Open Gardens

[Goldfields]

Thought I'd post a few photo's from the weekend. The Open Gardens cost $15 to tour, and bought in $12,000 for what is a rather small town. This first lot of photo's was taken at their Post Office garden, where they grew the biggest rose blooms that I think I've ever seen. The second photo is Double Delight but unfortunately the owner/gardener here couldn't name all of them for me. The rose in the third photo must have been a good 7 or 8 inches across. And all they did was put newspaper down, then weed mat, then the white pebbles, and water with a sprinkler, doing the lawn at the same time. Very sheltered, so surprising they didn't have black spot or powdery mildew.

[Goldfields]

The next garden to impress me was established mid 1800s. Best to bear in mind that these gardens suffered through 13 years of severe drought and many plants would have been lost. A very tranquil garden and the owner had classical music playing which was a lovely touch. That big bush on the right in the last photo is a yellow Banksia rose, but that wasn't as big as another I'll show you in a minute. Behind this bed was an orchard.

[Goldfields]

The Banksia rose seen here is HUGE, it would easily fill my kitchen to the ceiling or more, and from wall to wall.

[Goldfields]

Just over the back fence was where the working dogs live, their accommodation is up off the ground, probably safe from floods and snakes. The third photo here shows the rather impressive long driveway into this property, with tall , ancient gums forming an evenue.

[Dog Dancer]

Wow, that place looks amazing! What beautiful gardens. That price for admission isn't bad either really. How long did it take to go through the entire place. It's sort of sad that the people didn't know the names of some of the flowers, they didn't have signage I take it.

[Goldfields]

Next garden was nice due to how much work had been put into it and how well blended plants were where colour is concerned.

[Goldfields]

I envied them the room they have for those lovely manicured lawns and wide garden beds but then they are on farms and I wouldn't want that, so really, the next garden I'll show you is more my style. A lot in a more easily managed garden.

[Barkingdog]

Great photos and they are all beautiful , I think you got your money worth .
I am looking at all the trees that lost their leaves so it was a treat to see so many beautiful flowers. Thanks for sharing this .

[hazelrunpack]

So this was a garden tour of many different gardens? Awesome! And those gardens are spectacular!!

[Goldfields]

It was 8 gardens in the district, Hazel, to raise money for the Soldiers Memorial Park I think. I didn't see the notice about it till Friday and just didn't think about how much petrol I had in the wagon. DD, if you think that's bad, no gas stations being open, you'd worry if you accompanied me home from the weekend dog shows I used to do in South Australia. Pitch dark and for the majority of the way no house lights or even car lights, if you broke down you wouldn't know which direction to walk for help, as in where would the closest farmhouse be , they are BIG properties over that way. Very doubtful, back then, if you'd get reception on your mobile. Certainly no chance of finding anywhere to buy something to eat. As I said to a guy at the Open Gardens, 'Deadsville'. It was money well spent, Barkingdog, I agree. Lovely weather, beautiful flowers, like minded people to talk to, it doesn't get better.

[lindapalm]

Goldfields, the pictures make me miss summer already, keep sending them. Hurrincane Sandy finished off all the colorful leaves that were left here, and the few flowers that were left. Everything is ugly brown, soon to be white. Does Silk have bad callouses from the walking problem? Mollies got so bad they would bleed. I think Shelties are such tough little dogs. They are also the smartest I've ever seen.

[Goldfields]

Sounds as if you really need colour badly, lindapalm, I shall therefore see what I can add to this thread, then go back to my Spring one. So, this is a garden I left out, and shouldn't have. There wasn't a lot in it but the display of 'Kiss me Quick' in all the colours was lovely.I only have red and persuaded one of the garden owners to let me have some of the pink annual one. Yay! You'll see that in the next post.

[Goldfields]

Originally Posted by lindapalm

Does Silk have bad callouses from the walking problem? Mollies got so bad they would bleed. I think Shelties are such tough little dogs. They are also the smartest I've ever seen.

The callouses are because she's down on her hocks, yes. She can get off them on one side, stand up a bit, the other callous must have got some tiny wound that let an infection in, so I put her on antibiotics and bandaged the leg. She's now off the tablets and just got some sport tape around the leg. I don't know that we will have her that much longer, which is terrible, she's always been my favorite. I agree they are a very stoic breed, they don't appear to be feeling pain, but they could be. Super intelligent little dogs, just so easy to teach things to.