WHEN Helen and Terry Strickland purchased their sprawling property at Yahl in 1975, they inherited a cottage full of hay, a small weatherboard ruin and an unused dairy.
After decades of work, Caroline Hills now boasts a vineyard, cellar door, courtyard and tennis court, while the rambling country garden is divided into several areas by walls, plants and other structures.
“We started with remnants of past lives, including a windmill with a well, lots of dilapidated pine trees and what seemed like a substrata of chicken wire, old batteries and bits of iron,” Ms Strickland said.
“We moved away from the area for work commitments until 1980, returning only for holidays, so the development of the garden started seriously in that year, when we moved onto Caroline Hills with our three boys.
“Each year brings its own frustrations, whether it is wandering stock, grasshopper plagues, rabbits, early and late frosts or lack of time to carry out planned projects.”
Members of the public will have an opportunity to explore the three acre garden tomorrow and over the weekend as part of the Open Gardens South Australia program.
Shady trees frame beautiful vistas and paths wind through borders filled with violets, liliums, poppies, wisteria, echiums and other assorted perennials and bulbs.
Box hedging adds formality to the plantings and a selection of shrubs, along with deciduous and native trees, has been planted to provide windbreaks and habitat for birds.
Other features include a lily pond, sunken circular garden and the perfect patio with a pizza oven and outdoor fireplace.
“The soil here is light and sandy and needs constant nutrition and organic matter,” Ms Strickland said.
“Each year brings its own joys, as plants mature, new areas are developed and older ones renovated.
“I have been preparing for the Open Gardens event for about nine months, but I work in the garden year-round, it is ever-changing and evolving.
“There is always something coming to an end and something new ready to bloom in a garden – it is a reflection of life in a way.”
The old dairy was renovated and expanded in 2017 and is now the boutique winery’s cellar door.
“It is a space where we host art exhibitions, events, workshops and sales of Caroline Hills’ wines and garden produce,” Ms Strickland said.
“To coincide with the Open Gardens event, local artist Gina Raisin has curated an exhibition called Fibonacci in Nature.
“We will formally open the exhibition on Friday night from 5.30pm and visitors will be able to wander through over the weekend.”
The Fibonacci in Nature exhibition will feature works by Bev Puckridge, Anne Miles, Jan Shone, Diana Wiseman, Sally O’Connor, Andrea Bartetzko, Ros Sachsse, Anne Harvey and Jenni Elmes.
Extra activities will include wine tasting and sales of garden produce and plants.
“The orchard, vegetable gardens, chook run, pig palace and paddock and vineyard all contribute to our lifestyle and our enjoyment of producing our own food and wine,” Ms Strickland said.
“Essentially this is a sprawling country garden to live in and enjoy and reflects my interest in form, scent and shape and the use of space.”
Caroline Hills will be open from 10am to 4.30pm tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.
