While you are in Kandos you might also like to visit the garden at Kandos Museum (top of Jaques Street). Overlooking the town, with views to Mount Bocoble, the garden features a rich variety of native shrubs, a fence line of David Austin roses, and an adjoining block of industrial artefacts reflecting the town’s history. The museum will be open 10am to 4pm both days of the gardens fair.

Entry is $10 for adults but you are welcome to stroll through the garden at any time, without charge.

1164 Coxs Creek Road, Coxs Creek
Ludwig Mlcek

Purchased in 2007, the property is experiencing a gradual transformation from working farm into a sculpture parkland with extensive tree planting and landscaping with the intent to create smaller areas, unstructured outdoor rooms, in human scale, presenting a range of three-dimensional artworks, in any form and shape, from classical to abstract, and in any material.

Ludwig has engineering and art qualifications and participates in sculpture symposiums in Europe. He exhibits widely in Australia. He won a Hunters Hill Art Prize, a Friends of Sculpture in the Garden Award and has been a finalist in Sculpture by the Sea on a few occasions. He was also a finalist in the Western Sydney Uni Sculpture Award; Sculpture in the Scenic World; Sculpture in the Vineyard. These are just to name a few. 

Some 80 artworks are on display, not only Ludwig’s work, but of many other artists from all over the world who had participated ln past Rylstone Wood Sculpture Symposiums that Ludwig has held locally.

487 Cudgegong Road, Rylstone
Tracey and Steve Evans

Coomber Homestead

Sweeping lawns dotted with well-established trees, such as golden elm, desert ash and pin oak, are bordered with lush garden beds to provide a gentle, shady retreat.  An edge of Elina roses (a subtle cream) frames the house.  This garden is being renewed in a grand style.  One can imagine a table set with white linen and Royal Albert ‘country roses’.

The Guest House

Drive to the next garden where there is plenty of parking. This garden has the charm of an English country garden, with sweeping lawns under shady trees bordered by colourful garden beds.  It sits beautifully in a farming landscape providing a 360^o view of soft hills and fertile paddocks.

The guest house provides attractive accommodation for 12 people and has a pool, cubby house and chooks.

Sandra Oregan’s jewellery and artwork will also be available for purchase.

83 Mudgee Street, Rylstone
Pat Amos

This garden is of interest for its structural features as much as its plantings.  Note as you enter, the 30cm thick stone wall on 10cm footings, which Pat built herself.  The back stone section of the house was built in the 1890s and of even greater historical interest is the beehive well (read the sign).

Wander along granite paths which take you to the boundaries of the garden, near a bridge, beside a fishpond, beneath arches and under trees (Manchurian pears and Chinese elm).  Honeysuckle, star jasmine and wisteria soften walls and roofs.  Pieces of whimsy hide among the plants.  Pat has chosen hardy plants and waters her garden using well water and recycled household water.

Rylstone Olive Oil will be on sale.
Biscuits, tea and coffee will be available

1857 Bylong Valley Road, Kandos (opposite Henbury Golf Course)
Bonnie and Peter Farrell

Starting with an almost bare landscape, Peter and Bonnie took into account drainage, soil, heat and frost in selecting and planting their hectare garden. This has resulted in a flourishing mix of native, exotic, hardy and edible plants. 

They have created a waterwise environment through rainwater collection, extensive mulching and drip irrigation, and they source waste materials to fertilise their garden and create inspired garden art. 

Wander through the native garden at the front and an extensive parkland at the rear, including an elf garden, unusual paths, unique garden art and numerous ponds. Feel free to amble into the sheep and chook paddock where you can peep into the propagation room and hot house. Don’t forget to visit the extensive vegetable garden plots, the orchard and frost-sensitive room on the southern side of the house. And when you are tired, rest on one of the many garden seats. 

Catering will be provided by Delumptious.

Colleen and Andrew Tito
4 Henbury Street, Kandos

Colleen and Andrew invite you to view their recently updated garden. Nestled within the picturesque landscape of their motel, a hidden gem awaits: a charming rose, succulent, and cacti garden overlooking the sprawling green expanse of the Henbury golf course. Bordered by mountain ranges Coomber Melon and Coxs Crown, their stunning rose beds display over 150 varieties. There is something for every rose enthusiast! 

Upon your visit you’ll discover local garden art along with a mix of annuals, Japanese maples and natives, succulents, cacti (some rare), and lithops collection in all sorts of pots, hangers and containers, all placed around the motel rooms. As guests step outside, they are instantly transported to a world of botanical wonders!

This haven of floral beauty is a testament to the dedication and passion of the gardening team of Colleen, Andrew and Steve, who integrate natural elements and nurturance to create a true oasis of floral serenity. Whether you are an ardent horticulturist, a lover of roses, or simply seeking a moment of reprieve amidst the everyday chaos, the gardens at KFM promise an unforgettable experience.

An easy stroll around the grounds, sure to delight, with plenty of seating.

Cheeseburgers and sausage sandwiches from the BBQ will be available as well as soft drinks.
Liam Whelan, an Irish country singer will perform on Saturday afternoon.

Steve and Meaghan Anderson
54 Dangar Street, Kandos

With the picturesque Coomber Melon Mountain Range as a backdrop, 54 Dangar Street sits on a half-acre town block and has a sunny north facing aspect. Only truly begun three years ago, and still evolving. 

Deciduous and evergreen trees alike are thriving as they gain height and maturity. Meanwhile, well maintained garden beds at the front are brimming with sun loving perennials, seasonal annuals, roses, and the odd vegies! 

Likewise, the rear of the property has an expanse of lawn lined by four herbaceous borders under large bottlebrushes where a variety of parrots and birds like to chatter and feed.

Steve and Meaghan Anderson welcome you to their garden and if you’re a flower lover, you’ll not be disappointed!

Music in the garden will come from our local ‘Wollemi Singers’ at various times throughout the weekend and Dot Pike will be selling her beautiful hand-crafted candles.

78 Fleming Street, Kandos
(enter via Dabee Road or Dangar Street)
Margot Palk

St Dominic’s Convent was built in 1930 in grand Spanish Mission style as a purpose-built convent for the Good Samaritan nuns who taught at the school at the rear of the property. Now in private hands, the garden is going through a renaissance.

The once-spectacular garden, which celebrated roses, was demolished in the 70s and 80s and the grounds were bare and low maintenance at the time of purchase. Over the past ten years, a Convent garden in keeping with the heritage of the building has been established. Over a hundred heritage roses have been planted, along with many heirloom cottage plants. Expect to see flowering banks of salvias and sages as well as a practical edible garden.

Raised vegetable beds have been added and fruit and olive trees, and many herbs can be spotted around the gardens of over half an acre. 

There’s a lot to discover as you walk around the grounds including a rose-covered grotto in the front of the property. There are plenty of areas to sit and contemplate in this peaceful sanctuary.

Grazing boxes and bottled water can be collected from the Church at the rear of the property
CWA Raffle tickets will be on sale
EFTPOS facility available
A coffee van will be on site all weekend and a stall offering cupcakes, macarons, and cookies (on Sunday)
Lizzie’s jams, pickles, and chutneys will be on sale as well as local Elderflower champagne
Garden art will be for sale courtesy of Little Rusty
Toilets available at the Church at the rear of the property

1004 Tara Loop Road, Ilford
Kaye Moore

Tara Loop Road, as the name suggests, has two entrances. Take the first entrance if coming from Sofala; the second entrance if coming from Ilford. Look for the flags. 

Set high on a hill above the Ilford countryside, ‘Redbank’ is protected by an avenue of pine trees and has spectacular views to Coomber Mountain and beyond. Kaye and her husband Barrie (deceased) settled here in 1964, built their house and established a pastoral property that currently runs 1800 sheep and 30 cattle. 

The garden surrounding the house is an ornate cottage garden with whimsical elements, and will reward careful scrutiny. Follow paths, wander, pause, smell and touch. Note the rich, fertile vegetable garden, the patio protecting rare plants, the various clematis climbing over structures. You will eventually come across Kaye’s 50 or so chooks, mainly Isa Browns and White Leghorns, and if you walk out into the paddock you will see the breeding pen. Can you identify the amazing number of fruit trees including passionfruit, kiwi fruit, pomegranate, persimmon, Cox’s pippin apple, lime and blood orange as well as numerous citrus, stone and seed fruit? 

Refreshments: Tea, coffee and Kaye’s cornflake cookies available upon request 

6121 Castlereagh Highway, Ilford
Rae and Guy Sim

Rae and Guy built their house and began planting this sweeping 3.5 hectare garden in 2005.  Guy is the structural builder and designer, and you will see his handiwork in water courses, rock culverts, climbing frames, stonework, terraces and well-placed, eye-catching sculptural pieces.

Rae is the green-fingered artist, designing, planting and nurturing a spectacular range of trees (deciduous, fruiting and native) and bushes, as well as perennials, bulbs, succulents and annuals in pots, beds and paddocks.  Their garden continues to evolve and is being resurrected after the 2019 bushfire when 107 trees/shrubs were burnt beyond saving.

‘Meaning the spirit of the northwest wind, ‘Keewaydin’ has its origin in the story of Hiawatha.’Meaning the spirit of the northwest wind, Keewaydin has its origin in the story of Hiawatha.

Morning and afternoon teas and light lunches will be available.

If you would like to glimpse further photos/information of the garden please read the February/March issue of the Australian Country magazine.

The Twin Town Art Group will have an exhibition and sales of their art works.  Other stall holders will be in attendance including plant sales.

The Kandos Rylstone Film Society will show The Secret Garden 2020 movie in the garden at 6pm on Saturday.  There are no further charges to attend the movie just your entry fee to the garden.  Bring along your grazing box to enjoy whilst watching the movie.