Enjoy a visit to Martindale, a peaceful country garden nestled into a hillside with superb views over the surrounding countryside, the Angus River flowing through the valley below and distant Strathalbyn. The garden looks down on an idyllic scene of paddocks dotted with Wiltipoll sheep bred on the property.
The owners Annie and Tom have thoughtfully planted the garden to create a haven for themselves and a welcoming home to a variety of birds, lizards and the odd kangaroo. Australian native plants provide food and shelter, birdbaths and shallow bowls are continuously topped up as a dependable water source and large rocks found on the property retain the sloping land and double as sunning spots for geckos and a number of other breeds of lizard. Twenty-five different birds including blue wrens, mistletoe birds, pardalotes and a very rare Gouldian finch have been sighted in the garden.
Annie has propagated many of the plants herself - eucalypts, callistemon, grevilleas, melaleucas, correas, banksias and fourteen varieties of eremophila create dense layered planting ideal for birds and small creatures. Grasses, including some indigenous to the area contrast beautifully with ground covers and low mounding plants like the silver leafed cushion bush and as well attract insects as a food source for birds that like to forage all year round.
Roses, mostly with flowers in rich sunset shades, several varieties of salvia, plectranthus and lavenders add colour and perfume as well as encouraging bees and butterflies.
A restful garden that visually and environmentally sits perfectly in the superb surrounding rural landscape.
Representatives from Birds SA will speak each day at 2pm on how to attract birds and wildlife to a garden.
Really Useful Pots will be selling garden art in the form of pretty ceramic birds
Entrance fee $10, Concessions $8
Please see www.opengardensa.org.au for further details
