Wildwood Gardens – 22nd September, 2019
Checked the oil and water on the ’55 Buick at 8am on Sunday morning pre the
meeting at Hawkesbury Info Centre, then an easy run out along The Northern
Road, no trucks to contend with on a Sunday as they’re widening it six days
a week for the interconnecting Badgery’s Creek airport service roads. Along
Blacktown Road and Racecourse Road and past the Clarendon showground, waving
and honking at the guys on the gate at the “Heavy Machinery and Truck Show”,
turned left around onto Richmond Road and into the Info Centre at 9.30am,
made it there in good time.
Eleven Buicks in the carpark to watch the two steam trains shunting six
carriages of show goers, between Richmond and Clarendon stations and back
again. Lots of smoke to inhale as Barbara etc. took close up photos. Time
to assault the climb up Bellbird Hill to our destination “Wildwood Garden”
at Bilpin. Half an hour later arriving safely, after 30 kms, mostly up hill
through small townships like Kurrajong and Kurmond, passing through acres of
apple tree (hail netted) orchards, arriving at the gates of this beautiful
25 acre property. Parking was made easy for us in the reserved front
carpark.
Walking in through the gift shop, owners Wayne and Sue Tipping surprised us,
putting on a great morning tea of cakes, slices and biscuits as well as
coffee and tea included in our cheap as price of admission (Yah Baby) on the
private balcony, off their gift shop, with great views down overlooking
their own beautiful valley.
Much chatting and discussing that run up the hill. While enjoying that
abundance of food, and owner Wayne’s directions as to where to start our
garden tour, a few jokes, discount offers in the gift shop etc. Wayne grew
up at the top of the western side of Galston Gorge near Calderwood Road, and
admitted to being a boy race through the gorge around all the tight narrow
bends across the Tunk Creek Bridge and up the other side (Like my best mate,
Ian M, lived in Crosslands Road, had told me that was what he also used to
do for fun in his younger days) to Hornsby.
Morning tea finished, we strolled out through the gift shop, then up a
slight hill along the azaleas, rhododendron path above a pond (with
recirculating water) that flows over lucky stones creating a cascading
waterfall, the water continuing under a “two big log” bridge planked
together down the path, through fern glades to a bigger pond. Like the
water, we fall down the hill past a huge, long undulating manicured
wave-like hedge, in and out of pines and eucalyptus trees into the sunshine
of a grassy paddock with topiary horses, including a winged Pegasus, to sit
and watch as Koi carp cruise over the dam to check out if we have any food.
“We didn’t know you were here guys, so sorry, you get nothing”.
Not retracing our original descent, we ascend through two Buxus hedged old
style English rose gardens with steel wrought iron arches leading you into a
different fragrant room until reaching the summit or in this case the plant
nursery/shop.
Lunchtime sees us availing ourselves of the balcony again. It might have
still been winter but the warm sunlight was glorious and after lunch, it
made us all very lethargic, but one last meander through the gift shop (20%
off sale) and goodbyes to our hosts, Wayne and Sue, it’s time to hit the
brakes down Bellbird Hill and home.
Another great day out in the company of Buickers, thanks G & G for
organizing the day.
Gary & Janice Ferrett