Hello from the Blue Mountains of NSW

29 Sep '08 3:41 pm

Hi, I'm Waratah and I garden in a cool (by Australian standards) climate. I love native plants as well as perennials, bulbs and roses. Here are a few pictures of my garden taken last year. My garden is only just beginning to wake up for Spring so I'll start taking pictures again soon.

29 Sep '08 9:33 pm

Hi Waratah! Your garden is gorgeous. Smile

30 Sep '08 6:42 am

What a fabulous garden-probably my dream garden-it becomes part of your house beautifully I think.It seems perfect growing condititons for Rhododendrons.Do you have frosts?Are you actually in the blue mountains?I have visited NSW as guests of the Australian Illawarra cattle breeds.We stayed around the Illawarra area of South Sydney.I really loved it around there.
I am really looking forward to seeing some more pics.

30 Sep '08 8:55 am

Your garden is lovely and beautifully mature. I love that rambly style - Dixie is right, it suits the old house well. Welcome once again!

30 Sep '08 12:22 pm

Welcome, and hope you'll drop by lots and show us some more pictures. As a pathaholic, I absolutely love those paths in your pictures. I think your 'climate' might be quite similar to ours in lower NZ. That means peonies? Roses, certainly...
Cheers, M

30 Sep '08 4:25 pm

Yes I do live right in the mountains Dixie. I don't have a view but there are several close by (see below).

Our house is only 9 years old and the garden a little younger. I'm lucky to live beside a mature garden and can "borrow" plants such as the white Rhodie in the first picture above.

A pathaholic you say Moosey, well I think I must be a shedaholic as I always like to take pictures of interesting ones and the older and rustier the better. There used to be an American magazine called "The Potting Shed" which I think has closed down now. One cover had a picture of a shed with a little turret, the plans of which I've kept as one of those maybe one day dreams.

Yes I can grow Peonies but this is not a good rose growing area, not that I let that stop me! The soil here is very open and the mists in Summer mean the leaves can be wet for days on end so lots of black spot. However, like most rose lovers I've just learnt to live with it.

I love this site, especially all the pictures and look forward to seeing more.

1 Oct '08 6:06 am

Wow-what spectacular mountain views.
I wondered about the house too.It looks as though it has 'always been there'which is a very comfortable way of living.The paths intrigued me too.
It has been very quiet on the forums lately-I suppose it is because of the change of seasons.I hope you have been able to find some of the gorgeous and unique gardens that are here on the forums,(with their equally gorgeous and unique carers.)
There is a NZ book written called'blokes and their sheds' which you would enjoy.It was so popular that a second book was produced.This time a good friend,Pam, was in it,as she had a shed for her creative work.She has moved to town now and has a terrific attic.

1 Oct '08 2:18 pm

Hi Dixie,

The paths are just gravel. I really wanted crazy paving but my husband baulked at that, can't think why!

I actually bought that book for my father a few years back. No wonder people say you give the kind of presents you'd like yourself. Am I right in thinking it was written or co-written by a member of Split Enz? I'll look out for the second one.

I've noticed it's quiet on this forum which is a shame because it's really interesting. I wonder if it is to do with the dreadful uncertainty that is gripping the world ATM. Having lived through the last recession with a mortgaged house in Sydney, young children and a floundering business, I can well understand that it would be hard for people to prattle on about their gardens if they are in danger of losing their house. Uncertainty is a terrible thing.

5 Oct '08 12:22 pm

It has been very quiet on the Forum this summer. I think a lot of it is due to the fact that many of the regulars are in transition at the moment, some preparing for retirement and moving to new areas, others,like myself, already retired and find life busier than ever. We do welcome all new comers though and love to see their garden photos. Your garden is spectacular! Please share your new photos with us as your spring unfolds. I'm fast entering fall and winter, so my own garden is on the wane. It's so nice to see beautiful spring photos from the other side of the world.

5 Oct '08 5:50 pm

Thank you Faith for your kind welcome. It is a lovely site with lots of beautiful photos and I just need a bit more time to look through them all.

Yes the weather is warming up here and, from my study window, I can see the big climbing rose, Lamarque, just coming into bud. We have a small community of white-tipped, ring tail possums here and they like to eat the buds. Fortunately the rose is now so big that I don't miss the few dozen or so they can reach.

This is one of the little cuties in the rose.

Hello from the Blue Mountains of NSW

Hello from the Blue Mountains of NSW

G'day!

Greetings Waratah

Hello and welcome!

Thanks Everyone

spectacular mountains

Welcome Warratah