Three contrasting garden styles were on open public display on Saturday and Sunday on Mount Tamborine. Garden lovers from all over Australia attended the Tamborine Mountain Garden Club’s Winter Garden spectacular on this warm, bold, late winter’s day.
The Tamborine Mountain Garden Club has an annual program to highlight the amazing seasonality of the Mountain’s gardens. This winter program focussed on the early showings of camellias, magnolias and the spectacular annual bulb displays.
Many of the trees and shrubs were also budding up; shaking off the winter cold as the longer, warmer days of spring begins the awakening our Mountain's deciduous trees.
Rosedale - A classic farmhouse garden with sweeping vistas
On Main Western Road and overlooking the escarpment are the six acre farmhouse gardens of Rosedale.
Trumpet Flowers at Rosedale
Perhaps the most typical of rural Tamborine Mountain garden in this winter group, Rosedale features wide expanses of orchards and rainforest trees. Closer to the house, “Pop’s Garden” was displaying an array of early vegetables which were doing very well.
A very showy creamy white Trumpet Flower display was just in its prime in a north facing vine and shrub plot overlooking the valley with its well tended orchard.
Rosedale vista towards the coast
Rosedale is justifiably famous for the park like expanse of trees and shrubs, which frame ponds and the extraordinary escarpment landscape.
Tour busses and private cars were well managed by the parking wardens, making access easy for the many larger parties that enjoyed the comfortable splendor that is Rosedale.
Trellaurel - Stunning micro gardens joined by covered walkways
In the centre of North Tamborine on Yuulong Street is a remarkable testament to the rewards of hard work and planning for the dedicated gardener.
Red and White Tulips
One of Trellaurel's many ponds and walkways
The grounds of Trellaurel are divided into series of small gardens beautifully framed and interlinked by pathways that invite exploration. Prostrate ground covers and small climbing plants sit at the foot of rock walls and banks and climbing up and spilling over to soften the native red volcanic rocks of Tamborine Mountain.
The most glorious white and red Tulips put on showy display that would make even the botanical gardens of Canberra envious, where the colder, frosty winter mornings make for easier growing of these expensive and spectacular flowers.
Petite but perfect Cactus Flowers
But for the skill of the gardener, these gorgeous sculptural tulips would not be here.
Tamborine Mountain Garden Club held a well attended stall at Trellaurel
As one walks to edge of Trellaurel, we can look out to see the fine farming land of the Tamborine Mountain . . . and then we turn back into the garden to witness the man guided beauty of a true gardener’s paradise with its covered walkways, canopies and subtle water features.
The Tamborine Mountain Garden Club had a well patronised garden stall in the centre of the garden where gardening tips and advice were generously shared.
Plants suitable for the local conditions could be purchased, with the funds aiding another Tamborine Mountains famous landmarks – the volunteer-maintained, Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens.
Tallaringa - Bringing the flavour of Tuscany to Tamborine Mountain
Leanne & Ben Gorden with daughters Ashleigh and Elise in a secluded camelia garden in Tallaringa
And so to Tallaringa, hidden away down a long gravel driveway off Long Road in North Tamborine. The Garden Club had planned a clever entrance to this 11 hectare garden by asking visitors to walk through two iconic Tamborine Mountain environments.
First was a walk down an un-made track through a vast Avocado orchard, where the dark tear-shapes of the ripening avocados dripped from the branches of healthy looking trees, which stood in long productive lines, as far as the eye could see.
Entry to the garden was via a remnant rainforest
Then, before we could approach the famous terraces of the Tallaringa gardens, there was a short journey through beautifully preserved rainforest remnant. Here thick Strangler Vines, twisted and gnarled, hang from the rainforest canopy seemingly with effortless tenacity.
Rainforest trees soared to the sky, heavily buttressed with roots that took you instantly to the lofty walls of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris held in place by flying buttresses of stone. Nature, it seems, had thought of this architectural and engineering technique first!
Tuscan fountain leading to the Gold Coast
Once through the quite stillness of the rainforest, the path opens up on a spectacular circular fountain in Tuscan yellow, which is framed by an avenue of trees that leads the eye to the abrupt precipitous escarpment that introduces the white towers of the Gold Coast into the landscape.
The cobalt blue sky of the late afternoon made this introduction to Tallaringa something that would make a lasting impression on even a well travelled tourist who had already visited the famed Italian landscapes of Umbria and Tuscany.
Secluded gardens with ponds surrounded by spectacular camellias where family groups like Ben and Leanne Gordon and their three children could rest for a moment; the girls picking up huge camellia flowers in rich pinks, colours which matched their dresses, much to their amusement.
Peaceful seating in a pavilion overlooking the Gold Coast
Ben and Leanne are related to the family that owns Rosedale, the first garden of our story.
And so we meandered our way through the gardens of Tallaringa. Overlooking the escarpment is an east facing pavilion with fine stone columns that offers tranquillity and a peaceful place to watch the sunset over the splashy gaudiness that is the Gold Coast, with a sense of detachment and peace.
A walk along those rocky edges of escarpment is next. A green guard rail adds a sense of security as you look down hundreds of feet below at the changing ecosystems of the rainforests as they have adapted to the various micro-climates found as we rise to the Tamborine Mountain plateaux.
Finally, to the residence at Tallaringa, where a welcoming kiosk was established by the Tamborine Mountain Slow Food group – under the guidance of Terri Taylor.
The enjoyment of coffee and well cooked local produce was enhanced by the spectacular magnolias that grow in this perfectly wondrous garden.