The Ivanhoe Garden recently organised another wonderful bus trip and it was fantastic to see members from Preston and Doncaster garden clubs joining us for the day out. It was a warm day for mid-April and, though the areas we drove through were dry, the locations chosen for the trip sparkled in the sunshine.
Our first stop was The Artful Meadow Nursery in Lyonville, a delightful nursery with extensive and beautiful gardens showcasing the plants that from the nursery. We had morning tea here under a beautiful Paulownia Tree (see photo).
By the time we all got back on the bus the storage area underneath was full of purchases. There is going to be a lot of follow-up planting out!
From the nursery we drove through native forest towards our next stop
at the Wombat Botanic Gardens in Daylesford.
Lunch was had at the gardens and the trees on show were truly magnificent.
Our final stop was Claire’s garden in Creswick. Claire and Clive have built a garden to cope with local weather conditions. It is predominantly deciduous, as this opens it to the rain in winter and gives a canopy of shade for the summer. Claire’s passion for collecting plants was evident, with many perennials, hydrangea, heuchera, hosta, hellebores, and clematis making up their lovely garden.
Paths wound through the trees, making it feel like you were in a fairy-tale woodland.
Here are a few photos of this truly delightful garden:
After a convivial bus-ride back to Melbourne (thanks for the lollies Julie!), our Autumn bus trip for 2025 was over. Another great day. Particular thanks to the IGC bus trips sub-committee – Julie, Maria, Jane and Geoff – who planned this excellent trip.
Can’t wait ’til the Spring bus trip!
