A visit to Stonefields-The weekend home of Paul Bangay

At the end of Last November, I was lucky to be invited by a lovely friend from Gilgandra in North West NSW, to join her and her girlfriends to see Paul Bangay's Open Day at "Stonefields" near Daylesford, Victoria. We also visited the beautiful "Musk Farm"- also designed by Paul.

It was a rather miserable, cold spring day, with sleeting rain and bursts of sunshine in between dark clouds. But the journey south was definitely worth it-the gardens didn't disappoint. The weather also didn't put off the thousands of visitors that walked through soaking up all the various 'rooms' and clever designs.

The group of girls I was with were from North West NSW. Friends who came together regularly through their gardening group and all big fans of Paul Bangay's work. They had been here two years earlier at the previous open day and this time they had even got up extra early to do the private tour with Paul himself that morning. They owned all his books and had designed their own gardens inspired by Paul's work.

What I found most interesting talking to these girls, is that despite both regions being so different in temperature, climate and landscape, how they adapted their gardens with plants and trees that were a "Paul Bangay" Style but would survive in their harsh environment. For example, using succulents as hedging rather than the traditional box hedging. Watering was a major issue for many of the girls, some living in town and some out on properties. There was lots of water talk, to say the least!

Below are some photos taken by myself on the day. As you will see, the sun didn't need to shine that day to appreciate the love, care and skill needed to grow these gardens….although it would have been nice!

For more information on Paul Bangay's work, click here.

Enjoy x

All photos taken by myself x