A Garden Visit, a Little Garden Inspiration and Unexpected Encounters

Some weekends turn out to be rather special, and not always for the reasons you expect.

This past weekend was one of those. We set off to visit some beautiful gardens, enjoy a little time away and hopefully come home with some garden inspiration. What we hadn’t quite anticipated was just how many unexpected connections we’d make along the way.

A weekend in Tenterfield

The weekend began with the opportunity to visit Glenrock Gardens, designed by Carol Robinson, who has since sold the property. The gardens opened their gates to visitors, giving us the chance to wander through and appreciate the thought, work, and love that went into creating them over many years.

We also enjoyed a lovely lunch in the garden’s function space. Despite a little rain, it was wonderful to spend time appreciating what had been created there. You could see the years of work that had gone into the garden, and it was a lovely reminder of just how much can be achieved with vision, patience and a great deal of hard work.

It wasn’t long before we got talking to the people sitting beside us at lunch. They asked where I’d come from, and it turned out that the lady’s entire family was from Guyra. They still owned her Nan’s house in town.

Then came the question.

“Oh, you aren’t the lady with the Highland cows, are you?”

We both burst out laughing. Yes, that was me!

It turned out we’d been following each other on Instagram for some time. She’d been watching my cows and garden adventures, while I’d been admiring her beautiful antique and rustic furniture and homewares.

Well, there was only one thing to do. I invited her to stop in at Roseville on her way home for a coffee and a Highland cow feed.

And so, quite unexpectedly, a lovely lunch turned into the possibility of a new friendship. She visits Guyra regularly, so I suspect we may be seeing a little more of each other.

I love that about social media. You can follow someone’s life for months, feel as though you know a little about them, and then suddenly find yourself sitting beside them at lunch in a town you’ve never visited before.

Discovering Tenterfield

I’d never been to Tenterfield before, and I really rather liked it.

The town was much busier than usual, with visitors arriving for the garden openings. The shops were bustling, there were lovely little boutiques selling homewares and clothing, and plenty of cafés and places to stop for a look around. Apparently, the local motels were completely booked out, which gives you some idea of just how many people had travelled to see Carol’s garden.

Of course, being a country town, some shops had closed by 2 pm. You do have to remember where you are! 😂

We enjoyed a fabulous meal at the Royal Hotel and called it a night, ready for the main event the following morning.

Although, as it turned out, the people we met along the way were becoming a rather significant part of the weekend too.

Eagles Bluff — a garden in its own world

The following morning was still a little rainy, although the sun was making the occasional appearance.

The drive to Carol’s property, Eagles Bluff, was almost an experience in itself. A long, winding dirt road took us past other farmhouses, with a creek running through the landscape before the road eventually led us to Carol’s garden.

The property sits in a beautiful setting, surrounded by open country and dramatic escarpments. It feels wonderfully removed from the everyday world.

And then there is the garden.

Carol has transformed five acres that were once a barren, empty paddock into something quite extraordinary. The excavation, planting, rockwork and design have created a garden that feels as though it belongs exactly where it is.

It reminded me of David Kennedy’s visit to Roseville and the work that has gone into creating his garden. There is something particularly inspiring about seeing what people can achieve when they have a vision for a piece of land and the determination to bring it to life.

What impressed me about Carol’s garden was not just its beauty, but the thought behind it. The planting has been carefully considered for the conditions, with trees providing shelter and birdlife, and water features creating the feeling that the creek is closer to the garden than it actually is.

Having learned about gardening in Guyra, I’ve come to appreciate how much local conditions matter. Even within the same town, one side can be quite different from the other. What thrives in one location may struggle in another, and a beautiful garden isn’t simply a matter of choosing pretty plants and putting them in the ground.

There is knowledge, planning and an enormous amount of work behind it.

Carol’s garden is a wonderful example of that.

It was also lovely to see such a large event being held at a private property, with Galah Press helping bring the day together. There was a real sense of people coming together over a shared love of gardens, and it was a reminder of how much interest there is in visiting and experiencing gardens that are not usually open to the public.

And then, another unexpected encounter

As we were leaving, I happened to bump into Annabelle from Galah Press.

We got talking, as you do, and began working out that we actually had quite a bit in common.

We lived in the same suburb and went to the same school, although we were two years apart. And, as if that wasn’t enough of a connection, Annabelle had been taught by my mother.

Really, what are the chances?

There I was, standing in a garden in Tenterfield, having travelled from Guyra, and discovering another connection to a part of my life from years ago.

By this stage, I was beginning to wonder whether we’d gone away for a garden visit or a reunion. 😂

It really is a small world.

Coming home with more than inspiration

We certainly won’t have anything like the numbers that visited Eagles Bluff, but that wasn’t really the point of our weekend.

What I came away with was a renewed appreciation for the people who put so much time, thought and effort into creating gardens, and for the people who travel to see them. There is something lovely about being surrounded by others who appreciate the flowers, the trees, the design and all the little details that make a garden special.

And perhaps that is part of what makes opening a garden to visitors so rewarding. It gives people an opportunity to share something they love, and it creates connections that might never otherwise have happened.

It also gave me plenty to think about as we prepare Roseville for the New England Garden Festival and Garden Trail next week.

We’ve had more than 25 mm of rain this week, which is wonderful for the garden. The plants are getting a good drink, the soil is soaking it up, and everything is looking refreshed.

The only slight downside is that the rain and wind are also blowing the blossoms off the trees.

Of course they are.

With the Garden Festival just around the corner, I would very much appreciate the garden keeping its blossoms on for a little longer. We’ve been working hard to get everything ready, and I’m hoping that by next Friday the gardens will be looking their best and that plenty of people will come through the gates to enjoy them.

After this weekend, I’m reminded that you never quite know what a garden visit might bring.

A little inspiration, a few new ideas, a familiar face in an unexpected place and perhaps even a new friendship.

And if we’re lucky, a few more blossoms hanging on until next week. 🌸