Garden and Visitor Guide
Viewfield is a 10-acre private garden, open rarely for public viewing. Visitors will delight in its tranquil park-like atmosphere where flowing lawns and winding paths lead past majestic 120 year-old Elms and Oaks, tall gums, beautiful Maples, ornamental and woodland plantings, perennial gardens and bridges crossing the cool, clear waters of Turritable Creek.
“Viewfield is a constantly evolving garden, providing us with year-round joy. In 2011, when we purchased the 10 acres that comprise Viewfield, we knew we had found something very special. So began our exciting and surprising journey from uncovering the garden’s original structure, to renovating, restoring and developing new areas: All with the goal of representing the unique wonder of the Mount Macedon region. We garden organically, focusing on sustainability. We invite you to come and enjoy all that Viewfield has to offer.””
Vicki and Les Hawken - Viewfield
TAKE A TOUR OF THE GARDEN
19 highlights to discover on your walk through this beautiful garden
1. The Glen
Walk past the ornamental perennial borders to the lawn circle. Here, simple plantings focus on golden foliage that compliments this sunny circle.
2. Red Gum Circle & Gratitude Garden
Planted in 2020, the extensive rockwork is complemented by plantings of warm reds and oranges. Along the western boundary of the Red Gum Circle you will find the Gratitude Garden, planted in 2014 with deciduous tree species and underplanted with bulbs to introduce the Autumn colour that the region is so well known for. The circular paths and gravel highlight a theme that is used throughout the garden, and its name reflects our appreciation for being able to garden in this environment and being able to share it with others.
3. Glasshouse and Gardens
Here we propagate plants that will be used in new garden plantings. The glasshouse is also used extensively for food productions throughout the year and allows us to extend the growing season of many warm season vegetables, such as tomatoes.
4. Food Forest
Completely redesigned and planted over Spring-Summer 2021, the food forest has been planted with semi dwarf stone, citrus, pome fruits and berries. It has been underplanted with edible, medicinal or pollinator supporting plants. All species used in this area are either edible or medicinal. The diverse understorey attracts beneficial insects which aid in the management of this garden organically.
5. Picking Garden
This colourful garden provides flowers for our home, as well as food for the many pollinators found in the garden. We seasonally sow new flower crops and also encourage self-seeding species such as Cosmos, Cornflowers and Poppies that provide wonderful displays year after year.
6. Potager Garden
The Potager garden was redesigned and installed over Spring-Summer of 2021, to move to a containerized system of growing our food crops. This has proved very successful in the efficient production of vegetables grown organically. The gardens between the containers are planted with pollinator and beneficial insect attracting plants, and the area is bordered on one side by espaliered apples and by a fejoia hedge on the other.
7. Wisteria Arbour
This arbour has been built to support our beautiful Wisteria specimen. The original ornamental plum, that once supported the Wisteria, finally collapsed under its weigh, so a new structure was built. This is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the views of the back lawn and the rose garden.
8. Weeping Elm
This beautiful tree survived the devastating bushfires of 1983, and is estimated to be 120 years old. Children and adults alike delight in hiding under its leafy canopy. This is a lovely place to stop and have a rest before continuing on throughout the garden
9. Waterfall
Take the steps along the Hellebore Walk to the waterfall along the boundary of the garden. The original rockwork that forms the waterfall was uncovered in restoration works.
10. Crossover Garden
This extensive area includes plantings of native species and classic woodland plants. To the north can be found massed plantings of Hydrangeas, which are spectacular in the Autumn.
11. Lagoon
The lagoon was uncovered in restoration works and has been rebuilt. It would have been part of the original landscaping works on the property. The Turritable Creek runs through it, and it provides a home for many tadpoles, frogs and the occasional fish. Extensive new plantings in this area complement the original works, using cool climate species such as Vireya Rhododendron, Mollis Azalea, Epimedium, Hydrangea and Hosta.
12. Fairy Garden
This garden is designed around the mature Irish Strawberry Tree, which has been pruned into the perfect climbing tree for children. It is a whimsical garden that children love to play and spend time in.
13. Memory and Rose Garden
Walk through the circular areas of the memory garden into the rose garden. The original rose garden was restored in 2014. There were 50 roses uncovered and renovated, with many more added over the years since.
14. Sunset Garden
Here predominantly native and Mediterranean style plantings complement the existing mature gums. The colour theme is pinks, oranges, reds and yellows – the colours of the sunset.
15. Friendship Garden
This garden was established in 2014 with many deciduous tree species and an underplanting of bulbs. More bulbs will be added each year.
16. Prairie Garden
A garden of grasses with different textures and flower heads, interspersed with perennials and shrubs chosen for their seasonally attractive foliage, flowering and fruiting characteristics. The planting transitions into a Mediterranean planting opposite the Friendship garden, with tougher species that reflect the site conditions and complement adjacent border plantings.
17. The Studio Garden
The studio was built with materials from old doors and windows collected from the main residence as it was being renovated. The surrounding gardens use a palette of predominantly white flowered and different foliage textured and coloured plants, to create a peaceful space that is a cool retreat in summer.
18. Woodstack Garden
This space features woodstacks created from fallen trees in the garden. It has been planted with a mixture of native and exotic species to provide colour and habitat for native birds and pollinators.
19. Conifer Corner
This is an evolving part of the garden which we intend to plant in the future with different conifer species that will provide year round interest with different foliage colours and textures.