A bit more autumn

Hubby and I drove out to Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens for lunch yesterday, at the foot of the Blue Mountains, where I took these shots. The mountains are starting to get pretty cold this time of year so we had to rug up. I loved it - the air is so crisp and clear. It makes all the food taste better.

Here's the Wollemi Pine again. It was heartening to see that it looks a lot healthier in its native cold climate. It was also nice to see this garden, unlike the city garden who had a sign referring to the plant being inbred, had a sign marking it as an inspiration of perseverence and hardiness.

It looked even better in amongst the vegetation. This is how it would normally grow - nestled amongst thick bush hidden away in a cool moist gully. Everywhere you see them they are heavily guarded with barbed wire and fencing. They were selling some of the pines at the gardens shop for $60 - I guess they have problems with people trying to sneak into the gardens and pull one out of the ground for free.