Tasma House and Gardens - Autumn 2011
The Central Highlands in Autumn. Color, sunlight, earthy delights from the garden, growth and water all around. Tasma's gardens are alive with the best that Autumn provides. The senses are tickled with layers of activity.
The parrots that cannot be seen for heavy foliage in summer, suddenly show themselves with the baring of the trees. The cockatoos are stripping the last ripe fruit from the trees, and coming close by to chat about the season. A pair of wood ducks have a nest and eggs being looked after -- strange time of year for that, but what a strange year it has been in other ways, too.
Tasma House and Gardens is on a flat hill called, "Table Hill," but high enough to be considered in the mountains, making it colder here than in Melbourne or in other lower lying cities. The wet Autumn leaves sparkle and glisten with morning dew and soon we'll see occasional frosts.
In Autumn, there are occasional blasts of sunny, crisp, days followed by cool nights that make you want to stay under the doona and revel in the time to cocoon. Maybe take a long hot bath and read the paper all day. While staying at Tasma House, people bush-walk or jump on the trampoline or play table tennis in the barn to get their blood going, then relax inside, warm and cozy from the bite of cool mountain night air.
There is something about mountain air that makes you sleep well. That and the sound of nothing but the birds, frogs, and Autumn leaves falling on still ponds. A friend told me once that people come to Daylesford in the colder times because it gives them the absolute opportunity or excuse to do nothing. With only a couple of weekends left available at Tasma until spring, this must be true. It's a tough job facilitating people doing nothing, but someone's got to do it!
This Autumn we have a group of knitters, celebrations for 30th, 40th, and 60th birthdays, family gatherings, multiple family sharings, a wedding party, and more. I wish all of them a peaceful, memorable, and inspirational time here at Tasma, in the gardens, on the hill, in the highlands.
Adrian
