Pear Tree Cottage
Pear Tree Cottage at Dunkeld near Hamilton in Victoria, is a charming garden that has been beautifully designed by its owner Patricia Learmonth. The garden takes full advantage of a natural view towards the Grampians, which is framed with an avenue of trees in an adjacent paddock.
Work on the garden was begun 20 years ago. Today the garden is lush, shady, soft and cool. It features a secret garden and a large collection of old-fashioned roses.
The pear trees (Pyrus communis), which give the cottage its name, are more than 100 years old and have been supplying crops of small fruit for people and animals to eat for many years.
Pat’s tips
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Feed your garden well with well-rotted manure (chicken, cow and horse manure).
- Don’t let the whole garden be seen all at once as it can become a bit boring.
- Create a secret garden, concealed from other areas.
- Make the most of the borrowed landscape around your garden.
Further information
Although this garden has been open to visitors for 11 years, Pat has decided, due to her ill health, not to open the garden again for the public after March 1998. For your last chance to visit Pear Tree Cottage call Pat on (03) 5577 2278 to make an appointment. The garden opens from 10am-4.30pm until the end of March 1998 by appointment only.