Montaza Garden

The property in Grimwade Road, Balingup, has been renamed Montaza, after a much earlier house belonging to my maternal grandfather which was in Oakleigh, Victoria.

Originally an old orchard property, there are still some remnant fruit trees with recent additions in the last 20 years of more fruit and decorative trees and shrubs, including many varieties of bamboo.

 

 

 

A Chinese Pistachio in the background has beautiful autumn foliage. Taken outside Almond Tree Cottage with fallen leaves from the box elder covering the path.

 

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This part of the South West, being inland, is characterized by having distinct seasons. Expect dry, hot summers, a mellow autumn with beautiful colours on the deciduous trees, cool, even cold, winters, and brilliant springs with blossoms and blooms in abundance.

balingup valley

Autumn

This area with its hills and valleys is the most picturesque in WA and is ideally located as a base for touring other parts of the South West of WA.
Waiting for the rains. Taken in mid May 2006, the paddocks are still brown with a touch of green from an earlier shower. The towering poplar is a remnant of an old settlement. Taken in Balingup along Southampton Road.  

There are distinct seasons in the central South West.
For example we have sufficient chill to be able to grow cherries and other stone fruits.

Early summer fruits

Cherries are the first of the summer fruits to be followed by locquats and early varieties of apricots.

Figs, mulberries, plums come in rapid succession from about Christmas onwards.

 

 
 
The cherry is a traditional fruit of China and Japan.