Share love of gardens
IPSWICH friends who share a love of gardening will open up their leafy havens to the public this weekend.
Debbie and Jim Sutton live at Adenfield while Agnes Maskalans and Rodger Smallwood live opposite at Parkside, both on Thorn St close to the CBD.
Both gardens will be shown to the public for the first time.
Mrs Sutton spent five years as a selector for the Open Gardens Australia Scheme.
She says a chosen garden needs to hold a visitor's interest for at least 30 minutes with its presentation.
"There is a standard because people are paying admission," she said.
"It has to be neat and tidy and have variety.
"They're coming to look for ideas about what they can do with their own garden. Some people just love to go and look at gardens. It's pleasurable and therapeutic."
Adenfield is a pretty cottage garden at 71 Thorn St, which tumbles with old-fashioned shrubs and other favourites in a feast of colour and fragrance.
With daylilies, hippeastrums, irises, roses, jasmine, salvias, spiraeas, there is always something in flower.
"Above all else, I must have flowers. Rarely is my house without a vase of fresh flowers, no matter how small the posy," Ms Sutton said. "Many of the plants in our garden - as in most cottage gardens - have been grown from cuttings from friends and family, so as I walk around I am reminded of all of those special people in my life."
Parkside, the well-designed, family friendly garden at 70 Thorn St, has been lovingly developed over 15 years from a bare yard into a wonderful living space for the owners, their kids and dogs.
"Every garden is a work in progress, constantly adapting to the changing chapters in our lives," Ms Maskalans said.
A rustic garden stall, a sausage sizzle, teas and light lunches will be available during the gardens opening from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Admission is $7, with under 18s free.
