Hi Mary
Gardens Down Under? We don't have time for gardens, we're too busy surfing and fishing, or lying on the beach. Eat your heart out... ha ha ha!
Seriously, I live on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland in an over 50's (well over in my case) village near the beach which has 40 resort-style homes each with their own small backyard. I've taken out what lawn we had, which struggled under the shade trees, and replaced it with river stones and potted plants. My little back patio under the palms is tailor-made for drinking beer on a hot day. Sundays are "fish and chips on the beach" days.
Okay, back to the gardens. Further inland from the coast the acreage properties consist of rolling hills and huge maintainance-free gardens with swimming pools and covered BBQ entertainment areas. Tropical shrubs such as Bouganvilleas are grown extensively which can have red, orange or purple flowers. The Poinciana is a large shade tree which grows like a huge umbrella with red, yellow or purple flowers in summer. Commercially grown Pecan nut trees also cover the surrounding hills and catch the eye with their distinctive shades of green.
I hope this gives you some idea of the gardens in our part of Australia. My wife has informed me that it's now "happy hour" or "beer o'clock" which means it's time for a glass of wine and a beer out the back. Such is life!
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