maggies_lens

So what do you do when you have come off your horse and are feeling a bit battered and bruised? You come home, have a hot shower (finding all the little scrapes you didn't realise you have), shake out the grit from your pants (how the hell did it all get in there?!?!?!?) and head off into the Dandenong's to the National Rhododendron Gardens :) It's not Rho season at all, but it is still very beautiful up there and well worth the drive. It's 40 hectares of just beautifully landscaped gardens with massive old gums, cherries, and other trees plus loads and loads of shrubs and flowers. Always something to see there, even in the 'off' season. Peak season here is September through to about mid November. It gets really busy in there then. I missed out going last year. Place has a great history too, started about 50 years ago. Mostly cleared by hand until a huge fire ripped through there and effectively cleared about 90% of the stuff they wanted gone anyway :P Plus left behind a beautiful nutrient rich layer of ash and top soil for them to start again. The place was spared Black Saturday, thank god.

Mountain Ash

I love these rocks :D

awesome place to picnic

The lake. I love those tree ferns. We used to call them Black Boys, but apparently that's really racist and shit so we can't any more *rolls eyes*

You can see why the place is a favourite for wedding photos

Off-season = plenty of colour :)

I looooove this shot. I freaking love gum trees

Reflections

Down in the Lyrebird Gully, it was very wet and cold, which gives you THIS! :) And yes we heard plenty of Lyrebirds, didn't SEE a single one. Same with Kookaburra's. Bastards. :D