On the October Long Weekend, twenty-six brothers and wives, from four different circles of Province 21, took advantage of our Spring weather by having a weekend visit to the Blue Mountains. Whilst only about one and a half hours drive from Sydney, the higher elevation and rugged sandstone topography makes for a much cooler and wetter climate than Sydney. The Blue Mountains are famous for their gardens and on this weekend eight of the most magnificent gardens were open to the public as part of the Leura Garden Festival.

Our proceedings commenced on Friday evening, meeting in the bar of the Carrington Hotel in Katoomba where many members of our Group were staying followed by a very enjoyable and agreeably noisy group dinner at a nearby very well-resourced club.

Saturday was the day of garden visiting. The weather forecast for the mountains was ominous, steady rain and cold as it had been on Friday evening. Much to our relief, as so often happens, the forecasts were not accurate. We did have some light showers from time to time with only one heavy fall in the late afternoon when most of our visiting had finished. If anything, the cloud covering and occasional light sprinkle of rain enhanced the beauty of the gardens.

Ten gardens provided a big choice and most of us managed to visit at least five. With its cool wet weather climate, the gardens are justifiably famous for their spring flowering, with massed Rhododendrons and many varieties of Azalea both short and tall as well as clumps of Tulips, Snowball trees, Harlequins, Violets, Blue Bugles, in woodland settings of maples and old big gum trees.

We also enjoyed a picnic lunch at the largest of the gardens, The Braes. This garden not only has a very large and glorious display of mature plantings, but it is also blessed with panoramic views of the Jamison Valley.

Our observation skills were enhanced by a competition for the best flower photograph with everyone encouraged to enter three photographs for the competition. Our mobile phone camera apps were very busy indeed providing us all with a wonderful record of our visit and an excellent talking point as we all compared our pictures.

In the early evening, many of us recuperated from our gardening visits by enjoying hot chocolate fondues in Katoomba’s famous Chocolate shop as the rain began to pour outside.

On Saturday evening we had an enjoyable group dinner at the stately heritage listed Art Deco Carrington Hotel in Katoomba.

On Sunday morning our Mass was at Katoomba’s St. Canice’s Church. Mass was said by Fater John McSweeny, the Parish Priest for the “Seven Churches in the Mist” that make up the Upper Blue Mountains Parish.

After Mass Father John joined us for a group photo at the end of which we were suddenly ingulfed in a sea of dogs and puppies arriving for their annual blessing on their  Feast day of their patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi.

Sunday afternoon saw us all assembling for a wonderful barbecue at the Blackheath cliff edge home of our Provincial Secretary, John Tweedie with its spectacular views into the Jamison Valley.

A wonderful and well organised weekend with thanks to our principal organiser Brother Martin Stebbings and to Brother John Tweedie for the use of his home.