Welcome to Rosedown

BEAUTIFUL Rosedown garden in New Norfolk will be open to the public this weekend. This romantic garden surrounding an 1840s riverside cottage is a long-time participant in Australia's Open Garden Scheme and owners Ian and Brenda Triffitt will welcome visitors this Saturday and Sunday.

Mrs Triffitt said the garden was not the result of a rigidly planned development. “It was made in my heart rather than my head. It just evolved over the years as more space was needed for yet more roses, trees and perennials, that we had seen in other people’s gardens, in nurseries or in catalogues,” she said.

The couple’s love affair with roses began after they bought Rosedown in 1985. Back then it consisted of a riverside cottage set against towering eucalypts. Now, hundreds of stunning roses including heritage, David Austin and Alister Clark cultivars fill this large garden, which also has a beautiful backdrop of fine specimen trees and vine-covered arbours. Plants are grown for their decorative quality, such as colour, scent and foliage, rather than any strictly controlled colour scheme.

“The majority of the trees are deciduous,” Mr Triffitt said. “The masses of autumn leaves are used as mulch along with shredded prunings, compost and manures which cuts down on watering in the summer.” Many of the trees have been planted to mark special occasions such as marriages of children, births of grandchildren, wedding anniversaries and the passing of loved ones. “In designing and planting the garden we have gained in knowledge, skills and confidence and met and made many friends along the way,” Mrs Triffitt said. “It gives us great happiness to share it with like-minded people.”

Rosedown is at 134 Hamilton Rd (Lyell Hwy), New Norfolk and it will be open from 10am-4.30pm on November 10-11. Admission is $7 (under 18s free).