CHINOISERIE
This garden (1.25 acres.) features a spring time display of over 100 varities of peonies - Chinese, Japanese, European and American Tree Peonies and herbaceous borders which flower from spring through to late autumn.
Chinoiserie is a very colourful plant collector's garden which will bring much pleasure to all those who visit. It features many rare and unusual plants, and it is a very good example of many years of passionate hard work from a bare block.
The site had nothing on it when the garden was commenced, just a sloping block leading to a creek at the bottom end of the property.
The house was completed in March 1999. It is a Storybook cottage which includes a small B & B which has become very popular with guests from Sydney and overseas.
Large collection of peonies.
We have a large peony collection, many tree peonies - mudan -and some herbaceous ones. Chinese and Japanese tree peonies will be in flower mid September to mid October.
European and American tree peonies will be in flower mid October to early November.
Herbaceous peonies flower from early to late November.
Potager Garden.
There is also a potager garden hedged with hidcote lavenders and within the hedging vegetables (cabbages, lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, artichokes) and herbs grow together. Nearby are two espaliered apple trees.
Alpine Garden.
An alpine garden has been developed and plants here include lewisas, pasque flower and some small alpine plants.
Herbaceous Borders.
There are three large herbaceous borders with lots of strong colours combining textures and contrasting leaf shapes and here the visitor will find penstemons, salvias, centauras, euphorbias, alstromerias, verbascums, cannas, verbenas and many other beautiful plants.
Due to the large borders, large or gigantic perennials are also in place, for example melianthus, romenya, tree dahlias, stipa giantea and foxtail lillies.
Water Garden
There is an extensive water feature with two ponds and a stream between. This attracts a lot of wildlife from around the Highlands.
The planting on the side of the stream uses plants that like the moist conditions such as astibles and hostas.
Woodland Garden.
There has been a large number of trees planted on the property and beyond the bridge over the stream a woodland garden is being developed. In the future, the canopy of the trees will provide suitable plantings of rhododendrons, azalias and bluebells.
When to visit.
The garden in general is at its peak late October/early November, and with colourful displays in autumn. (Days of opening available so far listed at right. Spring dates to follow.)
Opening time: 10.00am to 4.30pm. Other times by appointment only.
Entry fee is $7 per person or $6 seniors and groups by appoitment. There are special Peony Weekends in October when the peonies are at their best. Peonies and rare plants for sale.
Car parking is available in Webb Street. Coaches should drop off then move further down the street.
How to get there:
From the Visitors Information Centre, Main Street, Mittagong, turn into Fitzroy Street (alongside the Grand Country Lodge). Take the next left over the railway bridge and go straight ahead past Frensham and Sturt Gallery.
Follow Range Road up the hill and take the first street on the left. Chinoiserie is half way down the hill on the right hand side. (Link to road map at right.)
