The collected works of ScottyB

With Kate and I off to the Gardens today, we thought we’d invite along Quack Quack Jill!

Seeing as the weather has been truly appalling lately and QQJ has spent most of her time indoors, or just plodding about in the pond out back, she figured it would be a great idea and a good opportunity to stretch those little webbed feet. After assuring her that she wouldn’t be in any way a burden, we packed up some gear and off we went.

Jill immediately took a liking to the Lake at the front of the Gardens, so much so that we didn’t see or hear from her for at least 20 minutes while she was off swimming with her ducky pals.

After convincing her that there was indeed, other stuff to see inside the gardens, in we went.

Straight to water, there’s no denying the instinct in this one. Up on the fountain ledge Jill went.

After taking a stroll through the Storybook Garden, QQJ decided to have some tea at the Madhatters Tea Party.

Here in the Asian gardens.

Jill! Off the grass!

Careful Jill, they may be gentle giants, but all your energy might surprise him!

As we rested, Jill took a waddle up to the big waterfall. She asked me to snap a photo of her by the Hunter Valley Gardens sign with the waterfall in the background. Obviously, I was more than happy to oblige!

Finally, a little rest for Jill after all the running about. Pictured here before some of the lovely flowers at the Garden exit.

Until the next adventure!

(cont)

The Bees again at work. Can’t believe how hard these little dudes are to photograph. Constantly on the move, never stopping for a single moment in any spot. This was pretty much the regular angle you’d see them in. Buried bum deep in the Roses!

Touch of blue sky! Unbelievable. And in Australia! Who’d a thunk it!

Made our way down to the foothills and parked our cabooses by the Lake, just in front of the waterfall. Perfect time for a little rest and some photos.

After a quick stop at the food shop (and two lovely ice blocks later) I decided to strap on the Macro lens and get up close and personal with some of the Roses (and later on, some insects of course!)

We spotted these two a little later on. Now, we’re not entirely sure what they’re up to here.. I mean it looks obvious doesn’t it? But there’s no.. well.. connection. So.. I really don’t know what to say here, but because this is a ‘work safe’ blog and because I’d rather not figure I’ve just intruded and photographed an intimate and very private moment between two Ladybugs, I’ll say that they were merely giving each other piggy-backs on a leaf

This one was looking for a piggy-back partner

A nasty wasp probably hunting out a bee or something else innocent for a meal.

A nasty… oh wait.. no, its Katie! Lovely, sweet, innocent Katie who’s just had a fabulous day at the Hunter Valley Gardens.

And that concludes the coverage of this installment of the HVG tour!

So with the hint of good weather (well, not raining anyway) we decided to head back to the Hunter Valley Gardens for a second attempt at exploration and photography. Hopefully this time without Katie going into a tizz because we couldn’t see the Storybook Garden despite the pounding rain and us being completely drenched - and also hopefully without me being all grumpy because I’m saturated, worried about my digital SLR getting soaked through the useless umbrella and trying to figure out how were getting back from the other side of the gardens with torrential weather..

Anyways, I’m happy to say, we succeeded.

No tizzes and no grumpiness! Yay! And while the weather didn’t really gift us with the fine blue skies we had hoped for, the looming black clouds did keep their promise and didn’t get a single drop of rain hit the ground. Fantastic.

We arrived early, and with a gorgeous packed picnic lunch prepared by Katie, we dined in the grass by the Lake. Spotted these guys having a swim about!

After we passed through the gates, we were immediately greeted with some beautiful flowers, lovely colours and plenty of awesome little bees buzzing about their business!

THE STORYBOOK GARDNEN! We wasted no time getting here. I figured, if it rained later, at least Kate would be happy with me and there would be no return to tizz’s (Disclaimer, I’m only teasing Katie :P)

Plenty of photos. She looks happy in this one too, we’re at the Storybook Garden after all.

One of the lovely flowers around the Storybook Garden.

Beautiful artworks, all the fairytales.. can you name them all?

A few of the little vine/creeper arts were more developed this visit. Very cool.

The Gingerbread House!!!

Kate again, this time having a laugh because she’d gotten us lost. Again. Left through the Grotto Kate, through the Grotto!! Not that left turn at Albuquerque!

Pretty in pink..

The walkway between the Gardens and the big waterfall!

Floating roses…

More pretty flowers in and around the Rose Garden…