I usually run with a theme. I am continuing my celebration of Spring this week (and probably next week too). My city has an annual flower festival to celebrate Spring (Floriade). Just down the road there is also a private celebration which is where I am taking you this week.
Tulip Top Gardens is the brainchild and work (lots of work) of a single family. One family does all the back breaking planting and preparation work by hand. And they put in over half a million bulbs and plants. I am in awe. Unlike Floriade there is a fee to enter (which includes free instant tea and/or coffee) but the commercialisation pretty much stops there.
It is just off the highway between my city and Sydney and a million miles from it.
Even by my standards I took LOTS of photos when we visited early last week. Covid cancelled it last year and I was so very happy to welcome it back. Classical music plays from the trees, there are frogs croaking happily in the water ways, and chairs are spread across the grass to sit, admire or doze (which I saw several people doing. Do you wonder we love it there?
This last photo is the entrance to the gardens but for some reason Blogger decided that it would order my photos to suit itself. The pear blossom is out, and the crab apple on the other side of the walk way is nearly out.
Next week (weather permitting) I will take you to Floriade with us.
Whatever your season I hope you find some spring in your steps this week.
I was wondering what those adorable little fuzzballs were. Chooks! I've never heard of them. Always learning new things from you. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers everywhere. You have the most fantastic places to wander. As you know, I've been in a flower frame of mind myself lately. As always, I so appreciate your generosity and hard work to bring such loveliness to the rest of us.
I hope your week is filled with sweetness and less of the things that grind us all down. Hugs to you.
River Fairchild: I may have misled you. Chooks is an Australian term for chickens. And these were definitely up market. As you know, I am often obsessed with flowers. And they are everywhere at the moment. Thank you. Always.
DeleteBEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteSandi: It is. And it smells and sounds lovely too.
DeleteHi EC ... I may need to come back ... as you mention at the beginning! Just quite delightful ... gorgeous - oh how I wish we were there and not six months of misery way - at least nature will give us a glow ... love all the photos ... Bellis daisies, forsythia, tulips ... all stunning - thank you - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: That hard working family does exceptional work don't they? And I delight in the pansies, the violas, the bellis perennis, the blossoms... And of course the trees and the tulips.
DeleteI had to reorient my brain when your post came up, Sue, because it is Sunday and spring where you are. I thoroughly understand the science behind it all, but it always feels a little strange. Your post is gorgeous ~ all those beautiful spring flowers. I love tulips, forsythia, and tree blossoms. Thanks for sharing this spectacular place. Have a lovely week! Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteFundy Blue: Thank you. For some reason I have never had any trouble with the shift in times and seasons. And often delight in winter on your side of the world when I am in melt down. Have a great week.
DeleteThis is just thrilling and reminds me I don't have to wait until April to enjoy spring once again, These are simply magnificent! And thanks for telling me what those strange fluffy critters are, I could never have guessed. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: I have no idea why there were exotic chickens in the garden, but they looked perfectly content.
DeleteWow! What a beautiful, stunning display. Those people sure do need congratulating on a wonderful, wonderful job well done! Thanks for sharing, EC.
ReplyDeleteI hope the coming week treats you kindly. Take good care. :)
Lee: I hope they heard the delighted murmur from the visitors. And that they make a profit this year and are back next year.
Delete"Sunday Selections #600"
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious post this is too.
FABULOUS photographs from start to finish, thank you for the floral delight :)
May the week ahead be a good one for you.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member Jan: At least Sunday Selections #600, and probably more. There are weeks I have taken a break.
DeleteTulip Top Gardens blows me away and delights me.
Gorgeous and wonderful Sue. How beautiful a place. That forsythia avenue though - incredibly beautiful. I too love forsythias.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: That forsythia avenue is special isn't it? I have been watching it grow year by year.
DeleteAh! Spring has sprung Downunder. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteIn Seanhenge almost all potatoes have been harvested, almost all apples and pears have been picked, and now I am looking forward to a golden October.
Only one more autumn and one more winter and it will be spring again in my neck of the woods. ;-)
Sean Jeating: Spring has definitely sprung. I suspect that when you move into winter I will be envying you and looking to photos from your side of the world for cool relief.
DeleteAll these floral booms are so incredible! Love the garden designs too
ReplyDeleteroentare: It is a truly amazing and beautiful place.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteThank you for this burst of colour, joy and delight. I love the tulips and the blossom especially, although the chickens were also impressive! I look forward to Floriade too.
Have a joyful week
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: You would have loved it there. We are looking forward to Floriade, but not sure when the weather will allow a visit.
DeleteIt's more stunning than I remember from years past. What strange fowl, the likes of which I haven't seen before. Apparently our own tulip farm was overrun with visitors on the extra holiday day last week.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: Absence making the heart grow fonder? We enjoyed it. Muchly. There were visitors but not as many as I expected - though we went on a weekday.
DeleteOh, WOW! What a stunning display! I love it, but my back is aching in sympathy. ;-) Thanks for the burst of spring!
ReplyDeleteDiane Henders: Their work puts mine to shame. I didn't see a single weed either.
DeleteOne of my friends refers to her yard as the "Garden of Weedin'". Since my back injury last December, I've had to get used to the idea that I simply can't eradicate all the weeds from everywhere at once. It's been good in one regard, because I've learned to relax and stop thinking of weeds in my garden as a personal failure. Some of my garden beds are currently weed-free; others have "ground cover". ;-)
DeleteDiane Henders: None of our beds are weed free. And in some of them the things I planted as battling to poke through. Work is required.
DeleteOh WOW, what a spectacular place. My herd of 10 deers would be happy there, lol. They've been eating my tulips so this fall, I decided to not plant any so I'll have to be content to take in all the beauty you can share.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the springtime beauty.
Hugs,
Julia
Julia: Some parts of Australia are overrun with deer. Not there - which I am thankful for. They didn't seem to suffer from the visits of sulphur crested cockatoos either.
DeleteSuch beautiful plants and trees - I love the tulips and the wonderful blossoms - spectacular! The forsythias remind me of my childhood (I was born in Christchurch), but sadly it is too warm here for them to thrive.
ReplyDeleteThis was a beautiful garden, EC, so thank you - now you must be looking forward to Floriade... enjoy!
Alexia: The forsythia in my garden is suffering. I may have to replace it. We are looking forward to Floriade, but suspect it will struggle to match this display.
DeleteOh my goodness, what adorable exotic Chooks did you call then, which appear to be cousins of my critters in Saturday's Critters with Eileen. They just make me smile. Blossoms over and beyond for as far to see you are in a beautiful season one of my favorites and those tulips, they are incredible as well. I would plop myself down and just take in all the scents too. A marvelous place you've brought us to, thank you so much. (Can you tell I've been feeling that old man winter creeping closer to us?!) it always happens about this time when the weather is somewhat warning us step by little step. Sunshine and happiness for your week ahead, enjoy it all.
ReplyDelete21 Wits: People not in Australia (or the UK) would know them as chickens. I haven't seen these varieties before and loved them. And the gardens. I hope your winter is gentle. And beautiful.
DeleteBlogger does that to me too at times. I just love that tulips come in so many pretty colors.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: Tulips come in a whole range of colours and I suspect that as more open there will be different colours on display. We loved what was open for our visit though.
DeleteFloriade can’t beat Tulip Top Gardens, surely? Just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t heard the term chooks since my grandmother called to her chickens fifty years ago. Her chickens weren’t like those though.
Marie Smith: I don't think Floriade will beat Tulip Top Gardens, but we will enjoy it too. I have never seen chickens/chooks like those and wonder whether they produce eggs on the same scale.
DeleteI am not the sort of person who would plant a formal garden (too lazy and easily distracted!), but I do enjoy the annual meander eith you. But HOW THE HECK DO THEY KEEP THOSE CHOOKS OUT OF THE BEDS?????
ReplyDeleteThank you...I look forward to Floriade.
dinahmow: Perhaps they were VERY exotic chooks. While we were watching they didn't show the slightest interest in the garden beds. And I hear you on formal gardens. Not for me, but this is a wander I enjoy.
DeleteIt is all spectacular. I do hope you get to go again and share more.
ReplyDeleteMy selections will be over here.
messymimi: It is spectacular isn't it? Floriade is the next step, but I do hope we can go back. I am looking forward to your selections.
DeleteI am astonished at the timing, how everything is planted at the right time so most of it is blooming all at once! it's more spectacular for having missed a couple of years. I LOVE the two-tone tulips with the yellow on them and the plain bright yellow ones. The fluffy white chooks look like powderpuffs. Deep purple pansies :) Forsythia avenue has me thinking of the Ukranian flag.
ReplyDeleteRiver: There was a lot to love. And quite a lot more yet to come out, but they planned well. Very well. I saw the Ukrainian flag too, though that avenue is a permanent fixture.
DeleteThis is an incredible display. Seems we just were looking at the tulip festival in Ottawa, and now it's your turn.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: And the world turns. I am hoping to see a different (but still incredible) display closer to home this week.
DeleteA dispatch from Paradise! It seems so my friend. It delights me to think that you are there experiencing it all. Because this post touched me in a healing way deeply. Wishing you all the best. With warmest Aloha
ReplyDeleteCloudia: It would be very hard NOT to feel better surrounded by this beauty wouldn't it?
DeleteSo many flowers!! So much colour! Just beautiful. I have never seen exotic chooks. : )
ReplyDeleteCaterina: Himself's sister keeps more ordinary chickens (and loves them) but when we sent her some photos of these she fell in lust. And yes, there was a heap of beauty on display and we were grateful.
DeleteI'm trying to get about six forthysia to grow in front of my house. As fast as they grow, they're not growing fast enough for me.
ReplyDeleteMike: I do hope yours take off. Ours has not, and may have to be replaced.
DeleteThe flowers in bloom are spectacular, loved seeing them.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D: Yet again I had to rescue you from spam. We loved the blooms too - and the whole outing.
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeletee: It is isn't it? I am so glad to see this celebration back again.
DeleteSomething wonderful in every direction! What a great day you must have had.
ReplyDeleteBill: We had a delightful day.
DeleteHow utterly wonderful. I always think of tulips and forsythia as northern plants, but they seem very much at home in NSW. There is a tulip festival in Ottawa each year, Sue, begun by the queen of The Netherlands in gratitude for spending the war years in Canada. You are hereby invited for next year. My daughter lives in our nation's capital just as you live in yours and she will receive us in fine style. Actually she and her husband will be visiting us this coming weekend. I'll be sure to let her know!
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Some of NSW is not kind to tulips (or many of the bulbs). The areas close to my city are. I would love to go to the Ottawa Tulip Festival. I suspect the internet is as close as I will get. Enjoy your time with your daughter - as I know you will.
DeleteHooray spring! That was a wonderful visit. I hear you about reverse uploading.
ReplyDeleteJenn Jilks: The reverse uploading is yet another blogger glitch but less irritating than some. Hooray Spring indeed.
DeleteAll that beauty is too amazing for words.
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie: It is isn't it?
DeleteRegardless the fee, it was well worth it. Such beauty, such incredible tulips. I love the forsythia and miss mine I had in MO. I'm amazed they have an entire avenue filled with them. Your photos are incredible and I could have enjoyed even more. Like you, I was impressed with the companion plantings. Just brilliant the way they spread the colors around like they did. So glad you brought us here. It's stunning.
ReplyDeleteBleubeard and Elizabeth: I don't begrudge them the entry fee at all. Children under 16 are free and there are discounts for seniors, pensioners and carers. Isn't that forsythia avenue a treat? We saw many people posing in it for selfies - and indeed that was true all over the gardens.
DeleteForsythia Avenue---what a name and what a walk through that would be. How is it all bloom at the same time? Tulips and forsythia are early bloomers here and maybe they know when to get the dahlia's and pansies to bloom with them. I'm in awe, is what I'm trying to say.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: Forsythia Avenue is what I call it rather than a formal name. And yes, I am in awe at their plantings. No dahlias though.
DeleteI was taken aback the Chooks, chickens, full of furry, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: Weren't those chooks amazing. Dinahmow asked how they were kept out of the gardens. I suspect they were too posh to scratch for their food.
DeleteWhenever I come to your blog I'm reminded how colourful everything in Australia is. The birds, the flowers, everything! I do love colour.
ReplyDeleteLL Cool Joe: I love colour too - which is probably the reason you see so much of it on my blog.
DeleteThe Forsythia Avenue is magnificent! The amount of work involved is mind boggling...so much forethought and such flawless execution. Loved your description about being off the highway and a million miles away. Those are just great spaces to have access to. Cheers to spring!
ReplyDeleteNilanjana Bose: It is literally just off the highway - which can neither be seen nor heard from most of the gardens. I am so grateful to the hardworking gardeners.
DeleteSo much fluff and so many flowers!
ReplyDeleteI love living out here in the country but I do miss visiting the botanic gardens. The drive means it's something we do very seldom.
Here's another aquarium Haiga.
https://poetryofthenetherworld.blogspot.com/2022/09/30-days-of-haiga-2022-peaceful-aquarium.html
Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost (Not Charlotte): So much fluff and so many flowers indeed. I am heading over to your aquarium Haiga now.
Deletesuch magnificent flowers and adorable chooks!
ReplyDeleteHena Tayeb: Thank you. I am sorry, the spam monster had claimed your comment and I have only just noticed and released it.
DeleteWOW!
ReplyDeleteThank you for including a "few" photographs! There is no way words could describe all of that beauty.
Simply lovely, EC!
Wally: We said (and thought) WOW rather a lot. And I heard other visitors saying the same thing.
DeleteGorgeous and breathtaking. They must have had a large group of people planting all those plants. It couldn't have been the work of only a few. I loved those chooks, which I thought were furry statues. LOL. Never saw anything like them in my life. Thanks so much for the tour.
ReplyDeletegigi-hawaii: We are told that it is the work of one family. And it sounds as if less than a dozen people do all the work. Amazing.
DeleteThose photos are absolutely beautiful, and I love what you said about the classical music! I too, can hear the trees playing their beautiful music from time to time, when I'm walking by.
ReplyDeleteLon Anderson: It is a truly beautiful place, and I am endlessly grateful that they have planted so many trees as well as the bulbs and spring blooms.
DeleteSo much gorgeous flora! I particularly enjoyed the first shot of all those pink trees. However I'm ignorant enough to not be able to identify them. They aren't sakura trees, assume?
ReplyDeleteJohn Wiswell: I am ignorant too. I rely on leaves rather than blossoms. Many of the trees were identified but I didn't take note of those ones.
DeleteWow, just wow! I'm swooning over here...
ReplyDeleteThose fuzzy creatures are actually chickens?! Amazing. How soft they must be to the touch.
Bea: They are chickens and looked VERY soft. I suspect that they require a lot of upkeep too.
DeleteThose adorable little chickens.....................:)
ReplyDeleteJ C: Weren't they gorgeous?
DeleteLove the bicolored blossoms Have not seen them
ReplyDeleteBefore. Love the child too
anonymous: Thank you. I do wish that you would/could identify yourself.
DeleteI always look forward to your visit to Hilltops :)
ReplyDeleteIt hasn't disappointed
kylie: It didn't disappoint us either. At all.
DeleteThis was fabulous! All those wonderful, wonderful flowers, and then the chicken to make me laugh!
ReplyDeleteI hope it's a big family making this! and look forward to more!
Charlotte (MotherOwl): I am so glad you enjoyed the garden and the chickens. It isn't a big family, which makes their work even more amazing.
DeleteA riot of colour this week! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJ Cosmo Newbery: It was indeed a riot of colour and brightened our day (and week).
DeleteA great series of beautiful photos! I love those chickens :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: I am glad you enjoyed the plethora of photos.
DeleteThose colorful tulips are just amazing and the chicks so adorable,
ReplyDeleteRasmaSandra: It is a beautiful place isn't it? We look forward to our visits every year and I am so glad we could see it again this year.
DeleteThat is an incredible amount of work for one family!! Tulips are the happiest of flowers - one of my faves. Thanks for the smiles!
ReplyDeleteJemi Fraser: I am blown away by the work involved. It puts my garden to shame. Glad to make you smile.
DeleteWonderful Post
ReplyDeleteThanks
Rehoboth: Thank you. Please don't leave links to your site here though.
DeleteWow! Simply wow! Breathtaking. I don't know where to start, it's all so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThose chooks...they look like wannabe doggies. :-D
neena maiya (guyana gyal): It is a beautiful, beautiful place. I am so grateful that we could visit again this year. And yes, those chooks were something else.
Delete