Open garden: Shirley garden is an oasis in the harsh Monaro Plains

SHIRLEY country garden, located in the dry Monaro Plains of NSW, is an oasis situated on rich basalt soils.

Shirley garden owners John and Sally-Ann Cottle.

SHIRLEY country garden, located in the dry Monaro Plains of NSW, is an oasis situated on rich basalt soils.

Describe your garden: It’s around 3ha of country garden and parkland, part of a larger working property with cattle and merino sheep, on rich basalt soil. Stands of mature trees surrounding the large lake are original but more recently Paul Bangay has helped us redesign and extend the garden, giving it a more European feel. We’re in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains at 1000m above sea level, but the garden at Shirley has unusually high rainfall for the area. It’s an oasis in the harsh Monaro landscape. All the old trees create a protected microclimate, although we still have late frosts and falls of snow several times a year.

What makes it special? Shirley has been created over three generations, all of them mad about the garden. The original design for John’s grandparents in the 1930s was by Claude Crowe of Berrima Bridge Nurseries. He propagated and supplied many of the rare conifer species of cedar, sequoia, pines, spruces, firs and cypress that flourish here. He also planted Spanish and horse chestnuts, elms and birches. John’s mother devoted herself to the garden from the 1960s, opening it regularly to visitors. We came here in the 90s, and in 2006 engaged Paul to help us. His design introduced structure with extensive hedges to define areas; a ­massive, sunken, paved courtyard; two ponds; a crab apple lawn and a parterre garden on the old tennis court.

Biggest challenges: Progress has been slower than we’d like as John has been doing all the work himself, with local contractors when necessary, while running the property. We rely completely on our own labour to maintain the garden. Determining the correct plantings has had its challenges in our climate of extremes from snow to dry heat.

Future plans: There are parts of the master plan yet to be completed — the new tennis court, a sunken garden and some rock work. And John has great plans for large scale plantings further out. We’d like to open up the garden to more people to share its peace and tranquillity. When we moved into the homestead we realised how much the garden comes to life when people are here; it’s too much just for one family. We’ve set up a cottage for people to rent (shirleygardenretreat.com.au).

What’s looking good? We’re just starting to see glimpses of autumnal change. The Easter daisies, perennials and some roses are out. After an unusually wet summer it’s looking green and lush.

Address: 3475 Monaro Highway, Holts Flat, near Nimmitabel, NSW

Owners: John and Sally-Ann Cottle

Open: This weekend 10am-4.30pm Entry $10, under 18s free

Extras: Paul Bangay will be here to greet people and sign books Saturday 10am-2pm. His books are for sale with proceeds going to Cooma North Public School. Morning teas and lunch catered by Snowy Mountains Christian School. Plant sales from a local nursery.