Garden Owner Story David Binch – Binchy’s Garden

I met Matthew Henry (OGV selector) through social media. 

He came around to say g’day and check out my garden. We spent an hour walking around and talking about the rare grevilleas I had planted. We shared our stories about our own gardening experiences and we got along like brothers. It was great! 

Matthew suggested I do an open garden as he said I have so many interesting stories about the plants I had collected and grafted over 20 years. I agreed! From here my job was to start getting the garden ready. I had roughly four months before the opening. Matthew, Nicole (Marketing Subcommittee) and the whole Open Garden Victoria team were so friendly along the way and the email and phone contacts made me feel well supported. 

I had a huge job to get the garden ready and this did stress me out from time to time I will be honest! But any questions I had I’d just run them past Matthew or email Nicole and they responded quickly to any concerns. 

Leading up to my opening, I was asked if I would do a radio interview with Gavin from ABC radio. This was great and a good way to share and promote my garden as well as Eden Rise - another garden opening nearby on the same weekend.

The social media promoting my opening was fantastic and I also made some short videos to post on Instagram that helped get the word out.

The day before my opening I got to meet Lyn (Selections Subcommittee) who really inspired and encouraged me in time to open my garden the following day. She dropped over with Matt and helped set things up. 

The whole weekend of my open garden was amazing! The volunteers were a great help as well as my family and friends who pitched in too. Throughout the weekend I took garden tours twice a day. I walked groups of people through my garden while explaining the whole process of how I built the garden, what soil I used, why I chose the plants and I also did demonstrations on why I graft my plants. These were well received. 

Throughout the weekend I had so many great and appreciative people turn up. Kate (Marketing Subcommittee) and I think a lady called Sharon, were both really nice.

This whole experience from start to finish was one of the best experiences of my life, so thanks to everyone involved. 

Regards David Binch, Binchy’s Garden