The Garden

Bountiful throughout the year, the gardens surrounding Chestnut Farm Cottage are established yet ever evolving, a real labour of love. Very loosely designed as a series of “outdoor rooms”, they have much in common with English cottage gardens, being blessed by Stanley’s cool climate and generous rainfall. We have a philosophy of “letting the garden go”, allowing plants to self-seed and prosper in their chosen environment (although we occasionally provide some discouragement where necessary).

We’re set high in the foothills of the Victorian Alps, in a forest and fruit-growing area that enjoys obvious seasonal contrast. Spring is heralded by the appearance of bulbs in their hundreds, as well as blossom on the thousands of fruit trees – mainly apples, cherries and pears – that dot the valley. Rhododendrons, camellias and irises also start to put on a display that lasts over a couple of months.

The scents become stronger as the season continues: jasmine, lilac and honeysuckle are joined by the spectacular bouquet of roses as they burst into bloom after winter. We have well over a hundred of them, a mix of old-fashioned cottage varieties and David Austins, and they continue to flower long into summer and autumn accompanied at various times by valerian, columbines, honesty, forget-me-nots and saxifrage.

With summer come other cottage garden favourites such as poppies, cornflowers, lilies, love-in-a-mist, clematis, foxgloves, hollyhocks and lupins. Native plants like hebes and grevilleas cloak themselves in pink blossom and the herb garden goes into overdrive. The chestnuts are in flower too and it’s pleasant to sit out under the trees of an evening, allowing the honeyed scent of their blossom to wash over you and listening to the cicadas and birds in full chorus. You’ll see birds aplenty – parrots especially seem to love Stanley – and possibly some of our other “locals”: Walter, the resident echidna, families of brushtail and ringtail possums and the occasional wallaby that ventures in from the forests of the Dingle Range.

Autumn sees the landscape turn red, russet and gold as the tall trees change hue. It’s chestnut season and clear blue days provide the perfect backdrop to the annual harvest in which you are welcome to take part. We grow four main types of chestnut – the early Buffalo Queen, the enormous Red Spanish, delicious Purton’s Pride and the sweet De Coppi – and you can sample different ones to see which you like best. In the garden, the Japanese windflowers are a riot of mauve and pink and the effect is painterly.

With winter comes the delicate tracery of bare stems and boughs, particularly fine on the silver birches that are found on the property in profusion. Hollies put forth bright red berries to enliven the scene, whilst subtler tones are sketched by lavenders and hellebores. Towards August, violets appear and jonquils and snowdrops raise their heads; spring is starting again.

We’re constantly working to manage and develop the garden – it can be a bit of a handful! – but we’re sure that you’ll agree that it is well worth the effort. And all you’ll have to do during your stay is to relax and enjoy it.

www.chestnutfarmcottage.com.au

Chestnut Farm Cottage Stanley, 111 Myrtleford Road, Stanley VIC Australia 3747
T. +61 3 5728 6689 :: E. info@chestnutfarmcottage.com.au