By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A KOOWEERUP garden described as a “whimsical fantasy” will be opened to the public later this month as part of an important fundraising effort.
Suzanne dePelsenaire, the owner of the beautiful, trailing garden, which she said takes up two thirds of her property, will invite visitors to experience her daily natural wonder for a cause that gave her a new lease on life.
“I got a cochlear implant six years ago last week and I was so blown away by the quality of life it gave me… it improved by 100 per cent.
“I was slowly becoming a recluse, I just couldn’t cope without hearing,” said Suzanne, who is reopening her garden for the second year to raise funds for the Bionics Institute in Melbourne.
Suzanne, who volunteered at the research institute for many years, decided she could do more to help others achieve the same results.
“I constantly help them by trying new models over the years but thought, there are other ways I can help. Last year I raised $1300 and this year I hope to double that.
“I think it’s such a shame for only me to see the beauty of the garden. It wanders off in all different directions with garden rooms and hidden treasures,” she said.
Suzanne said her eight-year-old garden, which is peppered with roses, clematis and irises, is packed with wildlife including parrots, kookaburras, sparrows, blue wrens, blackbirds as well as bandicoots which play around on her lower deck.
“I have thousands of birds and it’s truly wonderful.
“One of the greatest joys of getting my hearing back was being able to hear them sing all day long,” she said.
The garden, located at 23 Salmon Street, Kooweerup, will be opened from Saturday 25 October to Sunday 26 October from 10am-5pm. Entry costs $5.
A plant stall will also be available for people feeling inspired by the natural wonders of the garden. All proceeds will be donated to the Bionics Institute.
