The garden was a “jungle” before Ruth got stuck into it three years ago. Photo: James Coleman.
Reid is Canberra’s oldest continuously inhabited residential suburb, laid out in the 1920s and ’30s with wide, tree-lined streets and large housing blocks for Canberra’s middle range of public servants – all part of Walter Burley Griffin’s vision for a ‘Garden City’.
It figures, then, you need a pretty garden to match.
That’s been Ruth Teunissen’s mission over the past three years and, over two days this spring, she’s throwing open both the garden gate and the house doors to the public as part of a series of events for ‘Open Gardens Canberra’.
Ruth inherited ‘Fairview’ at 73 Euree Street, one of many now heritage-listed cottages in the area, from her parents who were among the area’s first residents.
She’s worked most of her life as a public servant, but her real passion lies in gardening. Eighteen months ago, she finally decided to leave the office desk behind and start her own gardening design business, Outdoor Impressions.
“It’s a form of therapy for me,” she says.
“I’ve come out of a history of trauma, so in terms of my own healing, it’s been wonderful to transition to a job I love doing.
“It’s good for my body as well – I’ve noticed that physically as well as mentally, it’s been a really healthy change.”
The garden in full spring glory. Photo: Outdoor Impressions.
A couple of years ago, she turned her attention to her own garden with a vision to bring it to life in a way that matched the old English-style of the house.
“Before I started my business, I spent some time abroad living in Germany and the UK, and it was wonderful to see how gardens have evolved over a 2000-year history,” she says.
She did all the work herself, from the design and layout stage to the plantings – all except laying the turf.
“I wanted a sense of enclosure, so it’s like a sanctuary.”
The backyard was next on Ruth’s to-do list after the front. Photo: Outdoor Impressions.
The neighbours have already voiced their appreciation, and she often has “people wander down the driveway for a peek”, but this year, with the bulk of the work done, she decided to take it further and become a member of Open Gardens Canberra.
This not-for-profit organisation, formed in 2015, is made up more than 600 garden-lovers who pay an annual fee and take turns opening up their own private gardens for public viewings.
The events tend to hibernate over winter before a burst in spring. This year, for the first time, on 16 and 17 October, Ruth’s address will be among them.
“The purpose of opening my home was to show visitors that my garden is actually an extension of the interior of the home visually. Each window of my home looks out onto a different part of the garden,” she says.
“And I think as an artist, you’re your own worst critic. It’s nice to hear feedback from others.”
Open Gardens Canberra president Len Dowling, a retired horticulturist from Heritage Nursery in Yarralumla, says the organisation was inspired by Australia’s Open Garden Scheme, founded in Victoria in 1987 but which closed in June 2015 due to financial issues.
“Ours is really focused on, probably not such grand gardens as you used to find in the national scheme, but more your typical suburban-type gardens, and some rural properties as well,” he says.
‘Fairview’ was built in 1927. Photo: James Coleman.
“It’s always subjective, but basically our cornerstone criteria is: ‘Is someone going to have at least 30 minutes of enjoyment in your garden?’
“And that’s what we’re about really – encouraging good gardening – and along the way, we’ll encourage other aspects of gardening, like sustainable gardening or growing your own vegetables.”
There are nine gardens lined up to open this spring, spaced out across two months from late September to late November.
Len says many of the owners will also take the opportunity to accept donations to a charity, or sell plants. There’s a membership fee of $30 per financial year, or $10 entry per garden. Excess funds at the end of the year go to community groups for “little projects”.
“There’s a whole range of motivation for people to get involved, but usually it boils down to pride in what they have achieved.”
Visit Open Gardens Canberra for the full list of spring openings.
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