At Brookfield Gardens, we've always believed that a garden is more than a collection of plants, it's a living expression of the people who tend it. Nowhere is that more evident than in the garden Scott and Robin McLay have created at their Brookfield home, a place shaped by decades of passion, patience and a true love of gardening.
[The photos below are from a Garden Tour & Lunch event we held in the Autumn 2026, for upcoming events at Brookfield Garden click here]
When Scott and Robin purchased their sloping Brookfield property in 2008, they saw possibility where others may have seen challenge. For Robin, who grew up on a grazing property outside Roma surrounded by her mother's abundant country garden, the steep block was simply another canvas.
Her love of gardening began early. Her very first garden was created from chrysanthemum cuttings gifted by a neighbour, and that instinct for nurturing beauty has remained with her ever since.
That same passion helped shape Brookfield Gardens itself. Over the years, the McLays have built the nursery into a destination where people come not only to buy plants, but to find inspiration, learn new skills and reconnect with nature. Their philosophy has always been simple: gardens should bring joy, restore the spirit and create spaces where people feel at home. Their own garden reflects that belief.
"It's a place where children explore, where conversations linger, and where the simple act of being outdoors brings people together."
Terraced into the hillside, it unfolds in layers of generous planting, thoughtful structure and the kind of quiet detail that only comes from years of hands-on care. Mature trees anchor the landscape, while perennials, flowering shrubs and seasonal colour weave through the garden with a natural ease. It is a space that feels lived in, loved and always evolving.
For Scott and Robin, the garden is also a family place. After more than 40 years of marriage, four daughters and thirteen grandchildren, it has become the backdrop for celebrations, gatherings and everyday moments. It is where family stories are shared, children create memories and the seasons are enjoyed together.
What makes the McLays' garden so special is not grandeur, but authenticity. It reflects a lifetime of learning, experimenting and sharing a love of plants with others. It carries memories of childhood gardens, the experience of building Brookfield Gardens into a much-loved community landmark, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from tending the earth with intention.
"The McLays' garden reflects a lifetime of learning, experimenting and sharing a love of plants with others."
It is, in every sense, a garden grown from the heart — and a reminder of why we do what we do at Brookfield Gardens: helping people create outdoor spaces that feel meaningful, restorative and deeply personal.
