Open GardensOpen GardensOpen Gardens

Mansfield Open Gardens

Saturday 22 October & Sunday 23 October 10.00am – 4.00pm

10.00am - 4.00pm: Mansfield Garden Club presents: Student Arts in the Garden
108 Highett Street, Mansfield
Come and stroll in the garden and view artwork by Mansfield School Students.
First 50 children receive a free helium balloon.
Free Entry. Refreshments available only $4.
12 noon - 3.00pm: Free art & craft activities and Face Painting.
3.00pm: Free Pottery Workshop conducted by renowned Mansfield artist, Wendy Jagger.
4.00pm: Student Arts in the Open Garden awards ceremony.

Saturday 22 October & Sunday 23 October 1.00pm – 4.00pm

Mansfield Garden Club presents Bentley Cottage Garden
Gold coin donation. Loch Street, Mansfield - see details below on features of this award winning garden.

Sunday 23 October 10.00am – 4.00pm


The Mansfield District Hospital Auxiliary presents: Beautiful Booroolite Open Gardens Take a short drive out along the Jamieson/Woods Point road to visit these beautiful gardens in the picturesque Booroolite Valley.  Turn left into Chapel Hill Road to visit:

Wairere –  an Edna Walling garden being restored by Fenella and Mark Ritchie - 51 Fielding Lane (off Chapel Hill Road) – approximately 3 kms from the Jamieson - Woods Point Road. 

  • Riverfield – owned by Jenny and John Canavan - 585 Chapel Hill Road, approximately 5 kms from the Jamieson - Woods Point road on the left hand side.

  • Targai – owned by Jo and Graham Boone - 604 Chapel Hill Road – approximately 6 kms from the Jamieson - Woods Point road on the right hand side.

Cost to visit all three Booroolite gardens: $10 per person. Children free.
Admission tickets are available at any of the gardens. Refreshments can be purchased at “Riverfield”. All proceeds to Mansfield District Hospital.

Sunday 30 October 10.00am – 4.00pm

Mansfield Garden Club presents Open Garden Day
A showcase of four exceptional Mansfield gardens:

 

  • George and Rita D'Arcy Redgum Avenue, Mansfield

  • Ray and Caroline Close 110 Crosby Road, Mansfield

  • Elsie McLeod 21 Cambridge, Drive Mansfield

  • Frank and Meg Broomfield 172 Ogilvies Road, Mansfield

(Refreshments can be purchased at the Ogilivies Road garden - only $4)

Tickets available at any of the Mansfield gardens on the day. Flyers at local nurseries.
All proceeds used for the upkeep and maintenance of the Bentley Cottage Garden and the gardens at Bindaree.
Cost: $10 to visit all four Mansfield gardens or $5 for a single visit.

 

Features of Bentley Cottage Garden, Loch Street, Mansfield

Dame Elizabeth  Murdoch said of the Bentley Cottage Garden (at the launch of an appeal for funding the project) 'People will  gain great strength, comfort and serenity from a garden of this nature.'

Shirley White who still lives in Highton Lane, Mansfield, was the Gardening Consultant for the original planting of the garden.

A Certificate of Merit was awarded to the Bentley Cottage Garden Committee in November 1988 by the Royal Horticultural Comittee as a 'Highly commended contribution to the way horticulture benefits the community.' In the same year, Mansfield Garden Club officially took over the responsibily of maintaining the garden and have done so, on a weekly basis since that date.

The Mansfield Garden Club has maintained the garden on a regular weekly  basis since 1988, funding planting, garden ornamentation, fertilisers and maintaining benches, tables etc.

The Garden is an excellent example of how a smallish garden space can be designed to make it accessible to wheelchairs/walker frames.

The garden offers many inspiring ideas for those about to plan a garden in a smallish space, Also offers creative ideas for garden ornamentation.

A good example of how to make the best use of trees outside the boundary as protection and background.

The late Betty Conabere originally  designed the garden. After an accident she spent some time in the Mansfield Hospital and realised the benefits a garden would provide. An empty rather unsightly space at the rear of the hospital was chosen for the proposed project.

The Gazebo in the centre of the garden was a 'last-minute' addition, Originally it was roofed with western red cedar shingles, but unfortunately over time they needed to be replaced. MGC contributed generously to the re-roofing of the gazebo.

Originally members of the community were consulted about preferred plants: the most popular choice was roses and this request has remained! Other popular suggestions included heliotrope, daisies, poppies and irises -- and many said you could not have such a garden without forget-me-nots!
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In 1992 a Horticultural Therapy Garden Tour was conducted by the Horticultural Society in order to appreciate the therapeutic benefits of such a garden.

If you're looking for ideas for YOUR garden, then make sure you visit Mansfield's best kept secret garden'. Loch Street, Mansfield (behind the hospital).