Gardeners must change their practices too. If we tend to our gardens in a low rainfall area, we must plant suitable trees and shrubs that are not greedy water guzzlers. If we enjoy temperate conditions that are so great for growing all manners of plants, we must not import plants that will escape into the natural environment and become weeds. Let us stop using harmful poisons, we can pick off the black spot leaves on the roses or destroy the plant that is very badly infected. We must learn to recycle by building wonderful compost heaps and throwing everything on it and you will be rewarded by superb soil full of goodies for your garden plants and the thick mulch will help conserve the moisture for your plants to use. Do not put the mulch too close to the trunks of your trees. So ends Gay's lesson.

I have many beautiful photos that will brighten our thoughts and take up your time. Let me tell you what happened last weekend. I was trying to walk in the garden, in between rain squalls, with my son and family who came from Sydney to spend a long weekend at the country garden "Kibbenjelok". We were on one of the stone paths, hidden by huge Rhododendron when suddenly there was a lady standing behind me, a woman with dark brown curly hair, a pretty face and sparkling eyes. She begged me to excuse her for being so rude and interrupting our walk in the garden. She came from the state of Victoria she told me. "I visited the garden five years ago on an open day and I have never been able to forget the experience and longed to come again. I have forgotten your name but remembered how to get here. May I roam around to experience that wonderful feeling again? "

I, of course, said that would be fine but I wanted to take advantage of the rare dry spell and finish the stroll with the family. When we had 'done' the gardens, the rest of the family went inside and I saw our visitor waiting near the 'Big Pond Cinderella' and I joined her. "Thank you so much" she said. "I was sitting here by the water and looking over to the view of the channel and I felt so much peace and happiness. And a dream for the future formed in my mind. I had just had my breasts removed and was pretty much down in the dumps and feeling sorry for myself. Your garden gave me hope again".

Sitting here, I thought that one day, when the children were old enough and that is soon, I would come to this area of Tasmania and build a retreat for women, experiencing the same despondency after similar operations to recover and find peace. I will try to create my own garden of joy and happiness and show them that life is not finished with a little bit of body pruning." We laughed and she asked me about several properties that were for sale in the area. I was not much help on this "But", I said, "When you have bought your little piece of Paradise, it will make me so happy to give you plants and any other help. I love to share my garden and how pleasurable to have something of me growing in your garden of peace." I did not tell her of the shared unrest that comes to me at moments lately. Why should I? I also have experienced that feeling of peace. I am able to walk always in the garden and find happiness.