On our recent road trip to the farm we are presently looking after, we stayed 2 days in Dubbo. A township in the western outback of New South Wales. Miles from anywhere but a bustling and busy centre where 5 main road systems bisect. It is linked by national highways north to Brisbane, south to Melbourne, east to Sydney and Newcastle, and west to Broken Hill and Adelaide. Trucks far outnumbered cars on the road.
It also had a Botanic Gardens, always a magnet for me.
Within the gardens was a Japanese Garden.
“Shoyoen” is the name of the Garden. ‘Shoyoen’ means ‘strolling and refreshing garden’. Shoyoen is recognised as being one of the most authentic Japanese Gardens in Australia. It was gifted to Dubbo by our Sister City Minokamo, Japan.
I was entranced by the beauty of this garden and spent hours wandering around absorbing the perfection and tranquillity.
Every where the attention to detail and the love of gardening was evident and I stopped to talk to this gardener.
He told me that a team of gardeners came from The Japanese sister city, Minokamo, each year to prune and train the Japanese Black Pine into large forms of Bonsai and supervise the training of the local gardeners in Japanese methods.
As I strolled around I thought of Jude and her love of gardens and passion for benches. Look how many I found here.
It was a morning filled with pure sensory delight. The shapes, the textures, the gentle perfume from the many
gardenia, the play of shadows across rock, the ripples across the pond, the sound of the waterfall as it cascaded over the rocks.
This is the best Japanese Garden I have seen in Australia…
On the way out past the sensory garden look what “EYE” saw…
Such a beautiful and peaceful place. Love the lizard and eyes.
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It was very peaceful and only 2 other groups there looking around.
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How lovely and so peaceful, Pauline. Great sculpture too. Perfect for the eye spy challenge. 🙂
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What perfection, and in Dubbo which we always try to avoid. You are a perfect treasure-finder.
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So beautiful and manicured to perfection. Really appreciate your photos, is lovely to see xxx 😉
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There is just something so peaceful and tranquil about Japanese gardens, Pauline. This one is spectacular! My hubby always puts together a small Japanese garden in the places we live, but he’s yet to construct one near the RUC. I know he will one day because he can’t resist 😀
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Maybe Hubby will be inspired by this Japanese garden if he goes to their web site. After harvest time is over…
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It’s exquisite, perhaps a bit too pristine for me, I like a bit of wild abandon!
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There was another couple of areas in the Botanic garden one was an English style and the other you would really like as it was the Aussie bush in all its wild abandon…
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You find some wonderful places / spaces Pauline and your photos are a delight 🙂
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Thanks Jude this garden was even better than my photos could portray
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Looks very peaceful. A place to sit and meditate.
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What a wonderful place for a wander! Another of your wonderful finds, Pauline. I’ve probably missed a few, but I’ve not been blogging for a week or so….
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Are you still busy settling in Sue? I’ve not had time to visit blogging friends for the past 3 weeks but I hope to come visiting soon.
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I am settling in nicely, thank you Pauline! Only hiatus is waiting for the kitchen to be finished….which is a bit wearying
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Camp stove cooking???
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Nope, got rid of that when I moved!
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You go to such amazing places Pauline. All my best to you and Jack. Beautiful post~
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Thanks Cindy, this garden was a beautiful find.
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I love the ginkgo leaves and was fascinated by the bonsai pruning of the large pines. The ancient apple trees that we inherited on our land already have a bonsai look to them and I’m hoping that we can prune them next spring in a way that will enhance their angular beauty.
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G’day Brenda it was amazing to see how they had wired those trees into submission. Look forward to seeing how you prune your apple trees.
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One for me to visit! Had an offer on my home this evening. I counter offered. I feel it is coming to a close which I am happy about. Time for a new chapter in my book of life. Keep well you two. Love M
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Fingers crossed for you Marilyn. Will you start travelling when it sells?
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We will be homeless in our other home…the big bus! Travelling south to find a place to live….any suggestions. lol. I have to find a cooler climate with less humidity. I don’t hurt so much in the cool. I think I will have to buy as it will affect my pension….. looking for a small arty community I can be part of and somewhere where we can take time off without coming home to 3 acres of garden and grass! It is out there somewhere. xo
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I liked the Tweed valley area when we house sat there. But so many lovely places, what a decision for you… Good luck in your search
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So beautiful!
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Thanks Dawn
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How very lovely. And all those benches to sit on, and muse, and enjoy the gardens.
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It was perfect pleasure Tish
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