I seem to be perpetually playing catch up lately, but better late than never.
Mick and I had a lovely day visiting the gardens at Rydal, near Lithgow a couple of weeks ago. It was a beautiful day to be out and about. This is in great contrast to some previous visits when it has been rather chilly. Seeing as spring arrived unseasonably early, we were doubtful as to how many daffodils would still be in bloom, but we were pleasantly surprised.
Our first stop was at the Railway Station to buy ticket and enjoy the delightful gardens in the precinct.
There was also a nice selection of market stalls.
Next on the agenda was a walk through Pioneer Park, which graces the side of the hill leading up to the showground.
Such lovely drifts of flowers.
Throughout the park there are tributes to various local families and identities. This implement was in memory of our good friends that I mentioned in my previous post in August. I can just see Mick working on something like this.
What a sweet little bridge.
Back in the village, we visited Rose Cottage.
This has always been our favourite garden to see. We have a few daffodils in our garden that we have bought there over the years and one came home this year too.
It is such a sweet cottage garden and we have enjoyed watching it evolve over the years.
An added bonus this time was a delicious morning tea on offer. We shared a slice of Greek Custard Tart.
Next, we visited the Catholic Church, a lovely old sandstone building dating back to 1860. They have a nice border of daffodils along the front fence.
Inside, it is a simple building where services are still held four times a year.
Further along is a new home that has been built in the back of a large garden that we have previously visited. It has fitted in seamlessly.
As we wandered back towards the main street, there is a garden with lots of quirky features on the footpath. The old implement and truck in a bed of daffodils was rather fun.
The non denominational Union Church is always nicely decorated.
The former Police Station garden wasn’t open this year, but it still looked a picture.
By then it was lunch time and we thought we would get a meal at the Alexander Hotel, which is under new ownership. Well, that idea was quickly abandoned when we saw the huge queues. We will return for a drive one week day to test it out when it is less crowded. A sausage sandwich from the community stall was a far better option on the day.
While eating, we were treated to the Canobolas Pipe Band from Orange entertaining everyone.
The final garden we wished to visit was Karingal. This is the property that our friends used to own. Please go back and read my post from 2011 when we visited during Daffodils at Rydal. At that time it had new owners. The garden and cottage were pretty much how we remembered them.
Well, it has since sold again and undergone quite the transformation. There are now verandahs all the way around the house. 
The gardens have been formalised with quite a few daffodils removed.
What was a separate sandstone barn has now had a breezeway added between it and the main house and a big addition along the front. What a transformation from the bare building that Mick remembers from many parties in his youth.
The old shed has been replaced and new sheds added further down the property. It all looks really impressive.
Over the road from the property there is still a drift of daffodils along the roadside.
And that concluded our very enjoyable day out. The event is now only held every second year, so we look forward to visiting again then.
