Drive out north of Daylesford ten kilometres along Porcupine Ridge road and you will find the garden of Porcupine Ridge Estate at Porcupine Ridge. Along the signposted road, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Victoria's Central Highlands and then you will enter this interesting garden through a large dry-stone wall and copse of young oak and plane trees.

Five acres of formal garden surround a large bluestone homestead built 130 years ago. From the garden are spectacular mountain views over a 360 degree horizon and the surrounding Upper Loddon State Forest is a Flora Reserve of significant interest. During early spring, an abundance of wildflowers can be seen here and the forest flora is, apart from the garden, worth seeing.

Being set on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, the garden has the advantage of high elevation. Rich volcanic soil combined from a reliable rainfall and good drainage makes an ideal environment for European species of trees. Fraxinus xoxycarpa (claret ash), Fraxinus excelsior (golden ash), Quercus palustris (pin oak), Quercus robur (common oak), Liquidambar styraciflua (north american liquidambar), Castanea sativa (spanish chestnut), Morus nigra (Black mulberry from Persia), Betula pendula (European birch), Platanus x acerifolia (London plane) and many others.

There are large trees more than 100 years old including two spectacular Sempervirens (Italian Cypress) planted side by side near the tennis court and an enormous Eucalyptus globulus (Southern blue gum) on the south west side of the homestead which is floodlit at night.

A wonderful specimen of a spreading Juglans regia (european walnut), at the bottom of the large sloping rock garden and a very old Ficus carica. (mediterranean Fig) near the rose garden provide an abundance of fruit in the late autumn. In the springtime, the Prunus cerasus (Sour cherry) trees provide a sea of white blossom when viewed from the elevated verandah.

The stone used extensively for walls and paths has been found on the property. The garden has many surprises, and a walk through will reveal a curved stone wall, a straight stone wall, a flat lawn, a rolling slope, a narrow to a wide view, a progression from dark to light, from enclosed to open. A hidden fish pond full of Nymphaea (water lilies) reflects the overhanging foliage of trees. There is also an extensive rock garden structured to take advantage of sun and shade, enabling the plants to grow freely as they please in a crowded environment.

The Laurus nobilis (Mediterranean laurel) hedge is cut into joining triangular shapes, providing an interesting backdrop to a 30 metre long Lavandula (lavender) lined walking path. A beautifully shaped Cupressus (cypress) hedge follows the contour of the slope of the rock garden and a walkway opening in the hedge frames a sunlit open expanse of lawn in the distance.

The formal rose garden has been laid out with one side made up of a retaining rock wall 20 metres in length and 3 metres in height adding a feeling of formality to the garden. Over the walls of the tennis court are showings of yellow, apricot, white, crimson, red and pink roses and a 20 metre long iron framed trellis over a walking path covered with roses, wisteria, honeysuckle and other native climbing plants.

After entering the property through the driveway, a large courtyard presents itself with an iron bollard in the centre of a spherical , bluestone edged lawn. Off to your right is a symmetrically laid out vegetable garden giving an abundance of in season vegetables to the house. On the left is the 130 year old bluestone homestead providing an inviting entrance to the garden as well as a superb backdrop visible from all angles as one proceeds to explore.

The garden can be enjoyed by guests staying in either the two delightful cottages along side the homestead, or the luxurious barn which also has spectacular mountain views.

Email:porcupineridge@netcon.net.au