Daffodils were first planted at St Erth in the 1950’s. Today they number in the 10’s of 1000’s and carpet the lawn with a golden glow during September.
In summer, the perennial border showcases drought tolerant perennials.
The temperatures at St Erth can be extreme, with over 40 degrees in summer and snow in the winter. The plants in our borders need to stand up to harsh conditions.
During Diggers Harvest and Spring festival, Clive and Penny Blazey open their home to the public.
The architectural style has been called an imposing Gothic Revival, but inside the house is an intimate family home.
The Garden of St Erth is a cool climate garden and hellebores provide a welcome splash of colour in late winter into spring.
Shades of pink, white and plum are a welcome sight after the darkness of winter.
The Garden of St Erth
Secret gardens, delicious food, be inspired.
Simmons Reef Road,
Blackwood, VIC 3458.
Melways ref 909 E11.
Ph: 03 5368 6514 for garden, nursery, wedding and tour enquiries
Garden entry:
Free for Diggers Club members,
$10 per adult. Children under 16 free.
Garden and nursery open every day 9-5. Closed Dec 24-26 and Good Friday. Please note that The Garden of St Erth will be closed on Code Red and Extreme Fire warning days.
About the garden
The Garden of St Erth features an extraordinary range of espaliered fruit, heirloom vegetables and drought tolerant flowers. Thousands of naturalised daffodils carpet the lawns in September, and through the summer months the herbaceous border features Diggers perennials and grasses. The garden culminates in an extravagant display in March for our Autumn Festival. May marks the end of our gardening year with a blaze of autumn-coloured trees and late perennials.
Cocooned in the Wombat State Forest, the bush garden plays host to a variety of native birds, as well as being a place of restful contemplation. The natural spring of Koban's pool is a cool place to escape the summer heat.
“Absolutely delightful, enchanting...I left feeling inspired, uplifted and serene"- visitor feedback March 2013.
The Diggers Club is committed to sustainable gardening and visitors will find inspirational ideas for gardening organically, becoming more self-sufficient and saving precious water while still enjoying nature's bounty. We are continually refining the garden, looking towards a greener future. As the previous owner, Tommy Garnett, once wrote, "No garden is ever finished, for gardens are apt to be transitory creations". We hope you enjoy your visit to the Garden of St Erth.
History
In 1854 Matthew Rogers, a Cornish stonemason, left Sydney in pursuit of gold discovered near Mount Blackwood in Victoria. In the 1860s he built a sandstone cottage, naming it 'St Erth' after his birthplace in Cornwall.
Rogers attached a wooden building to the western end of his stone cottage which served as a post office and store. Behind it was a boot factory that formed part of a bustling town of 13,000 people.
His daughter Elizabeth and her husband Jim Terrill continued at the store, but as gold ran out, the wooden buildings of the town were moved to Trentham. For a time the house lay empty and the bush moved back in. Eventually it was bought by a group of Melbourne businessmen who called themselves the Simmons Reef Shire Council.
Weddings at St Erth
Enjoy the tranquil surrounds of the beautiful Garden of St Erth for a wedding to remember. Select your back-drop from our garden settings or historic St Erth cottage. Begin your day in a picturesque garden setting for your ceremony and photography. Follow with some light canapés and drinks in the garden surrounds and complete your occasion with a lovely reception in our new function room. Our menus utilise seasonal, regional produce from our gardens and the region.
What's on
May
26
Pruning berries
We all love picking home-grown berries, but to get a good, and manageable, crop, the plants have to be pruned. But not all berries are pruned the same way. Let our gardeners show you just how it’s done.
Jun
9
Making compost
Come along to our next workshop and let our passionate gardener Tim, walk and talk you through the simple steps to make beautiful, rich garden compost.
Jun
23
Growing potatoes
This workshop focuses on all the different ways that you can grow your own organic potatoes. You don't need acres and acres; just a backyard or small courtyard will supply and feed a family or couple for months.
Jul
14
Care of fruit trees in winter
At the workshop, we'll spend some time in our espalier orchard and run through orchard hygiene, fertilising, pruning and training, plus mulching, frost protection, repotting, and winter pest and disease management too.
