Over the past 33 years the Berry Gardens Festival has helped to raise more than $700,000 for charities and public beautification projects. This year there will be six open gardens over four days from October 12 to 15.
Scattered around the gardens will be coffee vans and food stalls – look out for the Country Women’s Association stall with their ever-popular treats.
Plant sales from propagated plants that the Garden Club has dedicated much time to nurturing will also be available, with club members on hand to advise on keeping them thriving in your own space.
Diversity will be showcased with displays of rural landscapes, permaculture-style gardens and quaint cottage gardens. Enjoy the many varied plant styles as well as garden art, dried flower arrangements, bonsai and even a display of Japanese gardening tools.
Erin Cooper, a member of the festival sub committee, said: “The festival is not only for keen gardeners but for enthusiasts who are looking for ideas and want to see what works in the area. It’s a great day out for families too.”
- The Drawing Rooms of Berry – 21 Wattamolla Rd, Woodhill. Six hectares of native bushland, wide expanses of lawn and a variety of garden styles and an orchard.
- The Schoolhouse – 23 Boundary Rd Broughton Vale. Once a schoolhouse in the 1870s, this is now a stunning residential garden with canopy trees and shrinking lawns. See camellias, Japanese maples, tree ferns, Wollemi pines, bamboo and bromeliads.
- Tindalls Cottage – 13 Pulman St, Berry. A heritage-listed cottage (1862) located on an acre on the banks of the Broughton Mill Creek. Native and ornamental plantings, water features and extensive vegetable gardens, including six wicking beds. Citrus, abundant vegetable beds and a rose-picking garden.
- South Coast Bamboo – 1360 Bolong Rd, Coolangatta. Brimming with an amazing collection of plants ranging from cold hardy bamboos, rare and spectacular giant bromeliads, cordyline yuccas, ginger, colourful grasses and palms.
- Col and Petch’s Garden – 42 Edward St, Berry. Espaliered fruit trees border the street in this town garden. There are countless edibles, ornamentals, pots galore and an adjoining creek that is being regenerated with native species and a bygone treehouse now home to a happy bee hive.
- Anne’s Garden – 11 Kangaroo Valley Rd, Berry. Plum-coloured leaves of a mature Cercis Forest Pansy provide dappled shade to a front cottage garden with a more formal design found to the rear. Large clipped Buxus Balls, tiered fountain and wide border gardens.
Fast facts
More info: Visit www.berrygardens.org.au and download a program.
When: Thursday 12th to Sunday 15th October.
Time: 10am to 4pm daily.
Tickets: $20 for all six gardens and can be used over the four days. On sale at all gardens and Broughton Court, 11 Queen St, Berry. $7 for individual gardens. Free for children under 18.