Kevtoberfest #14 The Campbell Rhododendron Gardens and The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden
With plans to visit two cool climate mountain gardens in springtime, I had visions of daffodils, bluebells and tulips in all their glory. We did see all of those, but both gardens had much more to offer than just displays of spring bulbs.
While rhododendrons are the main feature at the Campbell Rhododendron Gardens in Blackheath, many other plants help to fill the 18.3 hectares of parkland. Gently sloped walking tracks are also lined with camellias and azaleas. These exotic plants blend seamlessly with the existing native bushland.
At the top of the garden, shelter sheds provide quiet picnic areas and lookouts reveal the pretty lake bordered with native ferns and shrubs.
Closer down, the air is filled with the melodic sound of frogs, heard but not seen, and the still water of the lake reflects its lush surroundings.
Spring flowering plants and trees colour every part of the garden.
But it’s the rhododendrons we’ve come to see and, even though we’re a month too early for the main flowering season, many bushes are already laden with blooms.
The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden also features plants from many of the world’s cooler climates. Located 1000 metres above sea level at Mount Tomah, this is the highest botanic garden in Australia.
Meandering paths, some paved with local granite and others grassed, lead through each themed section of the garden. In one area, we marvel at the proteas – some as large as dinner plates. Further on are dozens of grevilleas, each with its own distinctive shape and colour.
We wander through arid gardens overflowing with drought resistant plants,
past the Brunet Meadow filled with bluebells,
along avenues of trees laden with spring blossom.
The flowering trees and shrubs attract native birds including king parrots, satin bower birds and kookaburras.
Waratahs, native to the cooler south-eastern parts of Australia and related to the proteas we saw earlier, bloom in many parts of the garden.
Camellias are native to the mountainous areas of Asia but have long been favoured in Australian gardens. In this region, the cold winter temperatures encourage perfect blooms.
I came to these two spectacular gardens expecting to see spring flowers, and I got exactly that – and more!
Join Jo for more Monday Walks
Becky has lots of #MarchSquares
Wow, what beautiful gardens in a spectacular setting. I used to have rhododendrons in my garden but sadly my lack of a green thumb killed them. Beautiful photos here Carol.
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It’s too hot where we live to grow rhododendrons so I really enjoyed seeing them in flower.
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Fabulous, Carol! 🙂 🙂 I love rhodies, and I was really taken with those Waratas too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before. Many thanks!
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The waratahs are gorgeous. I hadn’t seen them growing like this before, although on the same day we saw a few growing wild in the bush. Next post…
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Beautiful gardens. Such an interesting mix of flora.
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PS and thank you so very much for the link up 😁
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It wasn’t at all what I expected but what a wonderful surprise they were.
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☺
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Absolutely gorgeous. I just love wandering around a goodbotanical garden. I’ve never seen the satin Bower Bird and hadn’t expected it to be so blue. Seeing one building it’s Bower is definitely on my bucket list. Bower birds are so fascinating.
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He is a gorgeous colour. The female is quite a dull olive colour. Chris, you might like to read this post about a bower bird on my other blog. https://theadventuresofjustinbeaver.wordpress.com/2015/02/01/bluer-than-blue/
I haven’t written a post there for ages and have been meaning to get back to it. I must make that a priority!
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Those rhododendrons are a picture of real beauty Carol. 🙂
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I would love to see them in full bloom. We were just a little early.
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They still look beautiful though 😊
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Gorgeous! I particularly like the Blue Mountain garden – such a fabulous setting.
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Anabel, the views from there were glorious. The gardens were nicely spaced too – plenty of room.
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The flowers are beautiful but your native parrots and colorful birds are stunning. Great photos.
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Thanks. The birds are quite beautiful and there were lots of them at these gardens.
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Definitely my kind of place. You have some huge camelias over there.
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These camellias were twice the size of the ones I grow – it’s the cold winters I suppose. The proteas were amazing. I’ve never seen such large ones before.
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One of the reasons I would visit a Botanic Garden in Oz would be to enjoy the bird life – your birds are so colourful and often have such wonderful calls…….
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We do have some pretty ones, that’s for sure.
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A beautiful walk this morning thank you Carol! 😀
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Glad you enjoyed it, Lorraine.
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Just stunning I must organise a trip to the Blue Mountains for next spring.
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Spring is the perfect time to visit, but don’t expect the temperatures to be warm. It was quite chilly, especially at night.
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Need to take our thermals…
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It wasn’t that cold but might be if you went in winter. 😨
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Definitely won’t be going in winter
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This post for this reader needed a ‘love’ button. Gorgeous flowers, wonderful lake with what looks like a lovely island, AND those gorgeous birds. Home run. 🙂
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Funny you should say that, Judy. I often think I would like to “love” a post too. Thank for the great compliment. These gardens were so pretty.
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Since taking up macro photography I love places like that. Beautiful images Carol.
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We love taking macro photos of flowers too, Leanne. Some of these were taken with my phone, which actually does very nice macro.
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Beautiful photos. Must go there when next visiting friends in the Blue Mountains
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Both these gardens would be wonderful at any time of year.
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I had the Blue Mountains garden on my list when I was last in Sydney, but didn’t get there as it was too hot to move some days! Maybe on my next visit I can persuade the son to take me 🙂
Funny seeing the spring flowers at the same time as ours – I went to a garden yesterday with lots of camellias and daffodils, but sadly none of those magnificent proteas and grevilleas!
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Jude, you would really enjoy the botanic garden and don’t forget, up in the mountains it’s always cooler. We were there last September and it wasn’t warm.
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What stunning flowers we have in Oz and such a beautiful serene setting.
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Both these gardens were so peaceful – plenty of room for everyone. Aren’t the waratahs gorgeous.
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I was going to write exactly that about the Waratahs but forgot!
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What a wonderful post with glorious photos of Spring. It is great to see the proteas which are native to South Africa where I was born. I grew up on a hilltop and we had proteas and aloes (such as you have a photos of too) growing wild all around our house.So much so, that as a child, my mother would pick a bunch of proteas for me to take in to my teacher every now and again.
So nice to see them again here in your photos. Gorgeous!
Peta
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How lovely to have proteas growing like that. I’m happy to hear that this post brought so many memories.
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Sigh. Amazing. I am speechless when seeing Your stunning photos. I started to miss the summer immediately! We have still snow in Helsinki, but someday it…
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I hope spring comes to you soon, Matti.
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Gorgeous gardens and fab photos, I just love rhododendrons and azaleas 🙂
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Thank you Eunice. In another couple of weeks those rhododendrons would have been amazing.
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I’m so envious when I see this vibrant abundance of flowers of all shapes and colors from the classic daffodils to the exuberant proteas… Back in Paris I’m freezing and we are supposed to be in spring for already 2 weeks… Gorgeous blog and amazing pictures 🙂
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Thank you! We are lucky to enjoy lovely gardens almost all year round. I hope it warms up for you soon.
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What beautiful colours and an amazing setting. I think we’d love meandering here and taking in the wildlife too. The birds match the flowers!
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This is a garden you could enjoy in any season too.
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What a glorious feast for the eyes this place is – so many beautiful coloured plants and flowers.
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I’ve never seen proteas this large, Elaine. The conditions must be perfect.
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