Imagine walking down a gravel path with benches along the side where you're able to sit and get lost in a garden paradise, surrounded by lush trees and vibrant plants of all colours, with a waterfall and pond and the sounds of birds echoing throughout.
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That paradise is Ben and Rosalind Walcott's own personal wonderland, the Walcott Garden at their Red Hill home.
They were "thrilled" when they found out their garden was to be featured on an Australia Post stamp.
The garden is made up of more than 4000 plants and 700 different species, most of which are Australian natives, and is visited by more than 50 species of bird. Mr Walcott said they were influenced by the time they spent in south west America, where they grew native plants because they were adapted to using less water and it was more environmentally friendly.
"We decided to create a garden that was attractive to wildlife, yet at the same time was neat and tidy. Native plants like a bit of care, pruning, fertilizer and water, not as much as exotic, which is why it's predominately native plants."
Both come from backgrounds that led them to an interest in gardening and horticulture; Ms Walcott's father was a gardener and Mr Walcott's father was a naturalist and bird enthusiast.
The property was first developed in 1926 and before the couple bought it, in 2001, there were plans to build units on the site.
Mrs Walcott found the property on a grey winter's day while visiting her sister in Canberra and knew it was meant to be.
"I saw it and thought 'gosh look at all that space and it's for sale!' " she said.
Although, they were still living in New York at the time, the property had been for sale for a number of years and they decided to buy it because they had planned to retire in Australia.
Over the next two years they knocked down the original house and built their own, with the help of Canberrans architect Wal Kostyrko and landscape architect Helen Cohen, the house designed to be integrated with the garden.
"The garden really started in the beginning of 2003 and we've kept it going since and made a lot of changes over the original design," Mr Walcott said.
"A garden is continually evolving."
They have welcomed visitors to the garden more than 40 times including seven occasions for Open Gardens Australia.
"It's lovely when people come. We had one day, where we had 1000 people come…it was really nice, everybody talked, they were sitting on all the benches and having scones with jam and cream in the gazebo. It was just a really lovely day," Ms Walcott said.
The Walcott Garden is one of five beautiful private gardens from Open Gardens Australia in a new stamp issue from Australia Post.
Australia Post Philatelic Manager, Michael Zsolt said, "The new stamp issue depicting gardens from across the country celebrates the wonderful work of Open Gardens Australia. We trust it will appeal to both collectors and gardening enthusiasts alike."
The Open Gardens Australia stamps will be available from September 2 at participating post offices, via mail order and online atauspost.com.au/stamps.
