News

Open Gardens Victoria MIFGS Student Design Competition Winner

• 29 January 2024

We have a winner for our MIFGS Student Design Competition – Congratulations Sarah McLauchlan!

New OGV Fire Policy for Garden Openings

• 29 November 2023

As we head into summer, we are conscious that some of our garden openings are in regional areas that may be impacted by weather extremes.

Photo by: Guillaume Hankenne

A Place for Us winner Best Visual Display Award

• 31 July 2023

Emma Sheppard-Simms won our MIFGS Student grant. The grant provided $10,000 to design and install a vibrant garden at our stand at the 2023 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS). Emma and her all female team also secured sponsorship to build the garden. We are so excited to announce that her garden @aplaceforus.vic won The Best Visual Display Award.

2023 Giving Program recipients announced

• 1 May 2023

2023 Giving Program recipients announced

Four community organisations will receive funding for a range of community and education horticulture programs from our Giving Program. We have also allocated funding for bushfire recovery projects and The Lakes Entrance Garden Club will receive the first of these funding allocations. Find out more about these exciting projects.

MIFGS student design competition winner

• 8 March 2023

We have a winner for our MIFGS student design competition – Congratulations Emma Sheppard-Simms!

Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens

• 30 November 2022

Gilles Lardy's European Garden Tour 2022 Part 3

The Reservoir Garden with fantastic Eremurus sp. and strappy Phormium cv.

Chelsea Flower Show 2022

• 24 October 2022

Gilles Lardy's European Garden Tour 2022 Part 2

Bulb display in the gig tent with Lilium, Scadoxus, Allium and Nerine cv.

Recycling in the Garden competition

• 27 September 2022

Winner of Open Gardens Victoria’s Recycling in the Garden competition: Image by Sharyn Walters

We are so grateful to Steven Wells for judging our Recycling in the Garden Competition and also to Daisy’s Garden Supplies for donating a very generous prize. Our entries showed that so many people love being creative in their garden with recycled objects and read on to hear more from our Judge and why he chose the first and second place winners.

Yurnga - Shirley Stirling

• 6 September 2022

“Yurnga”-an Aboriginal word meaning “View Among The Hills”

Preserved Lime Pickle

• 1 August 2022

Kerry Maloney brings us a preserved lime pickle recipe.

European garden tour Part 1

• 25 July 2022

We are so grateful to passionate gardener Gilles Lardy for sharing his experience with us on his recent European Gardens tour. What an incredibly inspiring experience. You can find out more about Gilles here via his Instagram page @elthamgardengrub. Part 2 coming soon...

Keukenhof Garden is located in Lisse, a mere 30min drive from Amsterdam.

We’re Delighted to Announce our New Deputy Chair!

• 11 July 2022

We are so lucky to have passionate volunteers run our main committee and are delighted to welcome David Epstein as our new Deputy Chair. David succeeds architect, interior designer and gardener Jason Chongue, who has stepped down after three years in the role.

It has Turned Cold

• 9 June 2022

By regular garden to table contributor - Kerrie Maloney
There is nothing more comforting than coming in from the cold to the warmth and smell of delicious aromas.

Open Garden 2022: Whose idea was that?

• 17 May 2022

By Matthew Henry

Getting ready for an open garden is like eating an elephant: achievable if approached one bite at a time.

Vertical garden competition

• 25 January 2022

Jian Liu of @melbourne_foodforest judged our competition on Vertical Gardens. Photo: David Chalmers, winner.

A festival of Oranges

• 13 October 2021

Citrus fruit. Sour, sweet, tangy or tart. Take your pick with these delicious recipes.

Fairy Garden Comp 2021

• 19 September 2021

Thank you to all the children who sent in their wonderful Fairy Garden photos for the Kids' Corner Fairy Garden competition. We received some wonderful entries. We’d also like to extend a big thank you to Fairy Anne for her support and taking the time to judge this competition.  Read on for information about our winning entry in the words of our judge:

Native Bee Lessons

• 19 September 2021

Emma Cutting, Founder of The Heart Gardening Project (THGP) and The South Melbourne BEE Gardens, was the recipient of one of our Giving grants last year and this project is going from strength to strength.

Donations

• 14 September 2021

Want to know how you can support OGV?

OGV Giving Program

• 1 September 2021

Our pilot ‘Backyard Farmers Project’ matches aspiring urban farmers with homeowners (‘farm hosts’) who have large, underutilised gardens, to develop local market gardens.

Our Giving Program

• 18 August 2021

We’re so proud to announce Cultivating Community as one of our new Giving Program recipients.

This wonderful initiative is an organisation that provides food and gardening programs to create healthy communities.

In the words of its founder, Rob Rees:

OGV Giving Program

• 15 August 2021

The Kingsville Little Seed Library is just one of our OGV grant recipients from our Giving Program in 2021. 

Terrarium competition - winner announced

• 9 August 2021

This creation of a microworld achieved what it was meant to achieve. This piece would do well in competitions anywhere in the world.

OGV Giving Program

• 12 May 2021

An OGV grant supported Alkira to create a sensory garden in their newly built community Hub. 

Passion for perennials competition - winner announced!

• 12 May 2021

A billowing abundance of soft perennials, which change emphasis with each of the seasons identified our winner.

Apples galore

• 10 April 2021

Do you have surplus apples? What to do??? Kerrie Maloney shares some great recipes here to solve this conundrum!

Past activities in Kids' Corner

• 9 April 2021

Below you can see links to our previous Kids Corner activities.

Productive patch competition -winner announced!

• 18 March 2021

Productive Patch - satisfaction guaranteed when producing your own fresh produce including experimentation. Helena has chosen!

Scarecrows - winner announced

• 12 February 2021

Build your own Scarecrow - big personalities, amazing creativity and all dressed to impress. We are thrilled to announce the winner of our Kids' Scarecrow Competition.

OGV Giving Program

• 26 January 2021

OGV grant supports South Melbourne BEE Gardens. (Bees, Education and Environment)

Pandemic Garden Projects - winner announced!

• 4 December 2020

Impressive garden projects - each is unique to the creator’s expectations, space constraints, skill level, climate conditions. However there can only be one winner!

Christmas Cheer

• 15 November 2020

Regular garden to table contributor Kerrie Maloney enters into the Christmas spirit with these delectable gift ideas.

Creative containers and pots competition - winner announced!

• 5 November 2020

Our winning entrant's “Creative Corner” is a mix of up-cycled treasures and the fun use of bright ceramics. Before and after shots show how they have been brought back to life!

Beautiful Bulbs Competition - winner announced!

• 5 October 2020

Competition judge and renowned plantsman Simon Rickard has found a winner amongst a mountain of breathtakingly beautiful bulb entries sent in last month.

Creative with Natives Competition: Playful Experimentation Wins Out

• 15 September 2020

Read on to find out who won and how experimentation with natives can reward you in truly spectacular ways! 

Spring Joy

• 20 August 2020

Regular garden-to-table contributor, Kerrie Maloney brings the spring back into the kitchen as winter nears its end.

Small Gardens Competition: Paul Bangay's Picks

• 5 August 2020

Read on to discover who won, view inspiring photos of the winning entries and more!

Book Review - 'The Creative Shrub Garden' and 'Shrubs' by Andy McIndoe

• 16 July 2020

In response to our call for gardening book reviews in the OGV newsletter, our supporter Victoria Sheehy shares her review of two very useful books by Andy McIndoe.

Victoria came across the first at her local library and had to buy them both they were so helpful! 

Indoor Oasis Competition – we have a winner!

• 6 July 2020

At a time when we've been cocooning ourselves in our homes it's clear that some of us have been truly doing it in verdant style! Our Indoor Oasis Competition in June was very popular with an incredible range of creative entries and we wish to thank and congratulate all of you for your inspiring photos and fascinating stories.

We are delighted to announce our winning entry thanks to expert judging by OGV committee member, author and Creative Director of The Plant Society, Jason Chongue. Jason was impressed by so many entries - read here for his thoughts on the winner, Brod Street and several worthy runners up who inspired with their indoor havens of greenery.

When Winter Comes

• 16 June 2020

As the cold weather sets in, regular contributor, gardener and blogger Kerrie Maloney shares some hearty recipes using produce from the winter garden.

Give them a go - they'll nourish both body and soul!

Nature Strip Garden Competition - and the winner is....

• 5 June 2020

Our May competition for the best nature strip garden in Victoria caught the imagination, with scores of entries and a special mention in The Age newspaper.

Warmest congratulations to all entrants - your hard work and dedication is an inspiration to us all.

Read the write-up by competition judge, OGV supporter and nature strip expert, Karen Sutherland to find out who won and admire stunning images of the top entries.

A Time to Reflect - and Keep Busy...

• 13 May 2020

A beautifully reflective piece from long time OGV supporter Helen Kennedy on being a gardener during the pandemic. 

Recipes from the Autumn Garden

• 3 April 2020

Regular contributor Kerrie Maloney shares more delicious recipes from the garden. 

In this autumn segment, Kerrie focuses on tomatoes, chillies, pears and apples.   

We’re all being told to stay home during the pandemic, so why not grab some garden produce, fire up the stove and get cooking?!

De-stress at a Park

• 20 March 2020

We need your help compiling our list of Victoria’s best public parks and gardens! 

We realise some of these are shut for the time being under Covid-19 containment measures, and even those that are open are for exercise these days rather than picnics and lingering.

Nevertheless, we’d love you to send us the name of your favourite public park or garden in Victoria so we have a fabulous list for when things get back to normal. Even better, flick us a photo, and we’ll share the best here for everyone to enjoy. 

Keep checking this post - it’ll get bigger and better as we add your contributions. 

Remainder of Autumn Season Cancelled

• 14 March 2020

Tis the Season of Nature’s Bounty

• 23 February 2020

Here are some mouth-watering ideas for putting the garden's produce to use from OGV friend, gardener, and blogger, Kerrie Maloney.

We'll be seeing more of Kerrie as a regular contributor to the OGV news tab, sharing recipes and tips for what's in season in the garden.

In this late summer segment, Kerrie focuses on cucurbits and stonefruit - plentiful in productive gardens across the state as we speak.  She also shares the recipes for a decadent Peach Melba Cake, and a simpler but versatile Plum Cake. Delish!

Garden lessons from the coast

• 30 January 2020

After a summer break relaxing on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, OGV's Kate Catterall reflects on what it is that resonates so strongly in coastal landscapes – how ‘nature controls nature’ and how we might scoop up a little of that relaxed holiday feeling and transplant it into our own home gardens.

Travellers' Tales Part 2 - Inclusive Gardens in Scandinavia

• 31 December 2019

The three recipients of OGV’s latest travel bursary have returned home from their travels, eager to share their stories. 

For the second year running, OGV distributed the $10,000 bursary amongst three students studying horticulture at the University of Melbourne. The bursary funds national or international travel to develop skills and knowledge in garden design and related fields.

In this instalment, we hear from Nina Breidahl, who graduated from Burnley Campus with the Associate Degree in Urban Horticulture at the end of 2018. Since her return, Nina has been managing the farm and gardens at Brae Restaurant in Birregurra. 

Nina says her OGV-sponsored tour taught her there is no garden that doesn't benefit from inclusive design. She believes her time spent in Scandinavia will give a perspective to her approach to every garden she encounters for the rest of her career. Nina sends her thanks to OGV for the amazing opportunity to see some of the best inclusive gardens of Scandinavia first hand.

Over to Nina.

A Citrus Tale: from Gloom to Boom

• 16 November 2019

Summer’s arrived in Victoria and oranges like Valencia are coming into season. What better time to share a citrus gardening tale with a twist from blogger and Friend of OGV, Kerrie Maloney?

Travellers’ Tales Part 1 - Urban Agriculture in Toronto

• 13 October 2019

The three recipients of OGV’s latest travel bursary have returned home from their travels, eager to share their stories. 

For the second year running, OGV distributed the $10,000 bursary amongst three students studying horticulture at the University of Melbourne. The bursary funds national or international travel to develop skills and knowledge in garden design and other related fields.

In our first instalment, we catch up with Clare Harvey, who is studying the Associate Degree in Urban Horticulture at Melbourne University’s Burnley campus, working at a nursery and various community gardens, and doing freelance garden design and installation. Clare used her share of the bursary to visit some of the diverse urban agriculture systems in Toronto, Canada.

Spring Sneak Peek - Bickleigh Vale

• 28 September 2019

Spring has arrived at Bickleigh Vale Village right on time for the sensational opening of eight gardens within this enchanting community created by Edna Walling in Mooroolbark almost 100 years ago. I visited back in autumn with photographer Brett Horan, and now Brett has just come back from another visit, capturing all the spring magic of the gardens OGV will be opening on Sunday 13th October. Mark it in your diary – this will be a real treat!

Words by Kate Catterall. Images by Brett Horan.

OGV donates to new therapeutic garden

• 23 August 2019

OGV has donated $10,000 to the development of an exciting new therapeutic garden for Austin Health’s Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre in Melbourne. 

This came under OGV’s giving program, which each year, channels a portion of open garden proceeds back to charities and organisations with a connection to horticulture. This year, the proceeds from the last Cranlana garden opening provided much of the funding.

OGV Chair Liz Fazio, and landscape designer Stephen Read met recently with the brains behind the project, Steven Wells. Steven gave them the low-down on his draft design to transform a sterile space into an attention-grabbing garden.

Visit a Park from our Short-list

• 3 July 2019

If you can’t find an open garden this weekend, never fear! This is Victoria - we have an astounding number of parks and gardens open to the public at any time of year.

Whether you fancy heritage parks or contemporary green spaces, Melbourne’s best public gardens or the state’s regional highlights - we’re spoilt for choice here in the Garden State.

Don’t let the time of year stop you, either. Many of our public gardens are all-season, offering distinctly different delights from one season to the next. 

Sneak Peek: Discovering Bickleigh Vale

• 13 June 2019

In the fading days of autumn, I visited Edna Walling’s Bickleigh Vale village in Mooroolbark with photographer Brett Horan to capture a little of the magic of the eight gardens OGV will be opening on Sunday 13th October. Mark it in your diary – this will be a real treat!

Words by Kate Catterall. Images by Brett Horan.

OGV Green City Initiative

• 28 May 2019

Green City is an Open Gardens Victoria initiative that encourages people to garden, no matter how small the available space.

Green City and 3000acres

• 15 May 2019

Have you noticed tiny productive gardens popping up in the city in the most unlikely places? Indoor spaces, balconies, courtyards, nature strips, roofs and community plots are being used across Melbourne to grow plants and food.

Over the past few months, we’ve been lucky enough to see some  wonderfully bountiful gardens up close. As part of OGV’s Green City initiative, and thanks to a grant from the Lord’s Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, we teamed up with 3000acres - a group that encourages people in urban communities grow food for themselves - to open a range of productive backyards in the inner suburbs.

'Open Slather' - Musk Cottage, Flinders

• 28 August 2018

Published in Green Magazine Issue 53, Pages 83-86

After decades of designing to clients’ tastes, Rick Eckersley and his business partner Myles Broad have embraced the glorious luxury of impromptu experimentation and light-hearted fun at their 10-hectare work-in-progress on the Mornington Peninsula.

Rethinking the winter garden

• 4 August 2018

Banish the idea that winter gardens are dull. This July, OGV had the pleasure of opening a beautifully crafted, light and inviting inner city garden designed by landscape architect Andrew Laidlaw.

In front of a crackling outdoor fire, Andrew shared his tips for designing a garden that shines in winter – explaining to visitors some of the key plants he has used to make this compact Toorak garden feel so inviting.

Here, clever planting design has made the garden a true extension of indoor spaces, maximising winter light and drawing you through the spaces to enjoy some beautiful flowering plants.

Salvias – stars of autumn

• 20 May 2018

Despite the recent cold snap, many autumn-flowering salvias are still at the height of their beauty, providing form and flower colour when many plants in the garden are becoming dormant for winter. 

OGV contributing photographer and salvia enthusiast, Brett Horan, shares some of his autumn salvia favourites with cultivation tips and some beautiful photographs from his Dandenong Ranges garden.

Be inspired!

The British winter garden: Travel snapshots from Daniel Brown

• 21 April 2018

In 2017, OGV awarded the inaugural Open Gardens Victoria Travel Bursary of $10,000, shared amongst three students studying horticulture at the University of Melbourne. The bursary funds national or international travel to develop skills and knowledge in garden design and other related fields.

Daniel Brown was a successful applicant and recent graduate of the Associate Degree in Urban Horticulture at Melbourne University’s Burnley campus. Here, Daniel shares snapshots and tales from his travels earlier this year while visiting more than 10 of the most iconic gardens in the UK including Great Dixter in East Sussex and Beth Chatto’s garden in Essex.

Going plant hunting

• 8 August 2017

Ever wondered about the origins of some of our most-loved garden plants? OGV Garden Selector Helen Kennedy recently took a fascinating tour of China’s Yunnan Province – one of the most botanically diverse areas on earth and native home to plants such as roses, magnolias and rhododendrons. Helen kindly shares her experiences here…

Get ready for a productive summer garden

• 10 November 2016

Eight months ago Karen Sutherland of Edible Eden Design opened her incredible urban food garden ‘Gunyah’ with Open Gardens Victoria. If you missed it this year, Karen has just announced she will be opening her garden with OGV again on 4^th and 5^th March 2017.

Karen is passionate about teaching people how to create productive, edible gardens. Keep reading as we share her expert tips for a productive summer garden!

Gardens as Therapy - Steven Wells shares learning and passion

• 6 October 2016

On the evening of 13 September, more than 80 garden enthusiasts came to Mueller Hall, eager to hear Steven Wells talk about his recent Churchill Fellowship tour of therapeutic gardens in hospitals overseas.

Colour and cake - OGV’s launch a true celebration

• 1 September 2016

The vibrant colours and Dr Seuss qualities of Attila and Michele Kapitany’s succulent garden was an incredible backdrop for OGV’s official 2016/17 season launch on 27 August. And yes, there was cake!

Succulents will star at OGV's season launch

• 18 August 2016

Attila Kapitany’s garden will greet visitors with a kaleidoscope of colour when it opens on the 27^th and 28^th August for Open Gardens Victoria’s official 2016/17 Season Launch.

Cooking Up Compost - recipes for soil success

• 16 June 2016

OGV's Cooking Up Compost workshops had a great turn-out.
Helena Buxton gave hands-on insights into creating perfect garden compost.

Arundel - A Gardener's Journey

• 20 January 2016

In the beginning... Autumn in 2011 a short time after moving to Arundel