A tipple through the tulips just became a whole lot more contentious

Every spring for 27 years, the Rhodin family has opened the gates to their private gardens, Tulip Tops.

Bursting with tulips, blossoms and world-class displays, it’s hard to believe that only three gardeners tend this patch on the outskirts of Canberra. Yet that’s exactly what Bill and Pat Rhodin and their son Dallas do, spending up to 5000 hours in the garden to prepare the grounds for the annual event.

For the third year running, Tulip Tops has partnered with local winemakers Contentious Character to deliver a pop up wine bar so guests can bring a picnic blanket and enjoy the gardens with a glass in hand. Molly Rhodin, daughter of Tulip Tops owners Bill and Patricia, was the mastermind behind the local collaboration.

“The minute I met with Ben, Jeremy, Isaac, Victoria and the team out at Contentious Character, we all just hit it off over some wine and nibbles. The way they run their business really reflects our family business. The fact that they’re so natural and down to earth and are all about quality, it just fell into place,” Molly tells Region.

On the flip side, Contentious Character is thrilled to have a month-long home base in the gardens, where seven days a week they are serving up their full spread of locally produced wines along with cheese and charcuterie hampers that can be enjoyed, picnic style in the gardens.

“By combining our expertise in fine wines and picnics with Tulip Top Gardens’ enchanting setting, we create an unforgettable experience that beautifully showcases the best of both worlds, enhancing tourism and visitor enjoyment in the region,” says Ben Jarrett, managing director of Contentious Character.

With a wide selection of wines to choose from, Contentious Characters’ Isaac is available to make recommendations based on food pairings and personal taste.

“Our Viva La Verdelho is the superstar of spring picnics, making it the perfect partner for our picnic hampers. This delightful wine adds a splash of joy to your outdoor feasts,” says Isaac.

It’s hard to imagine a more stunning setting to support a local winery than on the grounds of a family run local business. Molly explains the family aspect of the gardens and the ever-present sights and sounds of nature is what sets them apart from Canberra’s other well-known tulip event, Floriade.

“The difference is that Floriade is a great pop up festival, we’re an established garden. The settings are very different. We’ve got a tranquil bush setting. We don’t have all the stalls and the commercial set up. We keep everything local, there’s piped music through the trees, frogs and birds, a waterfall. It’s an experience that refreshes older people and invigorates younger people.”

The Rhodin family’s hard work is written all over the gardens. The beds are perfectly manicured, the arrays of colours are perfectly planned and the paths are perfectly edged. The 27 year commitment to sharing the family’s labours with the public is an impressive one.

“We’re super proud of it, Dad’s in his 80s, my brother’s in his 50s and when people ask how long we’ll do it for, it’s kind of like, how long’s a piece of string? They really love the stories and connections that we make with people. We have one couple who comes every day, he’s about to turn 100 and wants to have a celebration with us.

“Our regulars just keep coming back and we really know them, it’s so many lovely relationships,” says Molly.

Despite strong winds in the region this spring, the gardens are located in a protected valley surrounded by perimeter trees, and Molly assures us that the floral displays are unaffected by the blustery weather.

There’s also a cafe onsite serving light meals, hot food and refreshments and even the pups are welcome with a maximum of two dogs per person permitted into the gardens.

Tulip Top Gardens are open from 11 September until 14 October. Admission fees apply. For more information head to the Tulip Tops website.