Hamilton Gardens

I was sitting at the keyboard eating my porridge, yes, I said porridge, and I nearly decided to write about it.  Don't worry, you were spared by my lack of pictures!  Instead, I decided to write about the Hamilton Gardens.  How did I go from writing about porridge to The Gardens?  Because...after I finish this bowl, I'm going to need to head over and walk my breakfast off before it settles on my thighs.  Okay, enough about porridge and thighs...on to the point of this post...The Gardens!

Last week, we had a little break in the rain.  Stevie and I had been cooped up inside for a while, and we needed to get some fresh air.  It was chilly, but sunny, so I grabbed Stevie, chunked her in the car, and headed over to The Gardens.  It was a nice day to be at there because we were about the only ones there.  However, she and I looked like tourists.  I had my big camera bag thrown over my shoulder, I was wearing her, AND I had my cell camera ready to point and shoot. 

Baby wrapped, camera bag over shoulder, and cell phone self shot

 Guess what...it wasn't a good day to be there.  It's winter, and the flowers aren't blooming...duh Callie!!  I facepalmed once I realized I didn't plan that one too well.  On the other hand, it did get us out of the house, and I did have the chance to grab a flat white at the cafe after our walk.  Flat whites are my other addiction.  They too deserve their own post, but not today.

I did manage to get a couple of pictures of one of the new areas that is currently under development, but most of the pictures I'm posting are from previous trips.  You can read more about Hamilton Gardens here.  The site will give you a brief history of how the gardens started at 4 acres and grew to over 143 acres, information about the various garden collections, and you can also see even more pictures.  The best part of the gardens...it's free!!  So, here ya go...a scroll through The Gardens!!  I crack myself up...get it, scroll, not stroll.  Okay, yes I'm a dork...on to the pictures....

The Paradise Collection:

Japanese Garden of Contemplation

 

 

  

 

Chinese Scholars Garden

English Flower Garden

 

American Modernist Garden

Italian Renaissance Garden

 Indian Char Bagh Garden

The Productive Collection:

Sustainable Backyard

Te Parapara

The Fantasy Collection:  This collection is currently under development.  I'm sure it will be spectacular once it's fully established.  For now, I just have a couple of pictures of what you can view.

The Tudor Gardens

There's more to The Gardens and more collections that I do not have pictures of.  Actually, there's a whole section I have not had a chance to visit, yet.  As soon as the weather warms up and the flowers are in bloom, we will be heading back out to have another browse.

Inside, there's a very interesting piece of art.  It's a wood mural hand carved by two different artists.  It took them over 7000 hours to complete.  It is amazing!!!

I can't get over how detailed it is.  You really have to see it to appreciate it.  My pictures do not do this justice.

So there you have it, Hamilton Gardens! After battling the chilly weather, Stevie and I warmed up at the cafe, and then called it a day.  It's always nice to get out and play tourist though!!  Do you ever play tourist where you live?