Australia's Open Garden Scheme

Queensland Special Events

As well as our extensive and exciting program of open gardens, which can be found here, Australia's Open Garden Scheme also has an exciting range of Special Events throughout the year.
Some events require pre-booking and as numbers are strictly limited we urge you to book well ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

Dig in for Dinner with Jerry Coleby Williams
Wynnum

Sunday 9 August 2009
9.30am-3pm

Booking details:
Bookings are essential for these events as places are very limited.

Tickets $110.00 includes tour of garden, presentation, morning tea & lunch.

You can book online via our secure site here or phone (07) 3395 8919 during business hours..

Food, glorious organic food!

Join the affable and enthusiastic ABC TV gardening presenter Jerry Coleby-Williams for an exclusive tour of his garden at Wynnum, and discover some of the unusual food crops on which his household thrives. Then watch skilled chef Craig Evans transform produce fresh from the garden into your delicious lunch!

Learn about Bellis cottage's sustainable systems and see three beehives, one of native bees and two of honeybees.

Historical Society Garden
Bundall

Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 August
(No bookings required)

Amid the skyscrapers and bustle of downtown Surfers Paradise, a small pocket of land preserves and showcases the flora which originally covered the whole area.

Its custodians, a group of resourceful volunteers, have created a garden surrounding beautiful old quinine trees and century-old littoral rainforest trees growing on sand. Explore the museum, pioneer buildings and historic farm machinery set among coastal flowering heath, banksia woodland, natives and fernery.

Horticulturalist Kate Heffernan and other native plant experts will give informative talks on coastal gardens at 11 am, 1pm & 3pm. Also on display will be quilts made by talented Gold Coast stitchers.

Address: 8 Elliot St, Bundall
Directions: UBD Brisbane-Gold Coast 39:F11
Open: 10am-4.30pm. $6.00, no charge for children under 18

Successful Integration at Emaho
Ravensbourne

Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 October
(No bookings required)

Emaho - Tibetan for 'how wonderful' - is the dream project of James and Barbara McGeoch, innovative horticultural exporters.

Set in the fertile hills of Ravensbourne, just north of Toowoomba, and enjoying sylvan views over rows of farmed trees, their well-designed young garden includes extensive hedging and plants selected for seasonal performance.

In talks at 10.30am, noon, 1.30pm and 3pm, Barbara will address the perennial challenge for many Australian gardeners: how to successfully integrate exotics and natives. This will be followed by a demonstration from tree farm manager Nigel Sisson on tree removal, transfer and care.

Address: 501 Ravensbourne Dip Rd, Ravensbourne
Directions: From Toowoomba travel N on New England Hwy to Hampton & turn right into Esk Rd; travel 10.5 km & turn left into Post Office Rd; travel 2 km to crossroad, veer left into Ravensbourne Dip Rd
Open: 10am-4.30pm. $6.00, no charge for children under 18

Yesterday's Treasures, Living Pleasures
Brisbane

Wednesday 21 October

Booking details:
Bookings are essential for these events as places are very limited.

Tickets $110.00 includes accompanied coach tour, morning tea & picnic lunch.

You can book online via our secure site here or phone (07) 3395 8919 during business hours.

Enjoy a day of discovery through Brisbane's south-west including delectable morning tea and lunch on our always popular Gardens, Art & History tour.

Amongst several intriguing destinations is the beautifully maintained historic family home Gnulla and the Federation villa Ross Roy at St Peters, Indooroopilly. Nestled beside the brewery in Milton are eight hidden acres where many stately original trees surround the impressive Bishopsbourne and a unique Robin Dods chapel. Bishopsbourne was designed by Benjamin Backhouse and built in 1868 as the residence for Edward Tufnell, first Anglican Bishop of Brisbane.

Details of our summer & autumn program of Special Events will be released in mid-November