Borough’s flora on full display at Open Gardens

A HANDFUL of Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff residences are in full bloom as part of Uniting Queenscliff’s Open Garden Day next Saturday, exhibiting a full display of native and exotic flora for garden enthusiasts to browse at leisure.

Among the five gardens are Point Lonsdale residents Roger and Maddie Stone, whose property on Santa Monica Boulevard will allow visitors to wander through, taking in their plant-laden walkways and handmade ecosystems.

Mr Stone, who has over 50 years of experience in landscaping, said he is looking forward to opening his doors to the public.

“Our garden is definitely something Maddie and I are proud of and something we love doing, and we’re excited to share it with the community,” Mr Stone said.

“It should be a good experience and we already have quite a few friends coming down from Melbourne to see what we’ve been up to.”

Dubbed ‘Devonshire Teas’, the Stone’s garden is the result of six years of hard work, situated on the back of Lake Victoria.

The garden retains existing trees shrubs and stonework and repurposed found objects from bicycle wheels to metallic sculptures, adding a flair to the flora on display.

Creatively designed, the mainly native garden features local indigenous plants, exotic species, bush tucker, vegetables, herbs and fruit trees, and also acts a haven for wildlife, attracting birds, insects, skinks and the occasional barn owl.

The Stones consider themselves to have cultivated “an environment rather than a plant collection”.

“We’re only in the learning stages of a lot of the things that we’re trying to do in our garden, but that is what keeps us going after all these years,” Ms Stone said.

“It is also knowledge that can be shared and so I guess that was our motivation for opening up our home.

“Who knows? We might learn something new on the day too.”

For the full addresses of the five residences part of the Open Garden Day open on Saturday, November 12 from 10am to 5pm, head to unitingqueenscliff.org.au and book.