Open garden: Belle Reve a tropical plant collector’s dream

The garden at Belle Reve, overlooking Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, is filled with thousands of sub­tropical plants.

Belle Rive is filled with thousands of sub­tropical plants, especially bromeliads, with lots of paths to explore.

Open garden: Belle Reve, 7 Orme Rd, Buderim, Queensland. Owners: Yves Daniel (Danny) and Lindsay Gerchow. Open this weekend 10am­-4pm. Entry $8, under 18s free

Describe the garden:It’s a tropical plant collectors’ garden, covering 0.3ha, to wander through and enjoy. We’re on the highest point of Buderim, overlooking the Sunshine Coast. The garden is filled with thousands of sub­tropical plants, especially bromeliads, with lots of paths to explore. It reflects our passion for gardening and great love of travel to tropical destinations. Tropical-style plants provide a never­-ending display of colour, drama and vibrancy. The area we call the Living Room has our main bromeliad collection and many Asian artefacts such as huge urns and a brass peacock we call Andrew. A local artist friend made the meerkat sculptures at the entrance. The swimming pool area is filled with potted bougainvilleas and different exotic plants. In the fernery, rare foliage plants thrive with ferns and orchids that are now naturalising. Some of the ferns are 50 to ­60 years old.

What makes it special?Two adjoining properties make one spectacular garden for our bromeliad collection and other subtropical plants. We have learned from some of our visitors that it’s one of the best areas to grow bromeliads, as we have a couple of hundred metres of elevation, no frosts and good rainfall. We bought here 25 years ago, and got the chance to buy the second block 18 years ago. I did have other plans for it but the bromeliads have taken over. We have worked in our garden maintenance and landscaping business for 35 years so our garden is a display of our passion. It’s one of the most visited gardens in the area.

Biggest challenges: Not enough space for more plants and not enough time.

How did you start collecting? Says Danny: Lindsay grew plants as a child but I used to be a chef, originally from France, and only grew vegetables. I got into Dendrobium orchids and went mad for them, but then I saw a collection of bromeliads and lost the plot. I went crazy for them and I’ve never been the same since. Many of ours are rare to find and tricky to cultivate. It’s hard to draw the line as to when to stop collecting; we always seem to find room for one more.

What’s looking good? There are just too many varieties to mention. People are gob­smacked when they come. There are cordylines, crotons, coleus, salvias and abutilons. In the front we’ve endeavoured to make the most of the sun’s rays to highlight the colours and form of angel’s trumpets, Quisqualis, Dombeya, jade vine and the large sun­loving bromeliads.

Extras: Plants sales and free advice. Funds raised from opening our garden, hosting bus tours and giving garden talks all go to our Sri Lankan charity.