For the pat two years volunteer crochet enthusiasts have been creating poppies as a community tribute of respect and rememberance to honour Australia’s servicemen and women who fought in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
At the time the project started the target of 5000 seemed like a big feat to conquer, yet with unexpected popularity that has reached all corners of Australia as well as overseas, the poppy count is now over 250,000.
On a damp ANZAC Eve night [25th April] we walked up to Federation Square to seeing the amazing tribute initiated and the brainchild of Melbourne woman Lynn Berry. Lyn first put out the call two years ago requesting 120 poppies to honour her father, who served in World War II, tonight Federation Square is blanketed in the 250,000 poppies, attached with personal memories and stories.
Acacia pycnantha,Golden Wattle, is a shrub or small tree about 4 to 8 metres tall.
Golden Wattle occurs in the understorey of open forest or woodland and in open scrub formations in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, in temperate regions with mean annual rainfall of 350 mm to 1000 mm. It regenerates freely after fires, which usually kill the parent plants but stimulate the germination of seeds stored in the soil if rain follows soon after.
The brilliant yellow, fragrant flowers of Golden Wattle make it a popular garden plant.
Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Farm -located on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne and is about a 90 minute drive. There are plenty of things to do, from beaches to cool climate wineries and farm gate properties selling their produce. Popular for sampling and purchasing Victorian gourmet treats, is the Redhill Market.
You’ll find plenty of Bed & Breakfast properties if you wish to spend a few days in the region.
As Australia’s oldest and most famous traditional Hedge Maze now standing over 3 metres high & 2 metres thick. With four mosaic flags to find in each half of the hedge maze, the hundreds of metres of winding paths take you through the South Maze into the Centre
ASHCOMBE MAZE
Garden before you tackle the North Maze. While not overly complicated it does take a little while to make your way through (some people take longer than others!) The North Maze is a totally different layout to the South Maze, so any tricks you worked out while making your way through the first part, mean absolutely nothing in the other!
The Ashcombe Hedge Maze was planted in the 1970’s with more than 1000 Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) plants. They are planted at around 1 metre intervals, and each year the hedge gets a bit bigger (and the paths get a bit narrower!) Being a drought tolerant plant the hedge only needs irrigation in extreme heat waves. It now stands more than 3m high and 2m thick.
Ashcombe Maze is open everyday (except Christmas Day) from 10am to 5pm.
The easiest way to get to Ashcombe Maze is to follow the M1 (Monash Freeway) from Melbourne and take the Mornington Peninsula/Hastings exit. This will lead you onto the Westernport Highway (A780). Follow this Highway to Hastings, then follow the (C777) road towards “Flinders”. Travel through the small villages of Balnarring and Merricks and look out for the brown tourist Ashcombe Maze signs to guide you to Shoreham which is located 7km before the township of Flinders.
Alternatively if you commence your journey from bayside or the southern suburbs of Melbourne take the Nepean Highway (3) to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway (11) and at Frankston you will pass the BP & Shell service stations and at the next roundabout you veer left into Frankston Flinders Road (C777) and 4kms further on, turn right into Coolart Road (C785) and follow the signs to Ashcombe Maze and Flinders via Balnarring.
Location: 15 Shoreham Road, Shoreham on the Mornington Peninsula
