A stroll through summer colours

By Tania Martin
TWO magnificent hills gardens will be opened to the public on the weekend.
Green thumbs have the opportunity to enjoy a garden full of colour or take a stroll through an unusual grass spiral maze.
Simon Gaythorpe of Olinda will open his garden for the third time as part of the scheme.
Mr Gaythorpe has transformed a 2.5 acre block of paddock into one of the most stunning gardens in the hills.
The garden features grass paths that lead to a wonderland of roses and colourful flowering perennials.
Mr Gaythorpe has also planted an interesting collection of shrubs and trees including magnolias, beeches and oaks, which create a shady place for various kinds of hydrangeas.
“I have always been a very keen gardener and I am interested in a variety of plants especially ones that aren’t commonly grown,” he said.
For the last 10 years Mr Gaythorpe has been creating and fine-tuning his garden.
“As a gardener you are always changing things and moving things around,” he said.
People can check out Mr Gaythorpe’s garden at 34 Fordyce Road in Olinda. John Rayner of Emerald will be opening his garden to the public for the first time.
His garden features silver foliage hedges as well as gates and fences that have been crafted from recycled materials such as twigs and old fence posts.
A feature of the garden is a magnificent spiral of grass that has been created from one grass plant.
He divided the plant into 300 pieces and planted in a circular patterned maze. People interested in seeing the grass spiral should check out the Rayner garden at 12 Charman Avenue in Emerald.
Both gardens will be open on Saturday 10 and Sunday, 11 February from 10am to 4.30pm and entry costs $5 per person and children are free.
Mr Gaythorpe will be donating money raised from the entry fee to the Olinda fire brigade, while Mr Rayner will donate money raised from the open garden to the Patch Primary School.
Both gardens are being opened to the public as part of the Australian Open Garden Scheme.
The scheme is a non-profit organisation, which promotes the knowledge and pleasure of gardening.
Each year the scheme opens the finest and most exciting private gardens across Australia to the public.