Open Gardens Victoria - Treasured Perennials at The Farm

Established on the outskirts of Drouin in West Gippsland, Treasured Perennials at The Farm is the vibrant garden of nursery owners Ben and Kerrie Brooker. Ben and Kerrie were immediately drawn to the six-acre property with grand old gums and oaks, despite the century-old cottage in need of comprehensive renovation, paddocks full of blackberries, and the remnant garden requiring immediate attention. Ben is a professional landscaper and horticulturist by trade, and Kerrie studied art and design. “Together we are creating an eclectic garden full of our favourite rare native and exotic perennials, shrubs and bulbs in a wonderful array of colour-themed garden beds” says Ben. New garden beds have been created within the one-acre surrounding the cottage, filled with the rare and endangered plants grown for their nursery range. While each bed has a colour theme, they are also ‘experimental beds’, where plants propagated from imported seed are grown in 'challenging' conditions. Once established, the garden beds become production zones, where seed is collected and then propagated again to produce plants that are hardy and better suited to the local climate and conditions. Ben and Kerrie are also passionate about regenerative horticulture, focusing on the health of soils. Ben’s guided tours at the opening will include a soil improvement demonstration. A large selection of rare plants will also be on sale.