Mayfield Garden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mayfield Garden
Sculptured Thuja hedge
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Type	Botanical, forest, nature reserve
Location	Oberon, New South Wales, Australia
Area	15 hectares (37 acres)
Operated by	Hamish Keith (CEO)
Status	Open all year

Mayfield Garden is a botanical garden situated in Oberon in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. Located approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) west of Sydney, the garden is one of the world's largest privately owned cool climate gardens, lying within a 2,000-hectare (5,000-acre) agricultural area. The garden is the artistic and entertainment hub for the Central West area of the state and it is opened daily with an entry fee.

Developed by botanist Garrick Hawkins, Mayfield has been inspired by the gardens of Europe, which features vast greenery vistas, an avenue of trees, dazzling seasonal colours and ornamental flowering. It is made up of two main garden areas, Mayfield Garden and the Hawkins’ Family Private Garden.

History

The site was originally a sheep farm, which was established in 1984. Garrick Hawkins started readying a small personal garden in 1984 in an association with local nurseryman and landscaper Peter D'Arcy. Three-decades later it evolved to become one of the largest and expensive gardens of its kind. Although agricultural activities still occur on the 2,025 hectares (5,000 acres) of land that encircles the garden, the garden has been refurbished, opening to visitors in 2008.

Collections

Mayfield

The Water Garden is 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres) in size, displaying a canopy layer of red oaks and copper beech that are matched by an preponderant mid-layer of gaudy rhododendrons and maples, with hellebore and alchemilla ground covers and an ostentatious display of spring and summer flowering bulbs. There is a prominent stone cascade that was designed after the sandstone cliffs of proximate Kanangra Walls. There is a large collection maples, possibly the largest in Australia, which go with a collection of Hydrangeas and the flashy water lilies, which bloom in the summer.

Shaped like a valley, the Valley of the Five Ponds contains woodland collection of deciduous oaks, maples, birch and beech, with a shrub groundcover of viburnum, Rhododendron molle and cornus, and winter-flowering Hellebore and summer-flowering heuchera. Other spring blossoms include; tulip, daffodil, fritillaria, crocus, grape hyacinth and allium. The region also contains a summer-blooming meadow wildflowers and hostas. A stone water trough weaves through the valley and links the five ponds. There is also an alley of London plane trees, a 12.5-metre Obelisk Pond, Bluestone Bridge and The Copper Tree Fountain, several amphitheatres, interactive garden games (chess, croquet and ping pong), among other attractions.

Family garden

The Hawkins’ Family Garden is the private garden portion of the Hawkins family, which is an additional 49 hectares (120 acres) beyond Mayfield Garden. It features the second largest maze of its kind in Australia and plant species such as dahlias, zinnias, poppies, delphiniums, lilies, hollyhocks and lupins. The area also includes an introduced pine forest with an understory of rhododendrons and ferns, a chicken coop, a rose garden with David C.H. Austin roses and hybrid tea, wisteria, climbing hydrangea, columnar juniper. The heath gardens include Erica and Calluna species. The lake and boardwalk garden beds are aggregated with many types of Rhododendron and Mollis Azaleas.

Facilities

The garden contains an café and produce store, where 80 per cent of the goods are grown onsite, a Sandstone Gallery (an exhibition centre) and Retail Nursing Gallery. The Hawkins’ family's Private Garden is open four times on an annual basis, during each seasonal festivities, which feature a fete style atmosphere and entertainment in the Garden Centre and various recreational activities, such as rowing on Mayfield Lake and trekking in the garden's maze. Wedding photography and many other forms of photography are allowed in the garden with fees applying.

Gallery

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  The ornamental landscape

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  A small waterfall within the flowery vista

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  Ornamental trees

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  London plane trees

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  Colourful deciduous plant scenery

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  A dazzling lily pond

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  The Grotto (cascading waterfall)

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  The bluestone bridge waterfall