Australian Succulents
Attila Kapitany
Events Calendar
Every year our popular garden is on display and open to the public during the whole months of APRIL and AUGUST (from 1st - 25th only) These are the two peak flowering times when there are a great many things to see and enjoy. Each of these months offer very different plants and colour displays. August has the most flowers, April has spectacular autumn colours and still some plants flowering. For 2024-2025 dates - by appointment only - please contact us via 'CONTACT US' email on this website. (You only need to book a week beforehand unless it is for a bus/large group which needs at least a month's notice.) We only take 20 people at one time (larger groups need to split times). $10.00 entry, children free (No 'wheels' of any kind or dogs, sorry!)
Entry allows for a guided tour and free range walking at leisure. Several small seating areas throughout the garden. (Plant sales available.)
2023 CALENDAR
April 1 -30 - Garden open by appointment only
April 30 - Encouraging Women in Horticulture - tour and talk
May 27 -28 - Australian Bushfood Conference - Topic - Edible Australian Succulent Plants
June 17 - Royal Horticultural Society Day Event - Topic - Botanical Gardens of Australia
June 27 - Cactus & Succulent Society of Australia - Topic - What does Paradise Look Like?
August 1- 31 - Garden open by appointment only
September 30 - October 1 - Australian Plant Society Grampians - Topic - Australian Native Succulents
November 7 - Ross Garden Tours
November 12 - Ross Garden Tours
2022 CALENDAR
March 15 - Australian Plant Society - Native Succulents
April 1-20 - Garden open daily by appointment only
June 28 - Cactus & Succulent Society of Australia - Topic - Rock and Tree Dwelling Succulents
August 1-24 - Garden open daily by appointment only
August 20 - Garden Club booking to garden
Unfortunately due to disruptions over the last two years, our event programs are being reduced dramatically.
All entries below are PAST events.
We leave them here for people to see what sort of activities we can be involved in.
2021 CALENDAR
February 16th - Mornington native plant Society Topic - Australian Xerophytes
February 23rd - Cactus & Succulent Society Mt Waverley
March 6-7th - Ferny Creek Rare Plant Expo
March 10th - Melton botanic Gardens - Topic - Australian Xerophytes
March 23rd - Cactus & Succulent Society Mt Waverley
April 11 - ZOOM USA San Diego- Topic - Australian Xerophytes
April 1-20 - Garden open daily by appointment only
April 15 - Camberwell garden bus visit to garden
April 27th - Cactus & Succulent Society Mt Waverley
May 3 - USA ZOOM Los Angeles - Topic - Australian Xerophytes
May 25th - Cactus & Succulent Society Mt Waverley
June 21st -Upper Yarra Valley Garden Club Topic- Future Succulents
June 22nd - CSSA Mt Waverley Topic - Collecting cacti & succulents and conservation
July 27th - Cactus & Succulent Society Mt Waverley
August 1 - 24 - Garden open by appointment only
August 24th - Cactus & Succulent Society Mt Waverley
October 9th - Australian Native Plant Society Armidale NSW Topic - all day talks
October 26th - Cactus & Succulent Society Mt Waverley
November 23rd - Cactus & Succulent Society Mt Waverley
November 24th - American Cactus and Succulent Society Zoom only
November 25th - British Cactus and succulent Society Zoom only (to be confirmed)
2020 CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER: ABC GARDENING AUSTRALIA TV recently featured our garden on the show. It is available for viewing on ABC iview or at the links below:
If you want to watch the whole show (we are featured first) then this is the link:
Series 31 Episode 24
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/gardening-australia/series/31/video/RF1905V024S00
If you want to then revisit and just watch our few minutes here is another link:
https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/attila-and-micheles-wonderland/12602974
Some local, interstate and overseas speaking engagements for 2020. Many are private, some permit public to attend. A summary list of these available on request.
2019 CALENDAR
- Our garden will be open in APRIL and AUGUST by appointment.
- FEBRUARY 5TH - Pakenham TOPIC: Succulents in Future Garden Design
- FEBRUARY 23-25TH - Mt. Waverley - Plant shows and sales
- MARCH 9TH - Ferny Creek - Plant collectors Fair
- APRIL 1ST - Lang Lang Club to visit our Garden and tour in morning
APRIL 1ST - 28TH - GARDEN OPEN BY APPOINTMENT
- APRIL 27 - 28TH - Silvan -Tesselaars Plant fair event cancelled
- JUNE 15TH - Deacon University RHS Gardners Day Out (plant stall)
- JUNE 25TH - Mt Waverley TOPIC: New Native Succulents
- JUNE 29TH - Rutherglen morning TOPIC: tba event cancelled
- JULY 2ND - Los Angeles, USA TOPIC: Native Succulents
- JULY 3rd - Los Angeles, USA TOPIC: Ant Plants
- JULY 6TH - San Diego, USA TOPIC:Native Succulents
- JULY 11TH - Huntington Botanic Gardens, USA TOPIC: Ant House Plants
- JULY 14TH - South Coast, Los Angeles, USA TOPIC: Native Succulents
- JULY 17TH - 20TH - San Luis Obispo, USA CONFERENCE TOPIC: Australian Xerophytes
JULY 17TH -20TH - San Luis Obispo, USA CONFERENCE TOPIC: Succulent Landscaping
AUGUST 1ST -24TH - GARDEN OPEN BY APPOINTMENT
The Future of Succulents in Garden Design
Why are succulents popular? You'll be surprised at my thoughts and latest findings....
Some say the current popularity of succulents is only a fad that's going to fade ...I'll prove them wrong!
At first, the mind tends to limit succulents to a particular garden style and yet imaginative garden designers have in recent years explored the possibilities like never before. Join me on an almost unbelievable visual treat. Once upon a time, who would have thought that succulents could ever be made to look soft and luxuriant in the garden, as opposed to the more typical ‘dry desert' style, mixing succulents with annuals, spring bulbs and under roses?
January 2018 UPDATE:
Our garden is open for visits by appointment with a $10 entry fee per person. It involves a 20 -30 minute guided tour then allowing for a private wander at your own leisure. Due to the many steps and sloping block, no 'wheels' of any sort can be allowed.
At the first OGV season launch we had 800 people come through in two days. A hectic weekend and afterwhich the garden had a much needed rest!
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Warning: There are slopes, steps, deep water and dangerous plants. No wheels permitted, no pets, children MUST be supervised at all times.
Some further information about our garden below.
Attila & Michele Kapitany's Garden
Welcome to our garden - showcasing the diversity, resilience and beauty of an eclectic mix of low maintenance plants. From across the world many of which are succulent or native.
Our location in the outer east of Melbourne is ideal for showing others what can be done in a suburban or rural location with a similar climate.
•1. A full list of all the species planted is available on request.
•2. Short plant lists will also be available, with plants groups as:
- Easy to grow
- Moderately easy to grow
- Difficult to grow
- Low ground covers
- Shrubs
- Trees
- Low maintenance
- High maintenance
Encouraging native wildlife.
Gardens that have thick or thorny bushes protect native animals by providing shelter, refuge from predators, nesting places for birds such as blue Wrens and New Holland Honeyeaters. Blue wrens have declined in recent years due to cats, dogs and foxes. This garden has a double wire perimeter for added protection. Cats are under a 24 hour curfew in this district. Wildlife has increased in this garden in recent years e.g. thousands of tiny skink lizards and several large blue tongue lizards (and a copperhead snake). Create habitats through careful design and plant selection. We have a special area dedicated to attracting butterflies and bees. Another area nearby for honeyeaters. Several billabongs at low points in the gardens are homes to hundreds of frogs of different species. Ducks, herons, purple swamps hens and a range of other water birds frequent the largest billabong. Here there are many native grasses and daisies for the butterflies and their caterpillars. Over a dozen bird baths or raised ponds provide drinking points for birds. Pesticides and chemicals are kept to the minimum as overuse can harm the nearby waterway and wildlife.
This display garden is also used to demonstrate and educate. We also undertake research and trials to promote the integration, good design and use of waterwise native plants. Wisely chosen native plants bring many benefits and need not look untidy.
While the garden is almost 10 years old, only for the last 5 years has the focus been solely on incorporating new, interesting and unusual Australian native plants. As a demonstration/display garden the objective is sufficiently complete. Visitors regularly find a great deal to see, appreciate and learn even though it is still evolving.
Our garden has many curious and wonderful secrets to share with those who are interested. Visitors can relax in the garden, or stroll around or sit in the various seating around the garden and contemplate. For the very keen there are thousands of photo opportunities or interesting or unusual plants to ask about. Or perhaps if you're lucky enough, as most people are on quieter days, a chance to see or photograph the wildlife.
A lot of people comment of the numerous and unusual native plants. The whole garden is a unique experience and is distinctly different from any other garden.
Environmental weeds - be cautious when choosing plants that appeal to you as there are always a few amongst them that have the potential to become weeds. Remember to ask about these.
Whatever your idea of a perfect garden is or your style of gardening, there will be something here that will strike a chord. This garden has been designed to show how water efficient plants can create desirable gardens. If you wish to see some pictures, email a request and we'll give you a link.
There are many thousands of plants just in this one garden.
The Future
This garden will never be complete so from time to time work areas and projects will necessitate areas being untidy and off limits.
Children
Children in your care must be appropriately supervised at all times.
Reducing fire risk
Ideas and plants used in this garden can contribute significantly to a bushfire protection plan. Ask to be shown these when you visit.
Edible plants
You'll be surprised what is edible in the garden especially the ones that are native.
Plant Sales
A large selection of plants is always on sale during most open days.
Guided tours
Join Attila or Michele for a tour of this stunning low maintenance garden.
For those seeking a rich and diverse garden of their own in a few short years there's a lot to be gleaned. There is a series of different garden areas (rooms) some thematic and some geographically arranged. Highlights include the cactus garden, the desert plain, the 'Crow Bar', the Ruins, the Billabong and the butterfly lawn.
Bookings are essential - 041 999 0934
Entry fee: $10 per person. Plants and book sales will be available.
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