Hidden: Festival of Outdoor Design

Hidden: Festival of Outdoor Design

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Posted 2014-03-14 by Gill Oscarfollow

Sat 05 Apr 2014 - Sun 06 Apr 2014

We Aussies love a good backyard. We also love seeing how the other half live. Hidden: Festival of Outdoor Design caters for both of these interests.



For one weekend in April, you can visit 20 private gardens you'd never get to see otherwise in the latest initiative from Open Gardens Australia. Unlike the 'regular' Open Gardens, these gardens may never again be open to the public.

What sets these gardens apart is that each one was created by one of Sydney's leading landscape designers to meet a client's brief. What sets the event apart is that a single ticket to 'Hidden' gives you entry to all gardens, creating a day or a weekend of progressive garden viewing. Hence the "Festival of Outdoor Design."



Our definition of what makes a good back yard has changed a lot since the days we were satisfied with a lemon tree, a Hills Hoist and a patch of grass for a cricket pitch. Now it's all about outdoor rooms, seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, statement planting and architectural features, scaled up or down to suit the block.

Most of us will always be DIY gardeners, either because we love it or out of financial necessity, however seeing how the pros do it can provide inspiration and vicarious pleasure. Many gardens will have information on display such as plans, details and plant lists. You'll also have the chance to chat to a designer or a landscaper at some of the sites you visit.



The 'Hidden' gardens come in all shapes and sizes, from a micro-courtyard to expansive yards that could take half an hour to view properly. Most of the gardens are clustered in the Upper or Lower North Shore and the eastern suburbs. You'll also find some in the city, northern districts and inner western suburbs.
$44 per ticket sounds quite expensive until you consider the price of other festivals. It's great value if you do the circuit, as Open Gardens Scheme admission is usually at least $7 per garden. A bonus is that under 18s are admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult. You'll also receive a souvenir booklet describing each garden and its designer.



Since the Open Gardens Scheme started in 1987, over $6 million of entry fees has been donated to charities, local causes and community based garden projects. The Festival of Outdoor Design also aims to raise money for a good cause, Moorambilla Voices . This charity supports isolated children in remote northwestern NSW to experience the life-changing impact of artistic expression in a group setting.

To whet your appetite for the gardens on display, go to http://hiddendesignfestival.com/gardens . You can also read about the featured designers and the charity you'll be supporting.

Tickets must be purchased in advance via the website shopping cart , as the garden locations will only be revealed to ticket holders. The event organisers claim that tickets are selling fast. Given that nearly 300,000 people visit 500 Open Garden events around Australia each year, that may well be true, so if you're interested, don't delay.



#city
#outdoor
#open_days
#north_shore
#inner_west
#home_improvement
#greater_sydney
#gardens
#festivals
#eastern_suburbs
#april
!date 05/04/2014 -- 06/04/2014
%wnsydney
217781 - 2023-06-16 07:38:28

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