DEDICATED local gardeners will be putting their hard work on display for a good cause this spring.
Four gardens in the community will be taking part in the Swan Hill District Health Op Shop’s annual Open Garden Day on Sunday, October 24.
Entries to each garden is $5, with the proceeds going towards acquiring an MRI machine for Swan Hill District Health.
The gardens will be open for viewing from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.
This year’s gardens will include Alison and Trevor Lewin’s expansive area at 80 Aerodrome Road, Swan Hill, featuring several garden beds with an assortment of shrubs, perennials and annuals.
The Lewins will also have afternoon tea as well as a plant and produce stall.
A unique addition to the gardens this year is Maxine and Kevin Sleep’s alpaca farm at 40 Roberts Road, Lake Boga.
Visitors will be able to pat the alpacas whose ages range from five months to 22 years old.
Visitors will also be able to see a range of farm animals including donkeys, miniature goats, chickens and ducks.
Jill and Alec Martin at 16 Gregg Street, Swan Hill, are excited to share their recently established garden with the community.
Even with limited space, the garden is packed with surprises, and no space is wasted as a wide variety of plants cover the entire front yard.
Residents at Swan Hill Village at Tower Hill will be holding a plant stall to raise money for their coffee mornings.
They have also been encouraged to decorate their own front areas.
One unit will also be open for visitors.
Vice president of the Garden Day Committee Libby Hocking said an MRI will benefit the whole community.
“It will be really worthwhile for people in Swan Hill and surrounding towns,” she said.
“The more local support that we can put in, the better.”
All proceeds of the Hospital Op-shop go towards SHDH.
This year, money from the op-shop contributed to refurbishing SHDH’s midwifery unit, and in March the op-shop was able to raise $4,000 towards the MRI through a $1 sale.
