Frasers transform patch of red clay into gold for open gardens scheme Tamie and Malcolm Fraser and their companions Grizzle and Choco in the garden at their Merricks property on the Mornington Peninsula. IF FORMER US political luminaries Bill and Hillary Clinton opened their garden to the public, there would be more Secret Service personnel than visitors. But when former prime minister Malcolm Fraser and his wife, Tamie, open their Merricks garden this weekend for Open Gardens Australia, the nearest thing to security will be their two dogs, Grizzle and Choco, and an army of genteel gardening volunteers. This is the fourth time that the Frasers have opened their garden at Thurulgoona, a magnificent hillside property at Merricks overlooking Western Port. And this, they say, is the last time. Asked why they had decided that this was their swansong Mrs Fraser, who is president of the scheme, replied: "No good reason. When we opened for the plant fair in 2009 we mentally called it the last time but we've done a Nellie Melba and changed our minds this year because it's the scheme's 25th anniversary and we wanted to help celebrate it. When they bought the property more than 14 years ago there was just red clay and one lone pine. Now there is extensive parkland, sweeps of lawn, an olive grove, silver birches, native trees - including an avenue of lemon-scented gums along the drive - banks of roses, daisies, lavender and many other flowering plants. A stand of camellias, Mr Fraser's pride and joy, is full of carbon credits. "We call it the cigar garden because all our friends and family with anti-social habits go in there and smoke away because it's so green," Mrs Fraser said. A hedge hides an area set aside to improve the short part of the Frasers' golf game. "This is a highly competitive site and requires different coloured balls for competitors, to protect friendships and conjugal relations," she said. The Willie Wilson bird bath in the middle of the lawn is a watering hole for a number of feathered varieties. The dogs, too, enjoy flopping in it on hot days. Mrs Fraser said the garden design is "flagrantly amateur" but it has developed over the years into an informal, pleasurable retreat. She praised owners who share their gardens with the public and help make Open Gardens Australia such a success. They are very generous. It's such a privilege for people to go into someone else's private space and see what they have. You do bare your soul when you open your garden to the public but you do get tremendous knowledge from people coming in to see your garden. There are humorous moments. Like the time at one garden opening when a woman came back to claim her umbrella which was propped up against a wall. The garden owner found it, opened it up to shake off the dust and a swag of cuttings fell out which had been pilfered. When the Frasers opened Nareen, their former home in the Western District, a busload of people turned up and the initial comment was "not much colour here is there?" Another time a woman berated Mrs Fraser for removing the bank of hydrangeas as she had specifically come to see them. Open Gardens Australia is the second largest scheme in the world after Britain's National Garden Scheme which also opens gardens to the public and which, this year, is celebrating its 85th anniversary. Due to the bumpy road leading into the property, caused by cattle tramping over it when it was wet and then the surface drying out, Mrs Fraser has advised that sturdy bras and comfortable walking shoes are essential apparel. Wide-brimmed hats are also advised due to the high temperatures that have been forecast on both days. Thurulgoona is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4.30pm. There will be wine tastings, guest speakers, local produce stalls and refreshments. Enter at the intersection of Stanleys and Merricks roads. Entry fee $10. For more details opengardens.org.au