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The Glen Derwent Gardens
(Click images for enlargements)
Evidence in the gardens of Glen Derwent suggest that at some time in its life, Glen Derwent has had one or more keen and knowledgeable gardeners working to create its distinct “English” style.
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Many of the trees and conifers are very old, and at any time of the year it is a great delight just to wander along the paths and enjoy an Australian Colonial garden now very mature and full of "atmosphere". After nearly 200 years of cultivation the rich dark soil of the Derwent River flats is a gardener's delight. The massive white wisteria is well over 100 years old and it blooms at the same time as the large Tamarisk tree, setting a back drop of brilliant pink to the white racemes of the wistera. There are roses in abundence, Old Fashioned, David Austin and Alister Clark. The old grass tennis court, (now a croquet lawn), is bounded on one side by a very high clipped box hedge, and on another side by masses of old fashioned climbing roses.
We garden organically here, and the birdlife is prolific. Spring and early summer are times of much activity in the garden, and full of interest for the keen bird watcher.
The BBQ facilities and outdoor dining table look directly onto a lovely garden scene where you could imagine you are transported to a garden in England.
Even the bumble bees oblige as they flit from one tempting flower to another!
This is of course the setting that the early settlers wanted to reproduce. They unfortunately were not able to enjoy it at its maturity, --- this pleasure is now reserved for visitors to Glen Derwent's garden some 200 years later than its first plantings.
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