Introduction

Welcome to The Laurels
This blogsite evolved from the now defunct blog for Highland Way Herb Farm at http://highlandwayherbs.blogspot.com/. The latter was wishful thinking on my part which time, physical disability and a reality check have ultimately discouraged. So here begins a new chapter in documenting life here at The Laurels.
The Laurels is a 47 acre property at Penrose, in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia located on the Highland Way and adjacent to the Great Southern Railway. Approximately 20 acres of the property has been cleared and used in the past as an orchard. The remainder is virgin bush abutting Crown Land, State Forest and adjacent to Morton National Park. The Southern Cross flag flies triumphantly at the entrance driveway. A magnificent clump of cherry laurels (after which the property was named) creates a border between the house and the dam paddock. Under the laurels lurks a giant wombat hole: a seasonal home for generations of wombats. Wombats have also taken up residence under the house, a practice that will eventually need to be curtailed. The park-like grounds behind the house feature interesting specimen trees such as a magnolia grandiflora, a variegated tulip tree, a chinese tallow, birch, elder, silk tree, port wine magnolia, carob, hazlenut, kentish cherry, fig, walnut, persian lilac and beech, to name just a few.
Click on the photo to enlarge the image.
SELECTION OF PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE LAURELS