Unwanted & Unloved

In 1999 Maarten Reinalda Found Bleak House ( Garden Of A Thousand Roses ) in a neglected , unwanted and unloved state, unfortunately just as Susan Irvine had found it in the late 1970's. Maarten was soon to realise that the undertaking of restoring this garden was somewhat more daunting than he had imagined. Of the original garden established by Susan Irvine in the early 1980's he found that there was little left. Sadly,of the one thousand roses that once graced the garden not much more than a handful or two had survived . Those being Milk Maid on an old lattice fence, Aviatuer Bleriot and Silver Moon on the little outhouse, Veilchenblau on the verandah of the main house, Devoniensis,Wedding Day,and a Banksia, still growing up through a wisteria on an old water tank are a few of the more memorable exeptions.

The rest sold off or perished hence unwanted & unloved. For months on end the clean up of the garden and rural areas became a major task as blackberry had taken over many areas  along with weeds that stood two metres high. When it came to the restoration itself an even more daunting aspect for Maarten was working within a given framework as this proved to be quite arduous in the transition from garden to  semi rural and rural, this was to became a nagging self demand on him and came to be his ultimate challenge where many a sleepless night was spent on visualising the flow on into each area. However a decade on he can claim the gardens now have a definite flow and in spite of its many new paths, structures, well defined garden beds, and works of art his own included as points of interest.

 Especially perhaps in the more ' bleak 'months of the year the roses are of course the back bone of the Bleak House Gardens and with over three thousand new rose plantings and hundreds of trees also planted throughout the gardens and rural areas , he is still coming to realise what works and what doesn't. Gardening on a scale of Bleak House Gardens with only he and his partner Pamela working it is an ongoing challenge, but they are passionate and determined to continue nurturing and adding to the Bleak house landscape in the years to come.

 The gardens have grown over the past ten years from three acres to fifteen. Over three thousand people visited Bleak House Gardens in 08/09 and this coming spring when the gates open for The Kyneton Daffodil & arts Festival visitors will see that it has grown even more so . Cafe Bleak is one of Maarten and Pamela's new editions this year where visitors can relax and conversate over coffee, whilst enjoying the views of the rural areas of Bleak House. The cafe area has been extended  to accommodate private functions, weddings and group bookings such as garden clubs, organisations small fairs and childrens birthday parties. Maarten & Pamela look forward in sharing their passion and beautiful Bleak House Gardens with local communities and visiting tourists. Hope to see you soon.