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One of Australia’s most beautiful country gardens

Saturday 19 November and Sunday 20 November saw the gates of Paul Bangay's property Stonefields, near Daylesford, swing wide. Paul kindly opened his garden to raise funds for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation.

Visitors were able to spend the day exploring Paul's seven acres of garden. Stonefields boasts terraced parterres, a ‘white' garden, blue perennial entrance borders, an apple walk, circular woodland garden, walled rose garden, rear terrace with sweeping country views, twin pool lawns and perennial borders, plus a thriving vegetable patch. The garden was looking absolutely beautiful.

A huge thank you to Paul Bangay for his generosity in opening his garden to thousands of people, enabling us to raise valuable funds and spread the word of the Kitchen Garden Foundation. Paul hosted a private tour of the garden on Sunday morning - tickets for this tour were in hot demand and sold out weeks before the event!

The garden is eight years old but already well established. Paul keeps it maintained by employing one full-time gardener and ‘potttering in the garden on the weekends'. Many people who visited two years ago - the first time Paul opened the garden to raise funds for the Foundation - commented on how it had developed and grown in the time since they'd last been. While Saturday was very rainy, Sunday brought with it lovely sunshine and visitors were able to relax on the rolling lawns and treat themselves to freshly baked scones kindly donated by Annie Smithers.

Visitors to the Daylesford area were treated to another beautiful country garden over the weekend. Stuart Rattle opened his property at Musk Farm to raise funds for the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens in Daylesford. While there is no ‘official' connection between the open gardens it was a great opportunity for people to see two spectacularly beautiful gardens on the one weekend.

Thank you to the following people and businesses who supported the event through donations and discounts of goods and services:

• ABC Organic Gardener
• Annie Smithers
• Bunzl
• Daylesford and Hepburn Mineral Springs Co.
• Di Simmons Linen Hire
• Fresh Promotions
• Dunnys R Us Hire

To all who attended the open garden, thank you. Your support for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation's work is greatly appreciated. See you next time!