Molly, Hanging Rock Winery Sculpture Exhibition 2024

Molly has a set of teeth that my Chilli would be proud of.

The blue glass eye was a captivating feature sparkling in the sunlight.

Here is Chilli, my canine companion, waiting patiently as I mess about taking photos of the sculptures.

jack, Hanging Rock Winery Sculpture Exhibition 2024

Here is another exhibit from the sculpture exhibition I visited earlier this year at Hanging Rock Winery.

Matt Hill has captured Jack relaxing in the sun – a very typical kangaroo pose.

I delight in seeing kangaroos quite close to where I live.

I am saddened that the Victorian Government has now designated the Shire of Mount Alexander as a kill zone where kangaroos can be culled to supply the pet food industry.

This decision was made despite the protests of the local council, local residents and wildlife advocates.

The Guildford Big Tree Branch Drop

When I visited Guildford on Sunday, 17 March, I was shocked to see the iconic Big Tree’s magnificence had recently been impaired. Its base was surrounded by piles of sawn branch and debris. There was a great gaping wound where there had formerly been branches.

Eucalyptus trees, especially big old ones, are notorious for dropping branches.

Very often it is a survival mechanism in times of prolonged spells of dry weather. The tree sacrifices branches in order to conserve moisture so it can survive.

Hopefully, the wound will heal in time and new growth will sprout.

The photograph above shows regrowth on an old branch damaged in high winds some years ago.

The tree has cultural significance for the local Dja Dja Wurrung who will use the fallen timber to create artefacts.

The Big Tree is a Red River Gum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis. It is estimated to be more than 500 years old. Fingers crossed it will live another 500 years.

The Big Tree was the National Trust 2023 Victorian Tree of the Year.

Sculpture Exhibition, Hanging Rock Winery 2024

I was very happy to travel to Hanging Rock Winery in the Macedon Ranges on a cooler day before the annual sculpture exhibition closes at the end of April.

Birds are often represented in the exhibition.

Two sculptors had chosen cockatoos as their subject.

Stephen Glassborow’s rendition is impressive showing the cockatoo’s head in all its feathery magnificence.

Salvitori Lolicato’s work is more impressionistic. He seems to be fascinated by the yellow crests of the two Sulphur Crested cockatoos.

I don’t know what the artist was thinking when he created a straight beak for the cockatoos which is totally impractical given the content of their vegetarian diet of berries, nuts, seeds and roots.

Botanic Gardens Bushland Reserve, Castlemaine

The area originally set aside for the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens stretched from the east side of Barkers Creek along Downes Rd. across the creek and up a hill to the west.

Over time, this area of land was reduced to make way for a swimming pool, caravan park and hospital. Part of the hillside was never developed and is now retained as a bushland reserve.

Many people who walk the gardens extend their walk to include the bushland where there are fine views over Castlemaine and the surrounding countryside at the top of the hill.

Over the years I have walked around the reserve, I have observed echidnas, kangaroos, lizards and bush birds. On one notable occasion, I gazed into the eyes of a red bellied black snake. Our meeting was a bit of a surprise for both of us.

In late winter and spring, there are wildflowers including orchids.

I took these photographs during a recent early morning walk. I was fascinated by the play of light and shadow across a low rockface.

Helle and Michael’s Garden, Chewton

Recently, members of the Castlemaine U3A (University of the Third Age) Garden Group met in the garden of Helle and Michael. Their garden is perched on a hill overlooking the Pyrenees Highway which runs through Chewton.

The garden is a mixture of Australian natives and exotics.

Plantings screen the view of neighbours’ properties which front the highway yet still provide vistas of the surrounding bushland.

Young plants have guards around them to provide protection from foraging rabbits.

Agapanthus

We are well into summer and the gardens in the Shire of Mount Alexander are decked out in the blue and white colours of Agapanthus.

Unlike some other areas of Victoria, the Agapanthus are well behaved and keep to the gardens where they are planted.

I have planted Agapanthus along the narrow garden bed between the asphalt driveway and metal boundary fence.

A plant has to be tough to survive and thrive here because on a hot day like today, heat is radiating off the asphalt and metal.

I am delighted with this cultivar, ‘Queen Mum’ with its flowers of blue and white.

It is hardy and vigorous.

Sun Flowers

I think sunflowers make a wonderful show in summer.

I planted seeds in a raised bed where I had planted corn earlier.

Whilst the corn cobs are now forming, I am disappointed only one sunflower seed survived to produce these flowers which I am happily admiring.

I have had more success with the ruby sunflower seedlings I purchased at Wesley Hill market.

This is the first flower to bloom. The colours are dramatic.

The number of buds waiting to open provide me with the pleasant anticipation of the flowers to come.

Saermeer, Creswick 2023

Saermeer was the second garden I visited during the Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend in November 2023.

It is a large garden on the edge of town with an orchard, native plantings, shade house, colourful border and water garden.

The native plantings border one side of the orchard. The native shrubs will be a magnet for birds.

The fruit trees are underplanted with lavenders which was new to me. Apparantly lavenders are desirable companion plants for vegetable and fruit growing because they attract bees and other pollinators.

I hope these cherries were able to reach sweet, juicy maturity for the gardeners to enjoy.

Recent wet and humid weather has been disastrous for local cherry growers with fruit rotting on the trees.

The shade house is a cool retreat.

The colourful border runs along a fence which separates the house yard from the orchard.

This peony was nestled among the columbines and kiss me quicks (red valerians).

A lovely, mature tree shades the water garden with its cascade and pond.

I enjoyed sitting under the tree to contemplate the pond with its water lilies and fish.

The Miners Cottage, Creswick 2023

It is always a pleasure to travel to Creswick for their Garden Lovers Weekend which was held this year on 11 and 12 November.

I viewed 2 gardens on the Saturday.

The Miners Cottage was a flower filled small garden surrounding an old house.

Creswick is at a higher altitude than Castlemaine which might be the reason for the flowers of this Cymbideum orchid being at their peak whilst the flowers of mine in Castlemaine had well and truly finished.

I particularly enjoyed the colourful violas in pots.

There was a lot to love about this garden.