By MONIQUE KUZEFF
The Dandenong Ranges is home to a range of magnificent luscious gardens including the unique George Tindale Memorial Garden.
Situated in leafy Sherbrooke, the George Tindale Memorial Garden is a short distance away from the Alfred Nichols Gardens, making Sherbrooke the perfect stop-over for visitors who are travelling through the hills.
Large mountain ash trees are found throughout the garden sheltering the beautiful variety of flowers and plants.
The garden flourishes with a plethora of rare and exotic flowers which are significant to the garden’s history.
Agricultural scientist George Tindale established the garden to help his scientific research for the Victorian Department of Agriculture.
After purchasing the 8.4 acre property in 1958, his sculptor wife Ruth helped him plant striking flowers including the vibrant rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias and ornamented it further with her own decorative sculptures.
After George’s death in 1977, Ruth maintained the gardens to foster her husband’s legacy.
In 1980 she gave the garden to the Victorian Conservation Trust and the Department of Conservation and Environment opened it to the public to commemorate George Tindale.
The variety of flowers change with each season and throughout winter visitors can expect to find the lenten rose and hellebore.
