Return to Mount Tomah Botanic Garden with Fr. Gabriel

We had a heat wave this weekend with temperautres hitting 97 degrees Farenheit on Saturday and 86 on Sunday. Thankfully, we had wonderful weather last week as we drove home from Condobolin with Fr. Gabriel. On the way home (it's a 7 hour trip!), we stopped by Mt. Tomah Botanic Garden. I have blogged about the site before (see back in February or so).

I have been to this Blue Mountain park twice before, but neither time was anything really blooming. Now we visited in early Spring with high expectations. And as you can see through these images, we were not disappointed. It was especially nice to share the gardens with Fr. Gabriel, Br. Jerry and my associate Fr. Gerard (A.K.A. "Fr. Flowers" because he likes gardening, and, of course, flowers in particular).

I am no botanist so I will spare you a play by play. Just some thoughts: these first five photos (1-5) are of the entrance, before actually entering the park! These next couple are the views after entering; it's atop a mountain within the Blue Mountains. The vista is beautiful (6-7).

These blue flower clusters grew near the entrance after coming oin (16-20). Just spectacular, covering several huge bushes. I have no idea what they are! Their color was intense and the flowers looked so exotic! Here are the friars posing at the one main water feature; Br. Jerry, Fr. Gabriel and Fr. Gerard (21). Photos 22-23 are details of another flower stalk that grew from the center of succulents. Again, nothing like that close to home, back in the States.

These flowers (24) were so tiny and delicate, each one the size of a small bead. They looked like a string of milky, heart-shaped pearls. The next plant (25) must be of a cousin, an unstrung variety!

Even leaves are interesting. Look carefully how these grow in the shape of a cross (26-27). And these others, much smaller, must be a "variation on a theme" (28). I love the colors on these leaves; they look like paint brushes to me (30). We saw several bird species, too. This Rosella hid high up in the trees (31) but I was able to zoom in and snap a shot!

Several bushes had these large flowers, each as big as a small cantaloup (33-35)! This flower almost looks like it's sprouting feathers (33). Again, so surreal and other-worldly!

These last few shots are of an English garden on which they were working. I had these once in my apartment (38-39). This is Fr. Gerard with the pansies (40), and the final shot is a detail (41).

Fr. Gabriel returned last week and we still miss him. The weather is supposed to return to spring time by tomorrow. Am looking forward to 70's and sun!