PROFILE: ALOWYN GARDENS & NURSERY
The realisation of a dream at Alowyn Gardens and Nursery By Matt Ross Situated in Yarra Glen in the heart of the fertile Yarra Valley, a visit to NGIV members Alowyn Gardens and Nursery is a real treat. Whether you’re there to explore the seven acres of gardens, stock up on plants from the nursery, enjoy lunch with friends at the maple courtyard café, attend one of their horticultural workshops, or perhaps your tying the knot amongst the wisteria archway; it’s a one stop shop for curious plant lovers. I sat down with owners Prue and John Van de Linde (pictured below right) to understand more about the journey they’ve gone on and what inspired them to realise their dreams. The idea of creating a large public garden came to John in 1978 when he visited the world-famous Butchart Gardens in Canada. In 1997 John and Prue were living in an apartment in Box Hill, and after a couple of years of searching for just the right spot to start their garden, they found a former trotting stud within striking distance of Melbourne, offering the climate of four distinct seasons they wanted.
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In 1999, John started building the garden on weekends and spare moments around his landscaping business. His plan covered 1.6ha and a time frame of four years, it’s now been 22 years and covers closer to 3ha. The spine of the garden is a 100m-long arbour covered in wisteria and roses, with a sunken rose garden and classical fountain as the centrepiece, from which a series of separate areas unfold. Paths wind through the cool shade of the birch forest where 500 silver and river birch are underplanted with bulbs and irises.
