The gates to Yarraford Station, on Beardy Waters about 9km of Glen Innes, along with ‘Crossmaglen’ Emmaville Road, ‘Sunnyview’ Grafton Road and 310 Bourke St Glen Innes, will invite garden lovers on the weekend of November 22-23.

At Yarraford Station, Robert and Loretta Pietsch have, since buying the property in 2001, rejuvenated and vastly extended the garden, which surrounds a picturesque colonial homestead.

Structural work from previous owners, including a 25m long arbour of pink roses, and the lawn original carriage way have been restored, while new beds to the south and south east have been established under existing eucalypts, using local stone.

“I like to have a bed dominated by something - there’s one with iris, another with hellebores,” Mr Pietsch said.

In another such bed, a border of bush ‘white iceberg’ roses, which should be at their peak, leads to a bed of three weeping cherries underplanted with a mass of dianthus.

In other areas of semi-shade, woodland beds of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias are being developed.

In the most recent extension, northwards overlooking Beardy Waters, a formal fountain will become the centrepiece of a park of exotic trees including English oaks, ashes and Chinese elms.

The history of the Yarraford garden is contrasted with Errol and Rosalie Mepham’s ‘Sunnyview’, established only eight years ago and designed to suit a family with six children. Large lawn areas are subdivided by an escaollonia hedge and rose garden.

In the large cottage of John and Carolyn McClelland at 310 Bourke St, there are many beautiful trees, a fishpond and wishing well, and plenty of colour from various members of the daisy family.

Owned by John and Eileen Landers, ‘Crossmaglen’ Emmaville Road, which last opened as part of Australia’s Open Garden Scheme three years ago, will again be open for public viewing. Large exotic and native trees provide shade for meandering paths through colourful beds of perennials and annuals. Hedges of camellia, grevillia and viburnum add structure.