OUR VISIT TO ONE OF SYDNEY'S WORST KEPT SECRETS, WENDY'S SECRET GARDEN

Hello everyone, hope you are all well.

We had lovely relaxing time over Easter break.  On Friday, we had my family over for Passover dinner which was almost cancelled as my younger daughter who lives with us got COVID 😞 and was just released from isolation on the same Friday which was quite nerve racking.   I was worried that my guests don't want to be in close contact with her and would cancel the dinner.  However, luckily for me, all of them!!! 😮including ourselves just had COVID in the last two months and didn’t worry too much about spending the evening in the same room as her.   I can’t believe I just said it, that sounds so perverse, yet it is the reality we are now living.

I cooked a lot of traditional dishes which my guests thoroughly enjoyed, the kids had fun and we had a lovely family time together.   The next day it was my granddaughter’s 5^th birthday party in the park.  It was a typical children’s party thrown by the extremely busy and sleep deprived parents. The food in the form of pizza was delivered from the local Domino shop and the cake was store bought.  It was nice to watch the kids running around entertaining themselves while we adults were chatting with each other over the glass of wine poured into the plastic cups.  Priceless, wouldn’t change it for the world.

Sunday was a day of relaxation.  We couldn't believe our luck with the weather.  As if Mother Nature decided to make it up to us and after having an awfully wet and cold summer, granted us with the sun and warmth.  It was a perfect day for heading outdoors, preferably somewhere along the coast but it was during the Easter break and school holidays, we knew that the traffic on the roads would be chock a block and decided to go locally.  

A few years ago we read in a paper about Wendy's Secret Garden created by the wife of the late renowned Australian artist, Brett Whiteley near the house where they lived in Lavender Bay on the Sydney's Lower North Shore .  

As the story goes, after the death of her husband, grief-stricken Wendy was in need to regain back control of her life, to clean up the mess it was in, found herself savagely attacking piles of overgrown rubbish of the unused railway land in front of their home.  She threw herself into the clean up, day in and day out, too tired and exhausted by the end of the day to think or feel anything.  

Once the land was cleared, it was the time to create a garden.  Not everything went smoothly, the railway authorities were trying to stop her accusing of invading state property but with the strong support of local community and her powerful friends in artistic and political circles, the garden was saved and remains open for visitors who go there to appreciate its beauty and the creative soul behind it.

 We were intrigued by the story and went to visit it and fell in love with this place.  So on this particular Sunday morning when we were discussing the plans for the day, we both agreed that a trip to Wendy's  Secret Garden is in order and set off.

It was as beautiful and charming as we remembered.  The air was warm and tranquil, filled with the aromas of the flowers and freshly cut grass.  The soft breeze from the ocean was gently rustling the leaves of the giant trees. 

The autumn colours of foliage were magnificent, dark and rich.  Here and there old curiosity objects were on display placed on antique garden tables and pedestals.  

The picnic tables, strategically placed in the shade, were occupied by people who had smartly brought with them picnic lunches and bottles of wine and were enjoying their food, company and beautiful surroundings. 

The view from the garden over the bay and the city beyond was postcard stunning.  

We spent few hours walking up the down the garden following the pathways that lead to the focal points around the grounds.  We didn't bring any food with us so we left the garden to have our lunch at the local pub.  Afterwards, we strolled around neighbourhood, then went to our car to head back home.

It was such lovely day, we both felt refreshed and recharged.

What did you do during the break?  Hope your Easter break was enjoyable.

Until then,

Anna

xoxo