• Deborah Alexander and Gerard McCann. Photo by Jeremy Dixon

In East Fremantle the Alexanders and the Gawned-McCanns have been trading gardening tips and tools for almost two decades.

With kids at the same school, it wasn’t long before a hole was cut in the hedge between number 28 and 30 Hamilton Street, so they could “run back and forth”.

“In the old days before text messages we would pass notes,” Deborah Alexander says. A mutual love of gardening cemented the friendship and each garden, separated by lush plantings not super-six fences, complements the other. The “labour of love” is a neighbourly affair as both families toil “alongside each other”: “Sharing ideas, tools, mower, barrows, trailer and plants–as well as the barbecue,” Sue Gawned says. As part of Open Gardens Australia the gardens will be open October 19 and 20, 10am–4pm. Joint entry $12, kids free.

There’ll be a junior string quartet playing 11.15am and 1.15pm and refreshments are available. Proceeds to the Room to Read organisation, promoting literacy in underdeveloped countries.

by JENNY D’ANGER