Gardens of delight
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Left: Gardenfest volunteers Margaret Cunningham, Wendy Cummins and Judy Barrett made and served Devonshire teas. Right: Entally House is the centrepiece of the annual gardenfest. Photos by Darren Harris
Darren Harris
ENTALLY HOUSE’S late summer Gardenfest was held on 27 and 28 February this year.
Cynthia Edginton, the event’s coordinator, said Gardenfest is usually the second week of November but didn’t go ahead last year because of COVID.
‘We thought we would try it in the last week of February this year. The turnout has been great. We had 1800 people through on the Saturday and today about 1600 people.’
Gardenfest is Entally House’s annual celebration of spring, with beautiful begonias on display, market stalls, food and drink stalls, Devonshire tea and a tour of Entally House (for a small entry fee).
All profits made go into the restoration and preservation of the historic house.
Established in 1819 by Thomas Reibey II, (whose mother is on the $20 note), the estate also features Australia’s oldest conservatory, which houses a stunning flower display.
Kath Broadbent, from Exton, and her sister Patsy Mee from Gippsland in Victoria, attended Gardenfest on Sunday.
Kath said Entally house is gorgeous. ‘We also sampled the food, the Afghan cuisine was particularly good, we bought some garden products and got some good ideas for our gardens.’
Sue DiBella, former executive for Gardenfest, and volunteer for the February event, said it is likely that Gardenfest will continue in the second week of November and later February each year.