Hunter Valley Gardens. Cessnock NSW

Visited Hunter Valley Gardens yesterday, what a great place to get gardening ideas from.
The roses are very common varieties but shown extremely well. Mostly HT's that are popular with the masses. It is in the heart of Cessnocks winery district so is very dry. They have 30 gardeners looking after everything and the place is a real picture.
Note they spray regularly with double strength Triforene and Mancozeb to keep the roses looking their best. Is there no place to hide.
Definately worth a visit before Christmas as they were installing lights throughout the garden when I was there.

Did you take any photos Bruce? I haven't been there since they built the gardens and it was pretty ordinary then. It would be good to see how it has matured.

Simon will have to get a camera in the future. Used to be a semi professional doing portrature in my suburb. Had an enlarger 2 1/4 square Rollli, all the lights, reflectors etc . Also a member of the Photographic Society.

Just goes to show over exposure can kill off ones interests.

The garden has matured beautifully, just the right age, not woody but very leafy. Definately worth a visit any Spring or Autumn.

I reckon one of those new Hasselblad medium format digital cameras would get the interest going again Bruce... all the benefits of modern technology with all the flexibility of traditional photographic techniques... if you have a spare $31,000 The more I find out about you the more alike I think we are... fish, chickens, photography, roses... I gave up doing professional photography because I got put off by people not having an appreciation of the art and effort behind it... I was doing location shoots for holiday venues and all people were interested in is paying the smallest amount possible in the shortest time with no appreciation of the art in the photos... was very impersonal and quite disheartening... so now I take landscapes, flower photographs, macro-photos, and teach a little photogrpahy at school along with doing the school magazine (my current headache).

Not to mention helping budding rose enthuisasts like me Simon !!

At $ 31,000 it's better I don't ever see one. However when I sell the acres, if ever, might be looking to spend up big. No doubt the time will come when I can't manage 5 acres. Will be looking for interests that can be forgotten for a long time and give up all the things that need feeding.

By the way I have mated my Tallawong cattle dog bitch and will keep a pup from her as this will be her last litter. Yes! I know, another mouth to feed.

As you mentioned we have had a lot of mutual interests in the past, add bees, target shooting with my home made equipment and now pollinating roses. Why do we do this to ourselves? I was sitting down in the shade yesterday removing eyes from rootstock thinking about all the work I have created but still having a real good time. My wife is not helpful as she encourages me to keep busy. Mentions I am the sort of person that needs to be kept busy with at least 2 hobbies.

All jokes aside I enjoy a challenge but knowing when to quit is a problem.

I'm hearing ya Ozeboy !! Hard to sit down and relax isn't it !! I'm damned if i know how some of you rose experts sleep at night with all your ideas running around in your head. Anyway, i'm away for a week very shortly so this will be my last post for a while. Even tho i'll be working 10hr days, i'm looking forward to having early nights in the motel while in Maryborough. Cya when i get back.