A path bestride with iceberg roses the sun reflecting off their vibrant white petals glisten in stillness from the morning’s dew. The ochre facade of the 1865 cheese factory stands picturesque at the top of the garden, a testament to its architect George Browne. The double-skinned brick walls filtering the air to a perfect temperate for the art of cheesemaking in the space where cheese producer Murdoch MacDonald managed to turn out up to 150 quality cheeses a week through the late nineteenth century, in modern days to literal art as its current use of gallery space.

The garden at Springfield envelops and hides the house almost to the point that not knowing it’s even there can lead to a wonderful unfolding of historical intrigue. Salvia sits central in the bed, its violet flowers almost reaching the lowest branches of the pomegranate tree perched above. Daisys and sunflowers infill between the varied greens and yellows of shrubs wrapping around the base of a large white cedar infilling the sky, further disguising the homestead into the landscape. A trestle linking to the detached kitchen and washhouse shades the rear courtyard in a dappled light, a welcoming respite from the morning’s summer sun. Most of the garden itself also benefits from shade cast by the numerous large trees of oak and varying fruits, creating its own cool climate. Secluded below are undercrofts of dahlia and hydrangea dancing to the soundtrack of the songbirds only to be broken up by a frogs croak from under a mossy bridge, the crossing of which gives a glimpse of the pond below encased in a rockery border, the water hidden beneath the green algae covered surface. A vegetable garden of raised beds; sage, mint, rosemary and varying herbs growing in abundance amongst berries of differing types, shaded by a pear bearing fruits longing to ripen. The beds are laid out purposefully but organically between which a river of green lawn meanders, a blanket of pale pink and deep purple petunias kiss its edge. The garden is for the community but feels like your own, a homely accompaniment, the essence of which is infused with love.