If you’ve read the novel ‘The Secret Garden’, written over 100 years ago, you can imagine the magic of having a clandestine outdoor space known only to you. Anne and Mark Ward decided to share their ‘secret garden’ over the weekend, with 250 people attending the Open Garden Rose Information Afternoon at their home, ‘Gayton’. The events guest speaker was Luke Gordon, the owner of Eureka Plants, who specialise in growing roses. Luke moved from Queanbeyan to Canowindra this year and loves the rural surrounds of this area, greeting each new arrival of plants with a “welcome to paradise”. The afternoon raised around $2500 for the Canowindra Garden Club. “We hope to spend the money in Morris Park, with the help of the Council” says Anne. The Garden Club has monthly meetings and promotes a love of all things horticultural. The garden at Gayton, on Rivers Road, is 46 years old. It was created from scratch by Anne and Mark when they moved here in 1969. “When we moved here there was nothing, the wheat came right up to the front veranda. I started to acquire knowledge of gardening and now it’s filled with plants, trees and lawns” says Anne. The huge garden is also home to a fairy ring for the grandchildren. “It gives us pleasure to share our garden” says Anne and Mark. It’s a privilege to be allowed to see it.
By Rhi Quinn