Shoyoen Japanese Garden
Lindy and I spent a long time planning our trip to Dubbo in 2019. We didn't realise just how dry the countryside was until we did this trip, specifically to go to Dubbo Zoo and the Shoyoen Japanese Gardens which we had heard were beautiful. We couldn't get accommodation during the New South Wales September school holidays with all accommodation being fully booked out, This is when we were told was the peak time for the gardens. So we booked the last week of October and with it being so dry, the gardens were not at their peak, many things were just starting to bud up. On the day we went to the gardens it was overcast and raining, not good for photography or my camera and lens. It was a 2 full day road trip to get from home in Brisbane to Dubbo
Now when Lindy navigates for me she is so good at finding short cuts along the way often saving hours extra in driving, some times the drive is a little hair raising, and others times the view and scenery is amazing.
It was very hot, dry, and dusty. Little did we know that the start of the worst bush fires Australia has ever had, was just starting. We arrived at the gardens early and because it was raining only took 2 Lens with me and my tripod. I usually use a macro lens for flower photography but with the rain it wasn't worth the risk to my camera gear. On entry to the garden I felt my whole body feel so much lighter the easy to walk on walking tracks made the outing so relaxing. Water was also a large feature of the garden with little ponds here and there, cascading waterfalls, some of the larger ponds had large carp in them.
You immediately lost all the rush in your body, you seemed to forget about your life outside of the gardens. It was quiet, your could hear the sounds of the birds, the sound of flowing water, the reflection of the trees in the ponds was absolutely beautiful. More walkways, more ponds.
Lots of little bridges which made you feel you were entering into another time.
Then every now and then you would catch the perfume of some of the blossoms that were just starting to open
Oh the colors soft gentle, calming and softly perfumed. I can't find enough words to describe the whole experience there, part of me didn't want to leave. But there was still more to explore
Bench seats everywhere for you to sit down and take in the beauty
Another walkway
These are two little birds we saw there, plenty of wrens too. The first one is the Double-Barred Finch and the second one is a little Fairy Wren
