GARDEN DESIGNFEST 2012

Major Sponsor – Your Garden Magazine

GDF is extremely proud to have Your Garden Magazine as its major sponsor. Your Garden’s continuing support since 2004 represents a proud association where beautiful gardens, inspiration and knowledge are shared with the gardening public.

Patron - John Patrick

Landscape architect and TV presenter John Patrick, who helped initiate Garden DesignFest and continues as Patron, said the event provided a unique opportunity for garden lovers, not only to see the best contemporary designs, but also to meet leading designers in gardens designed by them. For home gardeners, this insight into a designer’s ability to work with architecture, streetscape, levels, site specific limitations and opportunities, client needs etc., is invaluable and quite different from experiencing a ‘show garden’ designed purely for display.

Building on success

Mike McFarlane, President of the Rotary Club of Kew, said past events had been a remarkable success with nearly $200,000 raised for local and international charities. ‘Garden DesignFest has been eagerly anticipated by garden lovers from all over Australia – already we have 2012 bookings from as far as Western Australia and even New Zealand. In fact, New Zealanders are so taken with the GDF concept that the inaugural “Auckland Garden DesignFest” took place in November 2011.”

The Gardens and Designers

Assistant volunteer co-ordinator, Jenny Wade, who has helped to organise the event since its inception, is impressed with the ability of GDF to continually attract landscape design professionals of the highest calibre. Many designers, such as Paul Bangay, Rick Eckersley, Robert Boyle, Phillip Johnson, Steve Taylor and Ian Barker, will participate for their fifth consecutive year, showing their support for the event and actively helping to raise money for those who need it. ‘It’s also very exciting to have many first time participants in 2012, such as Nathan Burkett, Fiona Brockhoff, Andrew Plymin, Paul Pritchard and Karen Sutherland, each showcasing their own unique style and philosophy of landscape design.’

‘For gardeners, this represents an amazing window in a single weekend to view 25 professional gardens throughout Melbourne’s north, east and bayside suburbs. With a variety of sizes and styles, from contemporary to traditional, aspirational to achievable, formal to free-flowing, industrial to naturalistic, rambling to intimate, there is certainly something for everyone.’

Unique to Garden DesignFest, ‘All designers will again be on hand in their respective gardens to talk with visitors, explain design processes and give advice’, confirmed Jenny. Added highlights include sausage sizzles, freshly brewed coffee, refreshments and plant sales at some of the gardens.

 

Opening hours and tickets

Garden opening hours are 10.00am to 5.00pm daily. Entry to all gardens is $35 and includes a full colour comprehensive Guidebook. Tickets are available online from August 2012 or at garden gates on the open days. Single garden entry is $8 per garden, available at garden gates only (see website for garden addresses). Guided bus tours to a selection of the gardens are offered on both days of the open weekend, with renowned gardening identities Michael McCoy (Saturday tour) and Stephen Ryan (Sunday tour) volunteering their time as tour guides. See website for details.

Local and International Charities

Delighting patrons in previous years is the fact that all funds raised will be donated directly to selected local and international charities, including The Alola Foundation (assisting women in East Timor), Camcare, Family Life (supporting local families under stress), Rotary Health (contributing to ovarian cancer research), Interplast (providing surgery and health services in Asia Pacific and developing countries), Lille Fro Foundation (breaking the cycle of worldwide generational poverty), Sumba Eye Programs and other Rotarian charitable endeavours.

The Rotary Club of Kew

The Rotary Club of Kew is the proud organiser of the event with its members and others volunteering their time and energy to ensure its success. The costs associated with running this event are generously donated by our sponsors and supporters.

Contact details

For further details, garden descriptions/images and ticketing information please visit www.gardendesignfest.com