Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden

The Dandenong Ranges are less than 30 km from us and although not very tall, these mountains are a rich splendor of fauna and flora. Fern gullies make a dense lower layer, whereas very tall mountain ash trees spring everywhere to create the "second floor" of the forest, quite close to the sky. Crimson rosellas, kookaburras, parrots, and cockatoos sew a lively web through the tree tops. Hidden somewhere in the ranges is the Alfred Nicholas Garden, which offers a quiet walk through mountain ashes and around a still pond, the perfect mirror for the surrounding forest. Sitting down on a bench and looking at the boathouse and its reflection in the pond makes me feel that the entire world is calm and green.