Visit to the Bolobek gardens in Mt Macedon

Finally another post after a long absence from blogging. Last Sunday I visited Bolobek in Mt Macedon. The garden was open as part of the open garden scheme which is operating in Victoria. Open gardens Australia is a non profit organization dedicated to promoting the gardens.

I was interested in seeing Bolobek as it is where the head gardener at the Parkville gardens in which i also work did his apprenticeship. That and it is always recommended to me by fellow horticulturalists in the Macedon ranges area where I live. The gardens certainly didn't fail to impress me. I wasn't expecting such a large and well designed garden.

The Bolobek garden was planted out in 1914. The property was previously owned by Oswald Syme who is the son of the founder of The Age newspaper in Melbourne. Oswald's wife was an avid gardener and it is assumed that she was the one who did the original layout and planting. The Symes installed a backup water supply for Bolobek which ensured that the garden never went dry in times of drought. Sir Robert and Lady Law Smith purchased Bolobek from the Symes in the late 60s. Lady Law Smith implemented major changes to the garden, many of which remain today. In total the Bolobek gardens now cover an area of approximately 11 acres.

Highlights of the garden are its magnificent oak trees, rhododendrons, manicured lawns, walled rose garden, birch grove, the massive climbing roses nearby the old swimming pool and a small man made creek snaking underneath oak trees. There is also an abundance of flower beds in the gardens.

I would definitely recommend you visit Bolobek. I could have spent all day there taking photos and enjoying the gardens. I will visit again next year and get more pictures.