Written by Jennifer Edwards (Hartvale Gardens) and Stephen Vella (Wild Meadows)
The owners of the four fabulous acreage gardens of Highfields, Hartvale, Gory’u and Wild Meadows invite you to feel great as you wander through the flowers in their wonderful gardens this Autumn. The much anticipated Hartley Valley Garden Festival is back! Mark your calendar’s for Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, from 10am to 4pm both days.
Flowers are often used as a metaphor for life. They represent growth, change, and the beauty that can be found in even the most challenging of circumstances. According to science, when we see flowers, two chemicals are released into our brain. Induced by the fragrance of flowers, Oxytocin is a chemical that makes us feel happy and can even trigger a sense of love. Flowers are also known to trigger the flow of serotonin to the brain – a chemical that is known to directly affect a person’s mood and sense of well-being. But gardeners and garden lovers don’t need science to tell us this.
If you’re like me, when I wander through colourful flowers, I sense joy all around me. There’s a feeling of wonder and whimsy that comes as you stroll through beautiful gardens; the involuntary gasp of pleasure that comes when stumbling upon a dinner plate sized dahlia, the tapestry of intertwined flowers in a cottage garden and the feeling of awe when experiencing the perfection of a rose. The way sunlight shines through delicate petals and the dance of tall stems waving in the breeze lighten the mind, relaxing tired shoulders and bringing grins to faces. The many tones of green in a garden stimulate a deep sense of peace and an appreciation of beauty. Gardens simply make you feel good.
As the season calls, visiting gardens is a pleasure with stunning crisp days and sunny weather bringing on the Autumn vibes. This year these four large and very diverse gardens will showcase the beauty and colour of early autumn. From vibrant flowering perennials and annuals in a myriad of colours, water features, rustic buildings and sensational mountain and valley views, each garden offers something very special. Visitors can enjoy sweeping borders of meadow style gardens, cottage gardens brimming with a riot of colour, large scale country landscapes and a delightful array of plants such as asters, echinaceas, cannas, zinnias, roses, dahlias and salvias.
Each garden has its own entry fee (no booking required, just pay at each gate) with free admission for kids. Alongside the open gardens, the festival will also feature interesting speakers, (Mary Moody is speaking at Hartvale Gardens on Sunday 9th March at 11am), artisan and plant stalls, artwork, delicious morning and afternoon teas and lunch options. The garden owners will be on site for any of your gardening questions.
If you’re seeking the pleasure that only a beautiful garden can give, join us for the art of feeling good at the Hartley Valley Garden Festival in March.
Search Hartley Valley Garden Festival for all the details.
