AS part of the Classic Yass festival, the Yass Red Cross is again hosting a special open garden day on Sunday, November 6, this year featuring three properties on the Yass River Road near Yass.

Also, on the weekend following the official Classic Yass weekend, Rupert Murdoch’s famous pastoral homestead Cavan, on the Murrumbidgee River, will be open.

“CityNews” gardening guru and former Yass resident Cedric Bryant is the wandering garden expert and will be at Matong from 10am-noon, at Olwem from noon-2pm and at Casamarah from 2pm-4pm. The public is invited to bring gardening questions and problems to Cedric.

All three gardens can be easily accessed either from the Yass Valley Way at the Barton Highway roundabout or via Murrumbateman.

The three gardens are:

Matong, at 330 Yass River Road, is owned by Cameron and Elizabeth Crisp. Matong is an established garden with large expanses of lawns and trees. Stone walls and hedges mark the boundaries.

Olwem, at 533 Yass River Road, is owned by Mr and Mrs Jim Cuthbertson. Olwem features four hectares of riverfront garden, natives, roses, with garden rooms and extensive orchard areas, growing olives, truffles and fruits.

Casamarah, at 1512 Yass River Road, is owned by Sam and Marie Polyak. Casamarah is more a cottage garden, with a large property of trees, natives and some roses.

The Yass Red Cross will have craft and produce stalls at Olwem and Casamarah featuring jewellery, plants, hats, clothing, wine, food, craft, chocolates etcetera.

There will also be fashion parades at Matong at 11am and Casamarah at 1.30pm. Refreshments of tea, coffee and sandwiches will be available at the Matong and Casamarah gardens.

Admission is $10 for all three gardens, payable at any front gate. Open 10am till 4pm.

Matong photos by Silas Brown

[box]A visit to Cavan

HISTORIAN and writer Cheryl Mongan will present a history of the Murdoch family’s famous pastoral homestead Cavan, located on the Murrumbidgee River near Yass.

Mrs Mongan will speak at two sessions, the first beginning at 10am, the second at 2pm. Guests will be given time following the talk to wander the grounds and ask further questions.

Numbers are strictly limited to 100 per session and tickets can only be obtained on a pre-booked/pre-paid arrangement. They will not be available at the venue. Admission is $25.

Bookings to the Sheep’s Back Boutique, Comur Street, Yass, or call 6227 1255.[/box]

[box]Meanwhile in Burra…

THE Lions Club of Queanbeyan has organised the Burra Open Gardens for Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30.

The weekend features seven gardens that can readily be visited within a few hours depending on how much time you want to spend in each. The organisers recommend a rest for refreshments in the Burra Community Hall or in one of the gardens.

All turn off points and gardens will be well sign posted over the weekend.

Profits from gate-takings are used by the Lions Club to support needy individuals in the local community and for other community projects or organisations. Tickets at $20 (concessions available) are on sale at all gardens.  A ticket allows a visit to each garden and may be used over the two days, 10am-5pm.

The full program is at www.burra.org.au/opengardens/2011_brochure.pdf[/box]