Spring will be putting on one of its prettiest shows in the Hartley Valley this October, with the Hartley Valley Garden Festival & Plant Fair returning for a colourful weekend of gardens, plants, food and plenty of inspiration.
Held on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October from 10am to 4pm, four spectacular privately owned acreage gardens will throw open their gates – Gory’u Japanese Gardens, 85 Baaners Lane; Hartvale, Sunray Avenue; Highfields, John Grant Drive; and Wild Meadows, Coxs River Road.
And this is much more than simply a chance to peek over the garden fence!
Visitors can make a day – or even a weekend – of it, wandering through four completely different garden styles while browsing plant and artisan stalls, with fresh flowers, basket weaving and garden sculpture among the attractions.
There will be plenty of opportunities to stop and refuel too, with morning and afternoon teas, sausage sizzles and BBQ options, or pack a picnic and find yourself a beautiful spot amongst the flowers and spectacular Hartley Valley views.
For those looking for a proper coffee or café-style lunch along the way, the popular Postmistress Cafe and Store at Hartley Historic Village will also be open across the weekend, making another great stop to add to the itinerary.
The four gardens each offer something completely different – from the tranquillity of Gory’u Japanese Gardens and the naturalistic planting of Wild Meadows, to Hartvale’s colourful cottage-style garden and the impressive Highfields.
Best of all, the gardens are located within around a five to ten-minute drive of each other, making it easy to explore all four.
Entry is $15 per person, per garden, with children under 16 free. No bookings are required – simply pay at each garden gate.
Grab your gardening mates, leave some room in the boot for a few new plants and enjoy a blooming great spring weekend in Hartley!
Image: Hartley Valley Garden Festival.
