The Friends of the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens have arranged for eight gardens to open - four larger country gardens complemented by four smaller intimate gardens in Burradoo - on the weekend of April 18 and 19.

It is an opportunity to truly appreciate the season of autumn in the all its spectacular colours with the trees donning their best yellow, orange and red finery.

Open gardens include:

Upper Woodlands - corner of Woodlands Road High Range.

A long tree lined driveway through pristine cattle country leads to the six acre garden.

Native eucalypts provide a backdrop to the collections of introduced exotic trees enhancing the vistas of the surrounding countryside.

An unusual feature in an Australian garden is a ha-ha wall, which keeps the livestock from the garden without fencing to obstruct the view.

The ornamental dam is pivotal to the tranquility of this garden.

The gentle sound of flowing water comes from beautiful artistic fountains in a series of ponds.

Arcadia - 59 Nathan Street Berrima

This two-acre country garden on the outskirts of Berrima was established in 1967.

The late Claude Crowe of Berrima Bridge Nurseries assisted with the garden design and provided most of the trees, many of which are no longer seen in recently established gardens.

The variety and choice of trees is reminiscent of an arboretum.

As is the case in most Australian country gardens eucalypts form a backdrop and provided shelter belts for the introduced exotics. Behind the house is a vegetable garden and orchard.

Bellagio - 4 Kimberley Drive Bowral

This is an Italian inspired garden which has been developed over the last twelve years.

There are formal terraces complementing the house and sweeping lawns drift into a park-like garden surrounding a lake.

The autumn colour of the maples and trees around the lake are reflected in the water. A picture such as this is rarely seen in gardens.

The use of water has created some exceptional features with a series of waterfalls, fountains and a grotto.

Quindalup

There is an extensive collection of rare and unusual trees in this 10 acre park-like garden. Conifers, particularly firs and spruces, are a feature with a seldom seen collection of beech including copper beech. Sweeping lawns emphasise space in this garden which is part of a commercial beef cattle property.

Vine Cottage - 126 Osborne Road Burradoo

A sculpture walkway along the drive leads into garden rooms surrounding the house.

The woodland is accessed through an interesting moongate. A stone spiral garden has been created around a Cedrus libani (Cedar of Lebanon).

There is a caged vegetable garden in which a large variety of fruit trees and raspberry canes grow, protected from the raiding birds and possums.

The Secret Gardens - 120 Osborne Road Burradoo

Applegrove, Redmyre and Roberts Garden are newer homes that have had the advantage of older established gardens that were subdivided, and consequently are surrounded by mature trees.

However, each garden has been landscaped in different ways. Redmyre has intimate pathways in sections of the garden creating an informal look while Applegrove and Roberts Garden have a more formal structure.

There are some wonderful landscaping ideas to be gleaned from The Secret Gardens.

The gardens are only part of this Highlands experience.

A Plant Stall stocked with rare and unusual plants propagated from local gardens, and some special daffodils bred for this district, will be held at Quindalup Sproules Lane, Bowral.

Some of the district's best gardeners will be the sales staff and will help you with your gardening problems and queries.

Gardening in the Southern Highlands, a book written by Deidre Hill, and released this month will be for sale at Quindalup and some gardens.

The object of the manual is to help you master the intricacies of gardening in a cold climate.

Gardens open 10 am - 4 pm. Plant Stall opens 9 am - 4 pm.

Tickets are available online and at each garden.

Weekend ticket is $35 for eight gardens; $5 per garden and $10 for the three Secret Gardens only.

School children are free.

Further information: www.shbg.com.au or Southern Highlands Information Centre on 4871 2888