TWENTY years on, Maida Vale resident Tom Hogg’s dream of a garden that could be enjoyed by the whole community is still going strong.

The weekend of Saturday, October 7 and Sunday, October 8 will be the 20th occasion in which Mr Hogg has flung open his gates for an open garden and art show event to aid the Amanda Young Foundation.

The foundation was set up by Lorraine and Barry Young to make the public aware of how important it is to get an early diagnosis of meningococcal after they tragically lost their only daughter, Amanda, to the condition at the age of 18.

While designing and establishing this garden, Mr Hogg also came up with the idea to build an amphitheatre, which has a capacity of 280 people, and stage with these facilities giving pleasure to many thousands of people over the years.

All in all, between the Open Garden events and the 67 charity concerts the amphitheatre has hosted, Mr Hogg’s Romancing the Stone Garden has raised more than $565,000 to assist various charities.

The garden is at 3 Lilian Road, corner Hawtin Road, Maida Vale, and will be open to the public from 10am to 4.30pm on both days.

There will be sing-a-longs, garden tours, musical entertainment, an art exhibition, and Devonshire teas, cakes, sausages to snack on as well as sales of jams, pickles, and potted plants to buy and take home.