I think a plague is coming.

Gypsies (and stray cats) always leave a mark for those that follow them to indicate a household that is welcoming. Those marks are often if not always invisible to the uninitiated, but lead the above mentioned culprits to your door, looking for hospitality and maybe a little scritch behind the ears.

I think one such sign is at the front of my property. Either that or Fenwick (look here for the beginning of the saga) has a girlfriend who I have never met, and has taken on responsibility for his progeny. It could even be his girlfriend I suppose. Beardy girls might be all the range in garden gnome world, but I'm too polite to ask.

Or perhaps, just perhaps, MY NEIGHBOURS ARE COURTING DEADLY NINJA STYLE REPRISAL TACTICS.

But it's probably the sign thing, like I said.

Sylvan Grove

A twenty minute walk from my place, or a five minute drive if your companion has short legs, is Sylvan Grove. It's a garden displaying the diversity and beauty of Australian native flora and its attendant fauna. As the website states it was started in the 60's and has grown in popularity over the last few decades. Sadly although it is open weekdays all year round, it only opens weekends, (when I can go), between August and November. Perhaps that is to do with funding, I don't know. I feel that if they requested a gold coin donation to visit they might make a little more money and have the opportunity to open more often which I would love.

It's not a big place, but what it fits into its limited borders is wonderful. Much of the flora has been donated from a diverse range of areas across Australia and is lovingly tended by its few staff. They are always friendly and really seem to want you to see the magic of the garden in the same way that they do. For me they have. I can't give you many of the plant names, but I can show you the photos that I took this morning when Imogen and I visited. One of the great things is that you could wander for an hour or more, or get around in the time frame dictated by a three year old bladder.

Just a couple of pictures.

 

 Here is the fruit that bears the warning

 Someone has a sense of humour.