Cloudehill - The final Diggers Garden

Of the three Diggers Gardens, this one was my least favourite. Not that there's anything wrong with it (it's majestic), it just wasn't my style. It may have been tainted by the service (or lack thereof) at the cafe on the day.  It's not often I walk out of a place but one can only take being ignored for so long before giving up. 

It was not the best time of day to be taking photos on a bright sunny day. Too much contrast between shady and sunny areas ruled out a few photo options. The camera just doesn't cope with such extreme contrast (unless you're doing HDR).  I still managed to grab a few favourite shots before we headed to Sassafras and Miss Marples for a late lunch.  

 

St Erth - Diggers Club Garden

We arrived at St Erth just in time for coffee and cake before the cafe closed. It was a chilly day but the garden had a way of warming your soul. This is my favourite of the three diggers gardens. A little less stately than Heronswood and way less formal than Cloudehill. This one matches my personality perfectly. 

Ballarat Botanical Gardens

Going from Lambley Garden and Nursery and heading to St Erths garden, we stopped in ever so briefly at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens for Stew to check out the Begonias. He was smitten. Probably about the happiest I'd seen him so far. He was impressed with Heronswood, pleased with Lamley, but he was like a kid in a lolly shop with the Begonias. 
I was more impressed with the combination of reds and purples in the garden beds. I've been

Lambley Garden & Nursery

One of the best things about having visitors from out of town is finding out about places you've never heard of. Like Lambley Garden & Nursery, just out the other side of Ballarat. Big brother Stew being a gardener, he knew all the best spots and what a little gem this place this. The gardens are wonderful. Well worth the drive and a photographers paradise. 

Diggers Club Gardens - Heronswood

With my big brother Stew in Melbourne for a week, we did a garden visiting blitz. I'm now a member of Diggers club and we went to all three of the Victorian Diggers Gardens. Starting with Heronswood, in Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula. I was greeted with a swathe of my favourite flowers, Cosmos, before we even got in the gate. It just got better and better after that. Starting with a great nursery and shop and leading into the fabulous grounds and then onto the veggie patch. If you've never been it's well worth putting on your list of places to go. We spent so much time in the garden we missed the cafe but the views over the bay are enough to tempt me back. Not to mention the endless photo opportunities. They even have a training room so I might look into the possibility of running a photography workshop there. Let me know if you might be interested.