The magic of Pat Winch’s garden

By Caitlyn Grant

Nov 18, 2021

Rows of roses: Pat Winch with her garden of prize winning florals. Photo by Megan Fisher

A hidden gem, Pat Winch’s Kialla Lakes garden is a wonderland of colours.

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Each garden bed has its own character.

The sprawling yard opens up to a variety of flowers, blooming in spring, coupled with a packed fernery and many succulents.

Sprawling: There’s something new around every corner in Ms Winch’s garden. Photo by Megan Fisher

But, according to Ms Winch, the garden had not always been so pleasing on the eyes.

“Some beds used to be pretty awful actually,” she said.

“I decided about two years ago that I’d dig it up myself, my son saw and said, ‘Mum, have you gone mad?’

“The next morning, all these trucks came and cleared it all out, then I was able to lay the bed with plants.”

Growing strong: Californian poppies in the garden. Photo by Megan Fisher

Gardening has been a life-long passion for Ms Winch.

“It is a passion; I would’ve gone insane without it over the past two years,” she said with a laugh.

With an entire garden bed dedicated to roses in shades of deep pinks, reds and whites, it’s no wonder Ms Winch has been a prize winner at agricultural and garden shows.

Prize winner: Rose Queen Adelaide is among the winners in Ms Winch’s garden. Photo by Megan Fisher

“The Rose Queen Adelaide in particular took a lot of prizes in the shows,” she said.

“I used to have over 100 roses, but with droughts and everything, I’ve got about 60 now.”

Being a member of the Mooroopna and District Garden Club has given Ms Winch the option to collect plants and try new varieties.

Lush greenery: The shade house is filled with an array of plants. Photo by Megan Fisher

Along the side of her home, a walk-through fernery is filled to the brim with luscious greenery; housing succulents, monsteras and other foliage.

“It is busy, I garden most days unless it’s really ugly weather,” she said.

“The garden has a whole lot of different things; if I don’t like anything or it doesn’t do anything much, I just replace it.”

Calm: Ms Winch is in her garden every day. Photo by Megan Fisher

With 14 years of membership, Ms Winch has seen the club evolve from 12 members to more than 100, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group has been unable to meet and go on trips.

“It’s been hard not being able to visit others or have visitors,” she said.

“That’s why more people are gardening at the moment — you have to be able to do something.”