On the morning of St Patrick’s Day, Thursday 17th March, the bus left ‘Chambly’ at 9am, arriving at ‘Blue Lotus Watergarden’, in Warburton in time for morning tea. We then had a couple of hours to wander around the 14 acres of gardens admiring the thousands of water lilies of all sizes and hues.
Our next destination was ‘Mont De Lancey’ in Wandin, where we were treated to a delicious lunch at their French Café, Les Chesselles. This historic homestead, built in 1882 by Henry Sebire, who immigrated to Wandin from Delancey Lane in Guernsey, celebrates the achievements of the pioneer families who settled in the area in the 1860’s.
After a delicious lunch we divided into 2 groups, each hosted by volunteers, who are descendants of the original Sebire family, for a tour of the house, slab kitchen, dairy, blacksmiths shed and St Mary’s Chapel belltower and museum.
We had plenty of time to explore the garden with its magnificent 100 year old Oak Tree, cottage garden and Rose Garden specialising in Heritage and David Austin roses.
As is always the case, our wonderful day soon came to an end and we boarded the bus for our trip home.
