Another trip South



One of the local timber sheds - we're hoping to build one similar to this.

Well, another trip has come and gone. November is truly the prettiest time to visit the valley. Although I love it in all seasons it is at its lushest and most impressive, to the Australian eye, in the Spring. The hills are green and lush. The orchards are passed flowering and are now deep green patches of cherry-flavoured promise. The water and sky is the clearest blue. Even the most modest of gardens have roses and peonies to rival any mainland botanic garden and spark more than a hint of jealousy in any avid gardener.


Fresh Peonies from Sally's garden. (Plant Hunters)

Unfortunately as someone who knows more about the local wildlife this growth brings, I see the long thick grass at our place and just think 'snakes'. Our next trip in March when the grass dries out, will require us to walk with very big sticks! Tiger snakes are prolific down here. But I comfort myself with the knowledge that statewide, more people are killed by the jack jumper ant than tiger snakes. And somehow I can't bring myself to be too afraid of an ant.


Green, green, green. Spring is lush in the valley
and we can see it all from our place.

We took the opportunity to measure the block for a shed and maybe where to place some fences around the house site. Below is Geoff walking a fenceline to the right of our house. To the right of Geoff will still be the hay paddock. On the left between the hay paddock and the house, I plan to plant a lovely cool climate garden the envy of all! Click here to check out the inspiration.  



Geoff marking out a fenceline. To the left will be a garden.

We had visitors with us on this trip. Geoff's parents and a family friend Shan, came with us. We happily played tour guide. There is so much to see down there - you're never at a loss for something to do.
Sally Johannsohn runs a rare plant nursery called Plant Hunters in Neika and Shan had had a telephone relationship with Sally for a number of years so Shan was very keen to visit Sally and meet her face to face. Well, what a lovely lady Sally is. She was very keen to show us around her beautiful garden picking the most amazing peonies (see photo above). She was also keen to find out lots about Geoff and me and our plans for Tassie. She's given me her email address and I will be in touch soon.

We also met another wonderful character in Roger Scales from the Woodbridge Smokehouse. One phone call to see if we could stop by and have a squiz at his setup - and we were there all afternoon while he showed us his organic apple orchards, his prize-winning rooster 'Jock' and his fantasy house site that has the most amazing view over the D'Entrecasteaux Channel I have ever seen. We finally got to see his smokehouse and taste the amazing produce. First class.

Below are a few photos from Cygnet and surrounds;



Bumble Bees!

The front yard of our accomodation 'Inglehope'.








One of the many interesting boats
on Port Cygnet.

The wetlands at Cygnet.

The old apple processing plant.



A local cottage in full Spring splendour.



The 2011 Huon Show

Beautiful day for a country fair.

A big part of our trip was heading to the Huon Show. It's a big old-fashioned country show held in Ranelagh just north of Huonville. I would think that most people in the valley dropped in at some point. There was draught horses (my favourite!), show jumping, vintage machinery displays, chainsaw carving, wood chopping events, bullock driving demonstration - you could even have a go yourself, animal judging (sheep, poultry, alpacas, goats, cattle etc.), flower arranging, crafts and of course sideshow alley. Chip-on-a-stick and Pluto pups. Geoff, his Dad and I had a great day - the weather was perfect.  Although the harsh Tasmanian sun did manage to burn my skin against my best efforts to keep it off. Enjoy the photos.

Dairy goats.

Love the draught horses!

Driving the bullock team.

The boys from the Hobart Vintage Machinery Society.

Cattle sales.

Eww! Tiger snakes! This man is crazy.

Sideshow alley.

'Nuff said.