Set among the undulating rural landscape of Drysdale, Red Gums is a six-acre garden that celebrates and complements a large stand of remnant red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis).
The trees sit among three billabongs in the front garden and it is one of the largest stands of remnant red gums in the area.
Inspired by the naturalistic garden philosophies of Gordon Ford, the owners invited Gordon’s protege, Sam Cox, to design and landscape the garden around 20 years ago. Sam created a flowing and unified sense of place in this bush garden.
As part of Open Gardens Victoria, visitors can enjoy this spectacular garden on the Bellarine.
Basalt boulder outcrops and planting areas were created to emulate nature, with soft curving lines and generous sized garden beds filled with an abundance of different species of acacias, banksias, grevilleas, leptospermums and eucalypts.
Close to the house, peaceful entertaining areas have been created, nestled into the landscape and finished with Castlemaine slate. Other features include an old Moreton Bay fig of historical significance to the property, an orchard area, as well as an underground cellar built into the mounded earth.
Sam’s design has cleverly blurred the boundaries so it’s not clear where the garden starts and ends, and the landscape envelops you. The owners describe it as ‘soothing to the soul’.
Due to Covid-19 protocols, tickets must be booked and pre-paid online via TryBooking.
Bookings can be made in hourly time slots. Visitors should arrive at their designated time but are free to enjoy the garden at leisure. Visitors over the age of 12 must be double vaccinated unless they have a medical exemption.
WHAT: Red Gums Open Garden
WHERE: 22-30 Redgum Place, Drysdale
WHEN: Saturday November 13 and Sunday November 14 from 10am to 4.30pm
TICKETS: Purchase via TryBooking – adults $10, students $6, under 18 free
MORE INFO: opengardensvictoria.org.au
