Of Katandra Gardens Mike wrote:
"Less than an hour's drive from Melbourne are Katandra Gardens, one of the hidden delights of the gardening world.  Originally purchased in 1976 as a working orchard, owners Bob & Dot O'Neill have transformed their plot into the most wonderful garden.  In the early days of the gardens's development Dot was keen to 'plant a few gum trees' to break up the orchard.  these were duly planted and soon after the couple developed an interest in other Australian flora, quickly adding more native plants as the garden quickly doubled in size.
Now the garden extends to 3.5ha (9acres) and is only stopped from further expansion by farming fencelines.  It is a fascinating garden with a good range of Australian wildflowers and collections of sweetly scented Acacia, spectacular Banksia and their relatives Grevillea, Dryandra, Telopea and drumstick flowered Isopogon, Correa, Pomaderris, Hibbertia and Prostanthera.  Visitors can walk along meandering grass paths and through small glades that open onto a lake.  The lake has become something of a bird sanctuary for the 75 species spotted there.  In fact, 'katandra' is aboriginal for 'song of birds'."

At present great work is happening near the entrance as we plan a new area where Katandra Gardens gifts can be displayed and the "Katandra Gardens DVD can be played. This area will also be used to welcome groups to the garden and give them an introduction to the gardens before the guided tour begins.

Finally the wetland area flanking the lake has been bridged by a 50m long boardwalk and the walk through the rainforest completed. The boardwalk and rainforest pathway form the final link that completes a mile long path system that wends its way through the gardens.The wetlands have been planted out with reeds, creating a haven for wildlife where the waterbirds are a delight to watch and the frogs in season produce a deafening chorus. This is now a magnificent all weather, native garden which coach tour groups and smaller groups can visit at any time of the year. Many B&B guests delightedly take up the offer of a guided tour by the hosts Bob and Dot.
The boardwalk blends in peacefully with the idyllic setting. Without leaving the friendly path, one is now able to explore for an hour or so, absorbing the collection of the alpine plants, the weird wonders of the arid zones, the tropical rainforest flora and the wetlands. When youlooks back through the rainforest, the palms, the wetlands, across the boardwalk, lake and gardens to the ranges you know that you are in paradise on earth.