It’s gem of

By Kelly Yates
A UNIQUE garden in Narre Warren North will be open to the public for the first time this weekend as part of Australia’s Open Garden Scheme, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes the knowledge and pleasure of gardens and gardening.
Attila Kapitany told the News his garden was a “hidden gem” in the City of Casey.
Mr Kapitany and his wife Michele, who are both horticulturalist consultants and authors, created the garden after buying the acre block in late 2002 with the aim of building their dream home.
“Over the years we have just been consumed by the garden. It’s now almost complete but we still don’t have a house on the block,” Mr Kapitany said. “The cost was of the land was relatively high so any house building had to wait.”
The pair, who say they are “avid gardeners”, keep themselves busy developing and maintaining the garden every week. Thousands of plants fill the garden, with Mr Kapitany saying almost every plant had been grown from seeds or cuttings from here in Australia and overseas.
“We have a Government licence and permit to legally bring back the overseas seeds and cuttings,” he said.
“The varied species of bottle trees we have in the garden were all grown from seeds we collected from the natural Queensland habitat. The blue and grey yuccas were raised from seeds we got while in the USA.”
Some of the garden’s eye catching features include sky blue-stemmed acacias, Australian bottle trees and many water wise plants such as succulents.
There is also a vertical stone installation feature and grass terraced areas.
This is first time the couple has taken part in the Australia’s Open Garden Scheme, where the finest and most exciting private gardens across the country are open to the community.
“Our garden is a show stopper,” Mr Kapitany said. “It’s attracted a lot of attention from drivers in the area. We even had two people visit from Korea last week.”
Mr Kapitany’s garden at 1 Lough Court in Narre Warren North will be open on Saturday 10, Sunday 11 and Monday 12 April. Entry costs $7. No entry charge for children under 18.