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Canberra Today 15°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

It’s a small world at Campbell

Open Gardens

HERE’S the chance to explore a series of courtyard gardens in the upmarket Dominion complex in Key Street, Campbell.

Open as part of the Open Gardens Australia program on the weekend of November 12-13, the landscaped communal areas, with appealing plantings, winding paths and gazebo, complement the inspiring diversity of styles of the individual villa gardens.

The 18 villas at Dominion are built on the site of St Anne’s convent that was demolished in 2007.

A residents’ garden committee manages the development and maintenance of the common area and gardeners add to plantings in the vicinity of their homes.

The courtyards open for viewing vary in size and design. They differ in many ways and present ideas of what can be achieved in small areas.

Gardens at Dominion, 12 Key Street, Campbell, open 10am-4.30pm, November 12-13, entry  $12, children free (charity St Vincent de Paul). Refreshments and plants available to purchase.

Courtyard No.4: Designed as a minimum maintenance garden, this courtyard has three “rooms” within it, the living area, the decorative space and the productive veggie garden.

Courtyard No. 6: The first major decision was to paint the fence dark blue with white metal capping with a view to provide a contrasting background for the long-flowering camellias, Australian clematis and star jasmine.

Courtyard No.7: Garden construction began in early 2010 with the in-situ rocks being used to build freestone walls to create raised beds.

Courtyard No.8: Planting here is largely native, the low shrubs and grasses providing a transition from the small courtyard to the open land and mountain beyond. Courtyard No. 9: At 72sqm, this is one of the smallest courtyard garde. The garden has been built around the large pots, put in place first, with established plants, some brought from a former garden.

Photos by Silas Brown

Other open gardens

• 2 Larakia St, Waramanga: A delightful garden brimming with interesting and rare plants. Well-arranged layered plantings from the tree canopy down to colourful shrubs and attractive underplantings.

Open 10am-4.30pm, November 12-13, entry $6, children free. Art and sculpture exhibition. Refreshments and plants available to purchase.

• 44 Waite Street, Farrer: Distant views are a picturesque backdrop to a lush suburban garden. Blue-mauve flowers of native plants contrast with cream walls; massed annuals hug quirky sculptural pieces.

Open, 10am-4.30pm, November 12-13, entry $6, children free. Refreshments and plants available to purchase.

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