I don’t know why gardens have such an emotional pull. Maybe it is the picture-perfection achieved by some, or the escape from reality for the garden enthusiast working on their patch of green. Or could it be the spiritual connection we all feel in some way when surrounded by nature in all of its intended … More Secret Gardens of the Dandenong Ranges
If you want to see the glorious lotus flower in full bloom you need to head down to Blue Lotus Water Garden. With a season that lasts only a few months your itinerary must include the drive to Yarra Junction between December 27th and April 2nd. The $17 entry fee is definitely worth it, in … More Blue Lotus Water Garden
Have you noticed that if you don’t polish your silver it becomes tarnished and dull? Like a piece of silverware Coonara Springs had become a little tarnished, a little dull: The garden overgrown and the building tired and worn. It looked as though years of serving the locals had taken its toll and it was … More Coonara Springs
With my blog hitting the one year mark this month and my parents taking the trip of a lifetime to Europe, it is only fitting that I took the drive to De Bortoli last week. You should all know by now from reading my first blog piece (What Am I Doing and Why Am I … More De Bortoli Wines
The Farm Yarra Valley is the love child of Rob Dolan Wines and the crew behind The Croydon Brewery, The Cellar Door and Bec & Dales. There is no denying the fact that, just like The Cellar Door, this venue is beautifully appointed. The mix of country charm and industrial accents are aesthetically pleasing and … More The Farm Yarra Valley
INTRODUCTION When opening a good novel you are always faced with reading your way through the introduction before you get to the true story line in chapter 1. This is designed to warm you up, introduce you to the characters and set the scene for the rest of the tale. In the same way Uplands … More Vue on Halcyon – The Fairy-Tale
There is something so festive about cherries. They seem to pop up around the Christmas season then disappear for the rest of the year, leaving you with a longing that is so subtle you only realise you have missed and wanted the fruit when they reappear. My love for cherries started way back, when we … More Blue Hills Berries and Cherries
Sadly no longer open for business. See Tramonto for more on this property. Like something out of a dream the Bella Vedere restaurant stands tall, looking out over the vineyards of Badgers Brook Winery and the beauty of the Valley. There is a peace, a stillness where the aroma of the freshly baked bread beckons … More Bella Vedere
As a child one of my favourite movies was the whimsical Secret Garden. I just loved the idea of having my very own garden hidden away from the world, where I could just be and enjoy the beauty that surrounded me. I feel like I have found the imaginings of my childhood in Alowyn Gardens. … More Alowyn Gardens
My relationship with the Tulips started when I was a little munchkin. You see, although it is a skill that I long to have, I cannot draw! When you are a primary-school child of the female variety you are surrounded by drawings of hearts and flowers. Flowers would have to have been my most practiced … More Tesselaar Tulip Festival
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