IN spring, the sculptural blooms of grevilleas and banksias in this lovely young garden in Moruya attract a profusion of tiny native birds, which hover and dart about enjoying the wonderful bounty of the season.

The garden will be open next month as part of the Open Garden Australia scheme.

Built up over the past six years by owners Richard and Alison Cornes, what was a large expanse of kikuyu lawn now overflows with native species, including acacia, casuarinas, grevillea and callistemon.

A small section of the garden is natural bush, with mature eucalypts towering above an under-storey of cycads, dodonia, kangaroo grass, appleberry, lomandras and other native flowers and grasses.

“We were happy to let these naturally occurring plants continue to thrive and have decided to leave that part of the block largely untouched,” says Richard.

Many of the plants in the mulched beds are also indigenous to the area and will be familiar to visitors to the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens – indeed many were bought there, or were lovingly propagated from plants bought there.

Several fruit trees, including citrus, quince, fig and others, planted just a few years ago, are already mature and productive.

Richard and Alison are currently working on establishing a rainforest area and are beginning to plan for a garden for plants that like dry conditions.

Garden address: 53 Yarragee Road, Moruya

Opening: September 7 & 8, 10am-4.30pm

Admission: $7 (under 18 free)