I spent a large part of today on a trip further west into Victoria, to the city of Hamilton to pick up a truck. It is Mother’s Day, but seeing as my kids all live three to four hours drive away in the other direction I didn’t have to be anywhere to be showered with gifts , and the trip had to be done. Luckily for me, we had enough time to stop at Penshurst Botanic Gardens which made the whole trip entirely bearable!
If you’re able to enlarge the picture of the signs above you will see the gardens were constructed around a natural spring. I suppose it would be accurate to say most towns and cities, and by extension their first public gardens, are built near, or on, a water source. The development of these botanic gardens over the decades of European settlement seem to have benefited greatly from having such a permanent source of H2O.
In its current format the gardens are divided into two sections, an older section with some beautiful, well established exotic trees, and an Australian native section with some eucalypts of seeming similar age as the exotic trees and newer plantings of native grasses and rushes. There are some beautiful specimens of coniferous trees and deciduous trees that were resplendent in their autumn finery.
The garden seemed to be nicely maintained with paths swept of leaves and a sturdy, non slip surface on the bridge that meandered out over the lake. There were a few weeds about, but I know how hard it is to keep on top of those pesky things.
In lieu of spending Mother’s Day with my gorgeous children and my wonderful mother, this was a great way to spend the day.
Til next time!
The Flowerpot Pen 