Merryle and David Johnson's much loved and lived-in garden "Wensley Farm" will open to the public this weekend with Open Gardens Victoria.

The couple moved to the Nayook farm more than 40 years ago with a newborn baby, seeking an opportunity to garden and enjoy growing plants.
Together they created a charming 2.5 acre country garden surrounding a restored 120-year old farmhouse, lush with old-fashioned flowers and perfume, quiet green spaces, mature trees, and alive with birdsong.
"Our vision for the garden was to create a series of different spaces, each with their own character and colour scheme," Merryle said.
"Linked by winding paths of green grass and screened by banks of trees and shrubs, creating the feeling that you need to explore to see the garden. It is a place filled with a sense of imagination and secret hiding places for children."
Describing themselves as "unapologetic plant collectors", unusual and heritage flowers and rare and beautiful plants have always been Merryle and David's passion
Plants are treasured for their flower colour and form, foliage colour and texture, and for their capacity to flourish in the challenging local conditions, including heavy frosts and occasional snow in winter and searing hot northerly winds and long periods without rain in summer.
Their passion for plant collection led to the birth of "Country Farm Perennials Nursery", selling plants by mail order to gardeners all over Australia. The breakdown of delivery chains during COVID made the safe delivery of live plants impossible.
"We turned to delivering seeds instead; the seeds did not mind if the postie was slow," Merryle said. "Seedscape Seeds is now thriving and giving us much pleasure as we share with gardeners across the country."
Visitors also can enjoy a raised bed vegetable garden, a cut-flower garden, citrus orchard, a gravel garden filled with sunloving perennials, and a delightful array of bird sculptures throughout the garden.
"Wensley Farm" will be open between 10am and 4:30pm this Saturday November 23 and Sunday November 24.
An extensive collection of seeds for rare and unusual plants on display and for sale. The Neerim South Country Women's Association will provide catering.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online at https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1267181