Ballarat Gardens in Spring

Five gardens around Ballarat were open this weekend, and we visited three of them today. Here's a few things that caught my eye.

An orchard with trees kept low - perhaps so they can be covered with bird-netting? And some vegies in poly-tunnels.

Bees!

Do they feed them in winter, or is there enough for them to eat?

It looks like rhubarb thrives in the area:

Wisteria:

Tanks everywhere, collecting water from the roof of even the smallest structure:

A plant spread widely in one of the gardens, and loved by the bees:

It is digger's speedwell, Parahebe perfoliata, or perhaps Derwentia perfoliata, or even Veronica perfoliata. One of those, anyway! It is the blue-ish flower in the next couple of photos.

Shady pergola:

Part of a garden bed designed to attract honey-eaters:

Loved the rain chain, loved the pebbles round the pond. But I can't say the same for that poor butchered treadle machine!

A seat with a view:

Echiums with room to spread, looking fantastic:

Berries under netting:

Waratah:

I'm not a great fan of hedges, but I loved they way they divided the sections of this garden:

A volunteer at one of the gardens turned out to be someone I'd worked with 20 years ago, which was a lovely surprise. We dropped in for a cuppa on the way home, and had a bonus tour of her garden as well.