Al Ru is a big, bold and beautiful garden of richly planted garden rooms

This expansive, beautiful garden was created by the late Ruth Irving, a plantswoman, passionate gardener, and visionary.

Drawing inspiration from her visits to gardens worldwide, Ruth skillfully applied her artistic talent, imagination, and extensive plant knowledge to transform ten acres of Al Ru farmland into a vibrant, creatively designed garden filled with flowers in every season. The much-loved garden is now in the good hands of her husband Alan and family and, following Ruth’s wishes, they have recently reconstructed and re-landscaped the leaking lake and renamed it the 'Ruth Irving Memorial Lake Meadow'.

A series of richly planted garden rooms each has its own distinctive style and palette of plants. There are colour-themed perennial borders, a wide wisteria- and rose-covered arch leading into the ‘wedding garden’ where white roses climb up and over black lattice work, a formal box-edged parterre garden newly planted with vividly coloured roses, and a delightfully informal wild area.  Meandering paths wind through the woodland garden which in spring feels joyful with bluebells, honesty, columbines, campanula, kiss-me-quick, hollyhocks, poppies, iris and head-high Queen Anne’s lace.  Ranunculi, iris and alstroemeria create spectacular drifts of colour, and in the long double borders the golden yellow blooms of Australian native Billy Buttons and other vibrantly coloured flowers add bright pops of contrasting colour amongst the mix of silver foliage plants and grasses.

Other features include an exuberantly planted meadow garden, lily pond, garden statues and urns, swimming pool and outbuildings including a charming conservatory, the barn, a garden pavilion and the new lake. The spacious lawns are sheltered by large ash trees and dotted with roaming guinea fowl and a very large and friendly dog!

Alru is big, boldly planted and beautiful – Ruth Irving’s lovely legacy!

The One Tree Hill Uniting Church will supply delicious teas and lunches. The One Tree Hill CFS will again look after the gate and car parking and will receive the Al Ru Farm share of the entrance fee.

Open on Sunday, 18th October ONLY