Spring has sprung

OK, so the weather here in Ballarat is still a bit gloomy. It's been raining non-stop for weeks and the sky has been mostly grey, although I have had two half-days weeding the garden in the sunshine. I have been busy reading about what to plant and am busily preparing my garden beds. I've set my budget and am going to visit the local farmer's markets and nurseries to buy up big. It's a whole new project and I'm sure I have a heap to learn. I suspect my garden will end up like an English wildflower one with no structure or neatness.

To welcome Spring, here's a photo of the beautiful camellias growing in my garden.

How does your garden grow?

Yesterday we had a rare ray of sunshine and I took the opportunity to do some long overdue weeding of the garden. I have grand hopes for my garden but of course need to spend many hours pruning and planting, weeding and watering, before the vision in my head will be tangible. 

As I'm new to gardening, I've been reading magazines and even a few gardening books about what I should be doing in each season. Ballarat is of course far colder than most of Australia so I'm assuming that if someone says to do something in August, then I can do it in September. 

As inspiration for me and you, I've included here some photos of beautiful gardens that I've been privileged to go to. Capability Brown's famous Stourhead garden is the first photo (top to bottom), and one of my all-time favourite places. It's grand and set around a lake, and ornamental temples and grottoes dot the landscape. The second photo was taken at Scotney Castle, a beautiful quintessentially English garden. Yves Saint Laurent's Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech with its tropical plants and bright yellows, blues and greens is next. Followed by the ornamental gardens in Palace Baiha, also in Marrakech. The final photo was in my English gardens file, and I must admit that I can't recall which garden it was taken at. This is what happens when one is passionate about English gardens and has visited so many!

I hope you enjoy these images and they inspire you to create your garden, albeit likely on a slightly less grand scale!

Ode to Autumn

It's one of those gorgeous all-Australian autumn mornings in Ballarat today when the hot, sticky summery  weather has given way to cool, fresh rain. Steam is coming off the ground, the air is suddenly crisper and everything looks brighter and more vivid. Everyone keeps telling me that Ballarat in autumn is beautiful and we're just coming into the new season. I can't wait to get out and take photos of the leaves once they change, and feel them crunching underfoot. In the meantime, here's some photos I took in autumn around England a few years back. What a glorious season - wherever you are!

English gardens

There's nothing more beautiful than English gardens with their roses, hedges, grottoes, mazes, irises, petunias, lilies, kitchen gardens and secret seating spots. Thankfully Ballarat is full of English-style gardens so it provides everyday inspiration as I walk around. I'm trying to create my own little garden inspired by those in England, but for now here's some photos of the great gardens to whet your appetite for a drive in the country (if you live in England), or a walk through the streets (if you live in Ballarat).