By MELISSA MEEHAN
THE memory of her loving husband is the reason Val Jackson keeps her garden beautiful.
But it’s the things she learnt from him that spurs her to open her garden as part of the Open Gardens Australia Scheme.
“Don was a horticulturist/nurseryman and his knowledge was complete,” Val said.
“He taught me all I know and I open this in his memory.”
Her English style romantic cottage garden, The Nook, is full of roses, perennials, camellias, climbers, shrubs and trees.
“The garden is my passion and has been wonderful therapy since losing Don five and a half years ago,” she said.
“We both always wanted to share the garden and knowledge with people.”
Opening her garden for the first time in winter on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July from 10am until 4.30pm, Val will be joined by Carol Ross from Fernhill in Kallista and Craig Wilson from Gentiana in Olinda taking part in the series.
Entry to The Nook costs $7 with a percentage of the proceeds going to the Monbulk CFA.
The open gardens are at The Nook, 5 Tavistock Road, Monbulk, Fernhill, 4 Anderson Street, Kallista, Gentiana, 138 Olinda-Monbulk Road, Olinda.
