Open Gardens SA (OGSA) is delighted welcome visitors through the garden gates during the milder months of Autumn. All open gardens follow a Covid Safe Plan with suitable social distancing for each open garden. These stunning private gardens are not usually available for the public to visit so this is an opportunity not to be missed!
All gardens open from 10am until 4.30pm on the dates listed. General entry to each garden is $8, and $6 for OGSA Members and for those with a Commonwealth Government Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card. Children Under 18 receive free entry. OGSA encourages visitors to bring cash as EFTPOS facilities may not always be available.
The full garden details are available on the OGSA website www.opengardensa.org.au. Before setting out to visit please always check the website as occasionally unavoidable last-minute changes do occur.
MARCH 2022
Strathconan – 3 Dairy Court, Blakiston
12-13 March
A drive lined with plane trees leads to Strathconan, a country property high on the hill with sweeping views over the surrounding countryside to the distant Mt Barker summit. The garden is split into three distinct zones separated by narrow tracts of grazing land. Garden ornaments including a whirly one purchased at the Chelsea Flower Show add interest and there is a small vegie garden. An informal, meandering garden in a rural setting with a stunning scenic outlook.
Please note: It is suggested visitors wear closed-in, flat shoes as some parts of the garden are accessed via a paddock.
Size: 3.3 ha; 8 acres.
Charity: Urrbrae Agricultural High School.
Frosty Flats - 2891 Onkaparinga Valley Road, Birdwood
12-13 March
Frosty Flats is bright and beautiful! It is a true cottage garden full of flowers in all colours, sweet scents and a mass of varied foliage textures. The garden wraps itself around as you wander along the web of little paths that wind between beds crammed with a vast assortment of roses, perennials, and succulents. Trees, mostly flowering varieties, provide shelter and height. The original garden surrounded the old 1880s stone farmhouse but several years ago it was expanded into what was once a paddock and in the newer area, informal paths are again a feature.
Extra activities: Morning and afternoon teas; plant sales.
Please note: This garden is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushers.
Size: 0.75 acres; 0.3 ha.
Charity: Cancer Council SA ‘Ride for a Reason’.
The Mosaic Garden - 376 Glynburn Road, Kensington Gardens
19-20 March
Anne Martin creates mosaic masterpieces! Topiary pear trees laden with ripe yellow fruit, vines dripping with plump green grapes, pencil pines in pretty pots, flowering bird of paradise plants, birds, frogs, fish and fountains are just some of the stars of her amazing, colourful garden – and they are all made of mosaic! Anne originally trained as a fashion designer and later was craft editor for Woman’s Day. Since the year 2000 she has applied her expertise in the use of colour to create stunning mosaics – from very large panels that cover entire walls to small birdbaths and bowls. There is a large entertainment area and a well-stocked vegetable garden.
Extra activities: Owner/artist will do walk and talk at 11am and 2pm both days on garden and mosaic artworks.
Size: 0.15ha; 0.3 acres.
Topsy Turvy - 72-74 Bowering Hill Road, Port Willunga
26-27 March
Topsy Turvy is colourful and quirky! Established from scratch just 5 years ago, Lauren has worked to improve the original poor soil with tons of compost and now her garden beds are jampacked with plants chosen for their long flowering season, bright colours, hardiness and low water requirements. Pelargoniums, penstemons, salvias and lavenders complement the roses and with a sprinkling of succulents, provide colour and exuberance throughout the seasons.
The property is on a gentle slope and narrow paths weave and wind down through the densely planted garden beds and rockeries to a big pepper tree and the chook house in the far corner of the garden. There is a veggie patch, but other vegetables and numerous fruit trees are scattered amongst the ornamental flowering plants.
Extra activities: Morning and afternoon tea; plant sales.
Size: 1200m2.
Please note: This garden is not suitable for prams and wheelchairs.
APRIL 2022
Midway Park - 2 Angove Court, Roslyn Park
2-3 April
The garden in front of the gracious old 1890’s bluestone villa is planted with over 150 roses which provide a dazzling display of colour and perfume when in flower. The remainder of this large garden with its extensive collection of fruit and nut trees, berry bushes and some vegetables, is productive rather than traditional.
It has subtropical fruit and citrus trees, many of them unusual and difficult to grow in SA climatic conditions. A 20m long ‘fruit cage’ is planted with six rows of espaliered fruit trees, mostly deciduous heritage varieties, and some delicious Jujubes. Two green-houses provide the perfect conditions for cold-sensitive tropical and subtropical fruit trees.
Extra activities: There will be talks throughout the day on a variety of subjects associated with organic gardening and sub-tropical fruit production.
Please note: There are two beehives, as well as a small pond and some steps.
Size: 0.3ha; 0.6 acres.
Serenity - 775 Old Bull Creek Road, Strathalbyn
2-3 April
The first glimpse of Serenity is a surprise – an avenue of callistemons, some clipped as large lollypop-like standards leads to the 3acre garden perched on top of the hill. The front garden of Australian natives, Mediterranean plants and perennials meanders informally through stands of mature indigenous gums and the local species of Xanthorrhoea semiplana. In the shade provided by the spreading branches of a Chinese elm are fuchsias, cyclamen, hellebores, heuchera, hebes and hydrangeas while amongst rocks in the hotter part of the garden is a range of conifers and grevilleas with red pigface adding vibrant colour.
In the extensive productive garden there are raised beds, a covered orchard with trees pruned to a compact size ideal for easy picking and a shade house used to grow berry crops and for propagating plants.
Please note: There is a beehive in far corner of the garden as well as a pond with fountain.
Size: 2 acres.
Charity: Strathalbyn Homelessness Initiative.
Beaumont House- 631 Glynburn Road, Beaumont
10 April (Sunday ONLY)
This country-style, heritage-listed garden provides many good examples of tough, heat loving shrubs and perennials. In late summer, flowering shrubs including white and blue plumbago, purple solanum and pink and white hibiscus provide a backdrop to many different coloured salvias, sedums, pelargoniums and roses. Mauve tulbaghia edges the lawn paths and the huge creamy trumpets of brugmansia are breathtaking. The vegetable and herb garden has had a makeover and this autumn will feature a scarecrow standing guard over a giant pumpkin patch. The garden at Beaumont House provides a fascinating glimpse into colonial life in SA. The property was donated to the National Trust in 1969 and is managed and maintained by the Trust.
Size: 1.2 ha, 3 acres.
Marchrismick - 33 Stirling Street, Milang
16-17 April
Like its name, Marchrismick is intriguing! Dedicated recyclers John and Roberta have taken re-purposing to a whole new level in their extraordinary garden at Milang. They have run with the idea of inside/outside living and over time have built a cluster of fascinating small out-buildings and structures, creating a unique miniature village-like setting almost entirely from rescued materials.
Their once derelict 1880s cottage belonged to the son of a paddle steamer captain in the golden age of Milang as a premier South Australian port. With very little spent, what the couple have achieved is inspiring. The garden, planted mostly with tough plants that require little summer water, winds in and out of the structures; agapanthus, clivia and succulents edge paths and climbers soften walls, with the canopies of the trees providing shade. Highlights include a superb quince walk and pleached vines, an extensive covered organic vegetable garden that doubles as a chook run and an orchard which produces around 50 kgs of boysenberries a year. A grove of a dozen olive trees complements a lovely Moroccan inspired courtyard.
Size: 1.25 acres; 0.5 ha.
Charity: Medecins sans Frontieres.
Delphi – 233 Silver Lake Road, Mylor
23-24 April
On 2 acres of hillside overlooking the Onkaparinga River and a beautiful natural landscape is Delphi, a permaculture garden largely created with passion, preloved materials and resourceful flair! Recycled brick paths meander through garden beds filled with productive and complementary plants, past unique art installations, a chook house, bunny home and a huge significant gum tree to an area planted with assorted fruit trees. Beyond is the river, a small waterfall and swimming hole beneath a stunning rock escarpment.
Please note: This garden has river frontage. Parking at the very end of Silver Lake Road before the gates. There is a 150m walk down to the garden.
Size: 2.0 acres.
Stangate House – 3 Edgeware Road, Aldgate
24 April (Sunday ONLY)
A spectacular display of autumn leaves is a feature of Stangate Garden, an historic property developed in the 1940s by the Rev Raymond Cornish and his wife Gwyneth as their retirement project. With the help of Elsie Cornish, a well-known Adelaide garden designer, they laid out the large garden in a romantic woodland style with a series of lawn terraces either side of the Aldgate creek. They were followers of the English arts and crafts movement which embraced a simple country lifestyle and love of nature. Elsie was influenced by the English artist and garden designer Gertrude Jekyll. The property was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1970 and the garden has since been cared for by a team of volunteers.
Please note: This garden has an unfenced creek – children will need to be carefully supervised at all times. It also has gravel and steep paths in some areas, so is not suitable for wheelchairs. Parking is available in Aldgate Railway Station, Euston Road.
Size: 4.5 acres, 1.8 ha.
Charity: National Trust of South Australia.
APRIL / MAY 2022
Cooinda - 8 Fowler Road, Mt George
30 April - 1 May
Cooinda was designed and established by horticulturist, the late Mrs Chris Steele-Scott. Tall old trees make a welcoming entrance to the garden crammed with botanical interest and designed with emphasis on visual appeal, delightful vistas and spectacular views. A large spring fed dam is made all the more attractive with water plants and a background of deciduous trees chosen for their exceptional autumn colour.
Please note: There is a dam on this property and sloping land.
Garden Size: 4 acres; 1.6ha.
Visit Open Gardens SA website or Facebook page for more information.