What made you decide this was the year to open your garden to the public?
This year just felt right — like a gentle nudge from the universe. We’ve spent the last four years pouring our hearts into Bee Valley, building up the gardens, our creative workshops, and the glamping cabin. When the Centuria Garden Festival invitation arrived, it felt like a beautiful opportunity to open the gates and share the magic we’ve been quietly growing. We never imagined being part of something like this, but we’re honoured (and a little dazed!) to be included.
How are you feeling as the festival approaches?
It’s a mix of excitement, butterflies, and a to-do list that keeps growing like the weeds! There’s a lot to prepare, but every time we pause and look around, we feel proud of how far the garden has come. We’re pouring love into every corner, and knowing people will be walking through and experiencing it soon gives us all the energy we need.
What part of your garden are you most excited to share with visitors?
It’s hard to choose just one! But the PYO flower field is always a favourite — seeing people wander around lost in colour and scent, is pure joy. The rose patch will hopefully be bursting with life too. And I’m quietly hoping people fall in love with the drying shed and creative workshop, where the behind-the-scenes magic happens.
Have you visited many festival gardens in the past – and did any inspire you?
Yes, over the years we’ve wandered through many festival gardens, soaking up ideas and dreaming. I’ve always admired the personality and heart in those gardens — the feeling that you’ve stepped into someone’s story. That’s the kind of experience we hope to offer here, too.
What has surprised you most about preparing for your first festival?
How much there is to think about — and how much we want to do! It’s not just about tidying paths and planting flowers — it’s also about signs, parking, mocktail menus, ticketing, and storytelling. But perhaps the biggest surprise has been how incredibly supportive our little community has been. Friends, family, even strangers offering help — it’s been really moving.
What would you like people to feel or experience when they walk through your garden?
I’d love people to feel like they’ve stumbled into a secret valley — a place where time slows down and nature gently wraps around you. I hope they feel inspired, curious, uplifted, maybe even a little whimsical. And mostly, I hope they leave with a full heart, dry shoes, and a new love for bees, flowers, and the quiet magic of growing things.