Farewell beautiful garden

The last day at Harley, my home for nearly forty years. What a wrench to have this beautiful home sold so suddenly and so quickly and now settlement pending. Tomorrow at 2 pm the place is no longer ours.

With camera in hand I walk for the last time on this piece of earth I have cherished. So many memories came crowding in The courtyard where we partied and celebrated so many milestones, and where we played. I can still hear the  cricket game cheers ring in the air of and the laughing as they jumped up the terraced rocks . . . the kids and Millie the dog to catch or retrieve the ball. 

Then around behind the miniature conifers I walk along what we called the Millie Path for it was her journey early each morning and during the day. She was so gorgeous and so private.
Ah the Banana Plant self seeded from over the fence now fully grown and laden with green bananas that the neighbours love to eat. They bring back memories of the time cooking the green ones in their skin in my New Guinea days.

Next the vegetable and herb garden now laying dormant which gave earthy pleasure, much material to write about and nutritious greens and herbs over the years and reason to compost for all the years .. wow what rich soil we leave.

Weeping over the sandstone wall the Millie’s Moon orchards given to me by a friend and wow have  they thrived.

I walk back to the courtyard and the garden made to replace the old Blue Gum that had had its day. A wonderful tree that was there for climbing and swinging and hiding and chasings around for eons. Even Santa had climbed it once or twice for surprises . Here we had set a bubbling fountain and an altar (a remnant from the tree) and plants including a flame tree and a plumbago across which the spiders love to dangle their webs.

Next I walk to the Bird garden out the front shaded by two wonderful Blue Gums . Here Grevillea, Banksia ,Kangaroo Paw, swaying grasses, Proteas, and a red flowering gum with the bird bath that was given to me as a gift from my school on retirement with a stepping stone winding track that takes you around the trees to the bird bath where i had intended to put a seat for sitting and reflecting and contemplation in the garden.

Bernard’s garden near the front steps a circle of thriving Myrias circled mandala-like around another bird watering hole and finally the sandstone path winding down to the road a secret path with aromas that delighted visitors. Included here two wonderful yellow flowering shrubs given to me as cuttings from a dear friend Sharon from Scone and the amazing purple shrub from my late friend Fr. Shelly
And my farewell and thanks to my garden for its salve and balm its treasured beauty . I am truly grateful