2025_Gardens, News, Showgarden

Lynda Byrnes.

125 Market St, Mudgee.

Author: Jane Munro.

A garden of colourful floral delights.

In a very productive six years, Lynda has created an exceptionally pretty front garden, full of colourful perennials and roses, conifers, prunus and gorgeous window boxes and planters, on a site where there had been nothing except grass and weeds. The rich diversity continues on a larger scale in the garden at the rear of the house, with the addition of many ornamental trees, notably various maples and grandiflora magnolias, thriving in planters and in-ground.

Several Simonii poplars were planted to hide the colourbond fence at the rear of the block. However, as the trees grew very quickly, exposing the colourbond again, an interesting collection of mirrors was hung on the fence, effectively camouflaging it. These poplars are adorned in summer with the rambling stems and sublime pale pink blossoms of a Delbard rose. Nearby, several Rugosa roses are flourishing.

In a curved bed along eastern fence, despite receiving no sun in winter, and being scorched in summer, a multitude of trees and shrubs (including maples, fejoas and smoke bush) have created a microclimate which shelters dense underplantings of iris, petunias, dahlias. convolvulus, salvias, roses and more.

In the shelter of the western fence, you will find more salvias, rhapiolepis, and gorgeous pink hydrangeas- including an old-fashioned beauty with palest pink blossoms, and a more modern cultivar, whose blossoms are also pale pink, but with deep pink edges.

This garden must be a continuing delight year-round- I picture Lynda heading out each day- come rain, frost or summer heat- searching for something new coming into bud.

Unusually for Mudgee, Lynda has successfully grown two brugmansias (also known as jimsonweed, or devil’s trumpet)- a double white variety in the front garden and an apricot flowering variety on the western fence.

Two things to look out for in the front garden, are the quirky succulent-thatched letter box, and the huge river redgum which is over 200 years old. Lynda has gone to great lengths to keep this magnificent landmark tree viable, and it’s appreciated by many, including the wood ducks, which find very satisfactory nesting places in its huge canopy.

2025_Gardens, News, Showgarden2

Jerry Scelzi and Andrew Murray.

“Hillgrove”,  3 Moggs Lane, Bombira.

Author: Jane Munro.

Ramble, explore and rediscover a venerable Mudgee garden.

Hillgrove, at 3 Moggs Lane, Bombira, a grand 5 acre garden, is home to new owners, Jerry Scelzi and Andrew Murray, who’ve been working  to enhance the existing garden, putting their personal stamp on selected areas whilst maintaining the integrity of the original highly successful design.

Hidden behind the 600m perimeter of hedged photinias, the curved driveway leading to the house is bordered by shaped shrubs and towering trees. Winding pathways, leading through open spaces and densely planted beds, lead down-slope from the eucalypt-scented native and protea gardens to a formal rose garden, and beyond.

The rose garden contains over 100 mature, fragrant plants and is surrounded by a buxus hedge. Dotted all around are tall trees- including bunya pine, Himalayan cedar, oaks, swamp cypress, and golden elm.

Elegant sculptures and ornaments are scattered sparingly throughout.

Below the house, a watercourse cascades down to an iris-fringed pond- Jerry’s “dreaming place”. Blue wrens and honeyeaters are frequent visitors to this part of the garden.

Meticulous design work has gone into the new, formal vegetable garden, which has a perfect-north orientation. Raised beds have steel edging, designed by Jerry. There’s a bountiful variety of stone and berry fruits- nectarines, apricots, plums, peaches, raspberries, redcurrants. Arbours are adorned with climbing and tumbling fruits and flowers- kiwiberry, passionfruit, rose and clematis.

The new owners have created a more formal orchard in the north-eastern corner, and a chicken run has also been added.

Camellias, advanced maples and rhododendrons abound, and there’s a lovely maple walk, underplanted with a bank of forget-me-nots.

The native garden is centred around a row of sugar gums planted by the original owner. Birds love this place, with eastern rosellas regularly taking up temporary residence in the nest boxes. Expect to see big sweeps of bottle brushes flowering in October, along with wattles, grevilleas, melaleucas and callistemons.

2025_Gardens, News, Showgarden

Jeff and Michelle McQuiggin.

“Drumlough”, 463 Queens Pinch Rd, Spring Flat.

Author: Jane Munro.

360 degrees of delightful gardens and spectacular views.

Perched on a ridge-top, Michelle’s and Jeff’s property has several dams, thanks to its former use as a fish farm. As a result, black swans, ibis, kingfishers, ducks and other water birds are frequently in residence. One dam is filled with lotus plants. Well established eucalypts on the lower level, near the dams, create a picturesque vista.

The orchard contains espaliered apples and pears, peaches, plums, figs, cherries, apricots and nectarines.

A deeply curved bed in front of the house on the eastern side is filled with buddleias, magnolia varieties, mays, and ornamental pears.

An archway overlooking the dam to the northeast is bordered by crepuscule roses and Chinese pistachio trees, with many lavenders, and bearded iris borders.

There’s a wonderful, highly productive berry patch, with sylvan berries and loganberries- Michelle says “We get so many berries, we freeze heaps, and eventually we just don’t bother to pick them.” Nearby, there are terraced vegetable beds, and bee hives.

The formal rose bed is abuzz with bees in the pink and white blossomed rose varieties, the underplanted catmint, and the carpet of dichondra varieties.

The north-facing verandah is shaded in summer by an ornamental grape. Down from the house, the north slope is dotted with prolifically fruiting citrus and deciduous ornamentals.

There’s a delightful potting shed, built as a covid project. I think it’s really too lovely, to sully it with the messy business of potting!

Unusually for our area, there’s 10 year-old jacaranda. The secret to its success is the use of haybales for protection in winter, when the tree was small.

In various locations around the house, pot plants have been clustered in sunny spots under deciduous trees.

The 360 degree views out over the surrounding landscape to the encircling hills beyond, is unforgettable, and uplifting to the spirits.

2025_Gardens, News, Showgarden

Virginia and Doug Moffat.

A spectacular native garden created by a peerless gardener.

Author: Jane Munro.

18 Macquarie Drive, Mudgee.

Australian native plant enthusiasts will love the Moffatt garden with its carefully curated trees and shrubs, and charming ceramic sculptures and water features also created by Virginia.  The garden’s success is the result of diligence and hard work. An outstanding garden such as this requires dedication: tireless soil improvement, research, experimentation, the embracing of self-seeding and other propagation techniques, and the combination of Australian natives with exotics. Soil improvement through mulching remains an on-going focus, supplemented by a selection of suitable fertilisers.

Favourite native plant varieties include various eremophilas, hakeas, kangaroo paws, grevilleas (including winter-flowering varieties, generally planted in groups of 3 or more), correas, eucalypts (red- and white-flowering), and a wonderful grove of banksias which form a backdrop to a sensational selection of salvias.

The unusual colours of some of the natives’ flowers are striking against their often silvery foliage. In spring, expect to see sprays of native orchid buds, new, bright green fronds of birds nest ferns and kangaroo paws, popping out of the earth everywhere.

Virginia works tirelessly in her garden every day. She says “I don’t want the garden to look its age. It has an aging attendant, but I keep the garden constantly changing.” There’s a big emphasis on on-site plant propagation. Birdsnest ferns, elkhorns and staghorns are propagated from spores. Tree fern suckers are chopped off with an axe and planted out. Banksias, mallees and a host of other natives are allowed to self-seed and the sprouts nurtured to produce the next generation.

It’s lovely to see the native plants thriving side by side and harmonising with the exotic ornamentals. Light and shade are beautifully balanced in this garden, enabling a variety of plants to flourish and bloom beneath the canopy of stately eucalypts. This has been carefully planned because, as Virgina says, “I love gardens with plants you can see through.”

2025_Gardens, News, Showgarden2

Linda and Bruce Wilson.

“Springdale”, 1313 Ulan Rd, Budgee Budgee.

Author: Jane Munro.

.History speaks to the future in a tranquil haven

Springdale, on Ulan Road, has a rich history, and the current owners have enhanced and sympathetically added to the original historic house and garden, to create a welcoming home and peaceful country haven, which speak of their great affection and devotion to the property.

Three very large white cedars, laden in springtime with the fragrant, lilac-coloured blossoms, stand at the entrance to the new section of the house. Their canopy dapples the sunlight on the lawn and adjacent verandah, which is edged by neat box hedging, enclosing a pair of Japanese maples with vivid, burgundy-coloured foliage, flanked by standard white iceberg roses. Underplantings in circular dry-stone beds below the cedars are full of flowers and foliage, notably windflowers, roses, acanthus, delightful lemon and white aquilegias and white foxgloves, with seaside daisies and dichondra spilling over the edge.

Adjacent to the house there’s a neat, compact kitchen garden with herbs and vegetables in containers, and a trellis of fragrant pink sweet peas.

Further from the house, garden beds give way to featured trees, with more box hedges containing shrubs and annuals. Occasional sculptures and vintage items evoking the property’s history- a lawn roller, a burnished milk can, an old, rusty decorative garden gate- form points of interest.

There’s a pretty group of young silver birches, and a sturdy old iron farm gate, opening onto an avenue of cypresses.

A nostalgic atmosphere hangs in the air near some disused stables. Here, grape trellises from a small, long-gone, home vineyard, are now graced with climbing pink roses, calling to mind previous owners’ hopes and dreams. A grand old pepper tree complements the rural vista to the east.

As the lawn gives way to paddock grasses and eucalypts, raked windrows of leafy fallen gum tree branches have been used to establish bed boundaries in a newly established native garden- the soft hues of grey and russet brown pleasantly harmonious with the surrounding bushland trees and shrubs.

2023_Gardens

Gora and Ellie Singh-Mann

Gem Manor- a grand vision nestled in the hills.

39 Hill Sixty Drive, Mudgee

Author: Jane Munro

Gem Manor’s garden is on a large scale, starting with 2 rows of poplars along each side of the driveway, flanked by rows of ornamental pears and prunus. Many broad beds feature cypress, roses, lavender and iris. A lake with views to Mount Frome has a graceful pavilion and a pagoda, surrounded by formal gardens with many weeping cherries, roses and gazanias. Fish jump and water birds circle lazily overhead. The breeze carries the tinkle of wind chimes and the powerful fragrance of hundreds of roses. A new native garden features gorgeous lemon scented gums, callistemons and dramatic rock features.

The residence houses a remarkable display of art works- paintings, sculptures and ceramics, collected from 170 countries and a huge collection of Aboriginal Desert acquired over 40 years, including significant works by artists from Papunya, Broken Hill and the Central West. Blue Mountains artist David Hill’s colourful landscapes are well represented. There’s room after room filled with exotic lamps and glass sculptures, rich Chinese tapestries, ornaments and furnishings and ancient porcelain. A must-see for anyone with an interest in painting and the decorative arts.

Please note that there is an additional $5 charge for an optional visit to the house internal art collection at the Singh-Mann Garden, payable at house entrance. 

2023_Gardens

Tom and Sharon McMahon

Chemical-free market garden on small acreage showcases smart designs

953 Spring Flat Road, Spring Flat

Author: Jane Munro

Tom and Sharon have lived at their 10Ha property since 2005. In 2014 they made the decision to become market gardeners. Initially selling their chemical-free produce at local markets, the decision was soon made to diversify by using their surpluses to create small batches of chutneys, relishes, pickles and jams. These delicacies they now sell at a small shop on-site, as well as at the markets.

The property is situated on the north-facing slop with views towards Mount Knowles. In addition to their raised vegetable beds, there are also sheep, alpaca and chickens.

In the vegetable gardens they grow garlic, herbs, brassicas, silver beet, root vegetables, lettuce, beans, zucchini, pumpkins, cucumbers, tomatoes and asparagus. Being chemical-free, they use companion planting and natural remedies to control pests including fruit fly. Caterpillars are removed by hand.

Tom and Sharon have developed a great understanding of how to manage a property of this size and will share their wealth of information and lessons learned from their experiences in scheduled talks and farm walks over the Gardens of Mudgee weekend. As well as information about plants and soil, you’ll learn about efficient watering, versatile garden bed and infrastructure construction, smart ways of reducing unnecessary labour and minimising cost of equipment, fencing and many other gems of information.

2023_Gardens

John McCrea

Rewilding creates a haven for wildlife and humans

18 Wiradjuri Close, Putta Bucca

Author: Jane Munro

Entering John McCrea’s property at 18 Wiradjuri Close, Putta Bucca via an avenue of claret ash, the extensive lawn areas with established deciduous trees and broad beds of flowering perennials reveal enticing secluded pathways and pleasing vistas. The house block is bordered by tall hedges of photinia and honeysuckle, and an avenue of pines. Around the perimeter of the block’s 5 acres, John has planted hundreds of native trees- particularly casuarinas and callistemons. The birds love this garden, with 125 species recorded over 23 years.

John’s garden reflects his dedication to conservation and love of wildlife. Shrubs such as buddleia, grevillea and callistemon attract and provide safe refuges for small birds and butterflies. Fallen branches are sometimes left in situ to encourage organisms essential for healthy soil. In spring the lawn area blooms over months with several varieties of naturalised golden daffodils, flowering in waves over the season.

Bird baths and nest boxes attract Striated Pardalotes, Eastern Rosellas and King Parrots for breeding. A romantic style garden close to the house features iceberg roses, and a magnificent display of cannas. You may see Eastern Spinebills hovering as they sip nectar from the salvia flowers, or Superb Blue Wrens splashing in the bird bath. Several varieties of finches provide entertainment as they feed from the elegant bird feeder which John designed and built.

John created a rewilded mini wetland by excavating into a low-lying area and planting a few casuarinas and callistemons around the perimeter. Over 20 years, visiting water birds have brought in species including cumbungi, phragmites, swamp lily, cyperus and spiny rush on their feet. These are all now flourishing in this thriving, rewilded aquatic ecosystem.

2023_Gardens

Anne and David Knight

A garden for all moods and seasons

3 Stockmans Drive, Mudgee

Author: Jane Munro

The front section of the Knights’ acre of garden on Stockmans Drive makes a statement. Its manicured circular lawn is surrounded by uncluttered, open, well-mulched beds. These beds are dotted with spherical and ovoid shapes of topairied variegated euonymus interspersed with clumps of liriope, and roses (Iceberg and Seduction, bush and standard) around a central water feature. Pencil cypresses and prostrate conifers grow along the eastern boundary. From here there’s a relaxing view across Mudgee to the western hills.

At the rear of the block is an extensive, less formal park-like expanse of garden, The theme of well clipped shrubs (including a beautiful weeping rosemary, salvias and mays) continues here. There’s also an abundance of flourishing groundcovers, shrubs and perennials which soften the overall effect and provide interesting detail in every direction. In between the garden beds there are broad areas of lush green lawn. There are many varieties of trees but some standouts are the prunus, ginkgo, cypress and crabapple. The selection of groundcovers includes seaside daisy, lambs ears, scabiosa and buttercups.

There’s also a secluded section of the garden shaded by a golden ash, which has some surprises- cunjevoi and aspidistra, as well as columbines, more buttercups and ivy. This garden provides a place to be for quiet contemplation, for enjoyment of nature’s diversity or the appreciation of the grandeur of the Mudgee landscape.

2023_Gardens

Cherie and David Boland

Elegant landscape created by trees and hedging

30 Tinja Lane, Putta Bucca.

Author: Jane Munro

Cherie and David Boland’s garden is an elegant landscape of vistas and hidden places. Skilled design and unrelenting dedication to trialling and identifying the best plants for their block’s soil and microclimate, are the foundations for this garden’s success.

Curvaceous, sweeping lines of clipped hedges, avenues and groves of trees entice the visitor to explore the garden, moving from one beautifully designed area to the next, each with its own character and plant selection. Many of the plants are clipped into spherical or ovoid shapes and these are equally at home in the formal gardens as in the more free-flowing, informal areas.

You will see poplars, maples, casuarinas, silver elms, willows, Forest Pansy, Magnolia grandiflora, Viburnums, and delicate variegated pittosporums.

Accepting that some favourite plants won’t prosper in their garden’s microclimate, alternatives have been planted with great success. Simonii poplars thrive in place of silver birches and there’s a naturalistic grove of them, underplanted with ivy and graced with an elegant central sculpture. Avenues of ornamental pear varieties look stunning and bloom in succession to produce a long flowering season. Hedges and trees are selected for low maintenance- Gleditsia, groves of Acer rubrum “October glory” and casuarina. The great variety of plants and the stunning sculptures and outdoor features (including a spectacular sculptural firepit) will inspire everyone.