The beauty and calm of Tulip Top Gardens

The crowds who wander around the four hectares of gardens just off the Federal Highway are serenaded with classical music as they marvel at the beautifully manicured displays.

Floriade might get most of the attention, but Tulip Tops, a family-run operation, still attracts crowds who want be immersed in a display accentuated by 1000 blossom trees as well as other mature plantings.

Owners Bill and Pat Rhodin are into their 22nd year running the gardens. There are half a million tulips and 100,000 annuals in the gardens they operate with children Dallas and Melissa north of Canberra, just off the Federal Highway at Sutton.

They said there was no point comparing Tulip Tops to Floriade.

"I think we're two different things," Pat said.

"We hope people go to both places and make their own comparison," Bill said. "See where all the money is spent in town!"

So what do they love about their gardens?

"I don't think there's much love about it," Bill said, with a laugh.

"I think really it's the expression on people's face as they walk down the hill and see what's here, because it doesn't look like much from the entry."

Jude Frost from Jerrabomberra was there on Friday with granddaughter Hunter, 4, and Chino the dog.

"It's stunning," she said. "Very family-friendly and pet-friendly. I'm half-Dutch so I've been wanting to come here for years, but always just driven past. There's not many places you can take the two of them, the granddaughter and the dog."

A Bungendore parents' group enjoyed walking through the gardens on Friday, while Sebastian Mathew from Franklin was busy taking photographs of the blooms.

"This is amazing. I've been coming here for years," he said.

"I have a monthly pass and I just take lots of photographs. I take my hat off to the owners, they have run it for so many years but have kept the commercial side mainly out of it."

Busy amongst the flowers on Friday was Carmen Burrell, the wife of the marine attache to the United States Embassy in Canberra, Robert Burrell. She had organised a high tea for wives from 36 embassies across the national capital, and was busy setting out a table among the gardens.

"It's just so beautiful," she said.