Seville’s Heywood House on Secret Gardens of The Dandenong Ranges tour

SPECTACULAR sprawling vistas and scenic hidden gardens are on offer to those wanting a different type of tour in the Dandenongs.

Virginia Heywood’s garden is part of the Secret Gardens of the Dandenong Ranges tour. Picture: Stuart Milligan

FOR me, spring is the perfect time of year.

It’s when the cold frost of winter has melted away, and that first sunny warm day of September brings with it a clear scent of flowers on the breeze, and you know summer is on its way.

This was the case when I visited one of the amazing properties on the Secret Gardens of the Dandenong Ranges tour.

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The sprawling grounds at Heywood House in Seville has an eclectic range of indigenous plants and non-indigenous plants and trees.

Deep blues and greens of distant rolling mountains frame Virginia Heywood’s peaceful 6.5ha property, positioned between two amazing scenic views — the Dandenong Ranges and Mt Little Joe and Warburton.

Among the property’s colourful hues already flowering are vibrant pink Japanese cherry blossoms and 21 different kinds of blooming Camellias.

September 23, The Secret Gardens of the Dandenong Ranges 2018 will open the gates to some of the DandenongsÕ finest privately-owned gardens.Virginia Heywood has transformed this landscape to include three acres of garden and two ponds while retaining sweeping views of the Warburton Ranges.Cherry Blossom.Picture: Stuart Milligan

September 23, The Secret Gardens of the Dandenong Ranges 2018 will open the gates to some of the DandenongsÕ finest privately-owned gardens.Virginia Heywood has transformed this landscape to include three acres of garden and two ponds while retaining sweeping views of the Warburton Ranges.Arctotis ( orange flower )Picture: Stuart Milligan

September 23, The Secret Gardens of the Dandenong Ranges 2018 will open the gates to some of the DandenongsÕ finest privately-owned gardens.Camellia.Picture: Stuart Milligan

September 23, The Secret Gardens of the Dandenong Ranges 2018 will open the gates to some of the DandenongsÕ finest privately-owned gardens.Virginia Heywood has transformed this landscape to include three acres of garden and two ponds while retaining sweeping views of the Warburton Ranges.Picture: Stuart Milligan

The garden has an abundance of lemon trees and below the dam are cabernet sauvignon and merlot vines.

Previously a political adviser in Tony Blair’s cabinet while living in London, Ms Heywood turned her hand to horticulture after returning home from live in the UK to look after her elderly father. Now almost 20 years later the green thumb is a guide at the Royal Botanical Gardens, 3CR gardening show presenter and Plant Trust secretary.

“I fell in love with the property and the view. I bought the view,” she said.

Virginia Heywood has transformed her garden, which has sweeping views of the Warburton Ranges. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Ms Heywood said the garden brings plentiful birdlife including king parrots and eastern spinebills. “I’m a plant person. I’m passionate about plants, finding rare plants,” she said.

Dandenong Ranges Tourist Network president Mary Wiking said Seville House will be part of the two week program featuring many private gardens not usually open to the public.

Some of the other beautiful properties on the trail include The Keatings, Joost Bakker, Mernda Heights, The Underground House, Bickleigh Vale Village, Kenloch Estate and Beechmont.

The Secret Gardens of the Dandenong Ranges is open from October 17 to 27.

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