    75 Butlers Lane    Jill Teschendorff & John Cable

A 48 acre bushland property with stunning views of the Loddon River.  Created from hard rock and heavy clay soils, the enchanting 3 acre garden features rose arbours and raised stone walled garden beds.  Meandering paths weave through the garden of cool climate deciduous trees and perennial plants.  Native plants, brimming with tiny birds, surround the periphery of the garden.  Stroll through the fruit orchard and Johnno's large productive veggie patch.  Heavy clay soils.

Join the walk along the Kangaroo Highway on the Loddon River and observe the revegetation work undertaken on the river.

GUEST GARDENS

INDULGENCE    Gooch Court Wheatsheaf    Suchada Hongsananda
 

Innovative 4 acre garden, with a "Room Outside" approach to garden design.  European trees and shrubs meld beautifully with Australian plants in loosely grouped clusters, with wide informal paths linking them together.  The large ornamental lake is a prominent feature, with ducks, geese and guinea fowl strutting on the banks.  Quirky, humorous sculptures dot the garden, bringing a smile to the face of the observer.  Rich red volcanic and black loam soils.

 

WALLABY CREEK     41 Matts Lane Coomoora    Jenny and Ian Jordan

Tucked in behind a hedge of roses is this delightful 2 acre woodland garden.  Rare and unusual established conifers and deciduous trees form a parkland, with swathes of perennials skirting the periphery.  The property slopes gently to the Wallaby Creek.  Delightful hand crafted gates, elegant pot plants and metal sculptures add a touch of refinement.  Red volcanic soils.

Many of the unusual plants are labelled.

Tickets at the Glenlyon Hall.  $5 per garden or $25 the lot. Free entry to Ellender Estate.  Great food at Ellender Estate and the Glenlyon General Store.

Loos at the Glenlyon Hall.  Please don't ask the gardeners if you can use their loos - they are all on limited water and septic tanks.