It is always a pleasure to visit a garden when travelling overseas. Some delight, others offer peace and sanctuary, a place to picnic, or to stroll in natural surroundings. Central Park in New York and the Villa Borghese gardens in Rome both provide a chance to retreat from frenetic crowds and busy street life.
But becoming a traveller when at home is also on my agenda. The gardens of Victoria, Australia never cease to amaze, excite and challenge me. I was fortunate to visit a few local gardens last Spring with my dear friend Dianne, enchantress and gardener extraordinaire. “I’ll just pop this seed in my pocket!” “Could we ask for a small cutting of that plant?”
As part of this weeks travel theme on WheresMyBackpack.com, I am taking a stroll in the gardens of Alowyn Gardens , one hour from Melbourne, Australia. At each fork in the path, new and exciting choices need to be made. The garden provides such enormous variety: perrenial borders, a Parterre garden, an edible garden followed by a forest garden, a dry bed garden and the truely amazing Wisteria archway, just to name a few.
ALMOST ITALIAN 
A rare treat for us too! A beautiful garden, varied and subtle despite the bravura of that wisteria arch. Goodness, it must have been like heaven, standing under there – the scent and the sound of the buzzing bees, the mauve tinged light. 🙂
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It is a rather wonderful and over the top ( literally and metaphorically!) arch. There are so many elements to this garden- I wish I had taken better pics, but the day was so rainy and cold.
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Ahhh …. Spring! 🙂
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Oh, that is one gorgeous garden, now on my list to visit. Beautiful photos! Thank you.
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I hope you get to go there in Spring. It is just out of Yarra Glen, in the wine growing district- another reason to visit!
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I’ve never visited Allowyn, on my to do list now. I love Cloudhill in Olinda and for the colour and fragrance, the State Rose Garden in Werribee. Have you visited the Chinese Garden at Darling Harbour in Sydney, such an oasis in the melee of the city!
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I have visited Cloudhill, but not the other two. Must attempt to get back to Sydney one day. I can also recommend the Cranbourne Botanical gardens. Of course, the open garden scheme here in Vic always offers some treasures, as does the Arthur’s Creek Garden walk, an annual event offering 7 or so gardens to see in one day.
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Oh yes Cranbourne is wonderful, we always take visitors there overseas there who only plan to visit Australian cities. It’s quite an eye opener for them!
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Oh how very beautiful, Francesca! Awe inspiring.
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I love visiting gardens. Flowers inspire me so much!
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The wisteria archway wins hands down for me. I love to visit gardens when I am travelling, inquisitive (OK nosey) to see what is growing there 🙂
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That is a stunning garden Francesca you have captured its spirit in your photos. I must visit it when I get to Victoria. Maybe I will find a house sit there… 🙂
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Omg your photos are completely stunning! I’ve bookmarked your blog and can’t wait to explore more! But first I must share this park with my sister who lives in Melbourne with her Aussie husband, I hope she will visit and take more pictures, too! Warm greetings from Egypt!
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I hope your sister can get there. It could be part of a Yarra Valley day, as there a more wondeful sights nearby. Thankyou for popping in. F
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Love those blues – and the wisteria is amazing!
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yes, the blue Irises make me think of Van Gogh.
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Stunning photos. The wisteria always makes me think of Rome in the spring. Thanks so much for this post.
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The bluest of blues! My favourite colour. Your photos convey a sense of peace. I try to take the approach of being a traveller at home. It’s so easy to put it off, to think, oh another day, another time. But a traveller knows they might not get another chance. I’ve noticed it makes me look at the familiar with different eyes and to go to places I might otherwise not bother with. Thank-you for your post.
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Indeed. Being a traveller in your own country is so important. Even just popping into the lanes of the city. and thankyou for popping in.
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I love it.
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I meant to write, I love the Wisteria arch.
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Yes, it’s stunning walking under it in Spring. What a fabulous folly.
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Absolutely gorgeous.
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