Family garden day this Sunday

TWO of the Derwent Valley's most beautiful and interesting private gardens will be open for the public to visit between 10am and 4.30pm this Sunday, November 16 through the Alcorso Foundation's popular Family Garden Day program.

• Valleyfield, Hamilton Rd, New Norfolk
• Meadowbank, 652 Meadowbank Rd, Glenora

Entry costs $7.50 per garden. Accompanied children aged under 12 will be admitted free. Picnics welcome. An exclusive special edition wine by winemaker Julian Alcorso will be available for purchase on the day.  All proceeds from the Sunday Garden Visits go towards the Alcorso Foundation’s humanitarian education awards. More information is available from www.alcorso.org.au

"Valleyfield", Hamilton Rd (Lyell Highway) New Norfolk. 800m from the New Norfolk Bridge towards Hamilton on the left hand-side, "Valleyfield’s" three-hectare garden spreads from the main road to the edge of the waters of the Derwent River. It includes oaks, chestnuts, cedars and maples. Many of these trees are more than a century old. The coach house, stables and oast house will be open to visitors. There is rose walk to the river and a garden featuring a parterre and espaliered pears and crab apples. The house was licensed as an inn in 1822. Bring a picnic and enjoy your lunch in the garden overlooking the river or in the courtyard under the trees.

"Meadowbank", 652 Meadowbank Rd, Glenora. Meadowbank Rd is a gravel road on the right hand side of the Gordon River Rd 2km past Glenora District High School on the road to Westerway and Mt Field National Park. "Meadowbank" lies at the end of Meadowbank Rd (about 7 km from the turnoff).  The Victorian sandstone house (1873) is set in a beautiful garden adjoining the vineyard with stunning views over the Derwent River.  Several original trees remain, including a mulberry, pear and a snakebark elm. There is also a century old wisteria which frames the side veranda. The current garden, mainly planted from 1980, is reaching maturity and follows the plan of the original garden. It features low sandstone walls creating terraced lawns and garden beds following the contours of the land. Many roses, rhododendrons, camellias, and other perennial plants and shrubs mingle happily together in this large country garden.