Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

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Showing posts with label Golden Valley Tree Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Golden Valley Tree Park. Show all posts

Monday, 13 May 2024

Autumn in the Golden Valley Tree Park in Balingup, & the Aurora Australis - Western Australia

 Hi everyone. I hope you and yours are doing well. We have had more rain yesterday - yay! 

As promised last week, today I bring you some more pics from our annual visit to the Golden Valley Tree Park in Balingup, Western Australia. I know for those of you in the northern hemisphere, the autumn leaf fall is a common yearly occurrence for you. Not so in Australia, where our trees hold onto their leaves. So to have a place like the Golden Valley Tree Park to visit is fabulous for us. 

We have been making an annual visit the tree park for a number of years. The park is about an hours travel from our place, depending if we stop somewhere on the way. You go through the town of Ballingup before you get to the tree park, so that is a great place to grab a coffee and cake, and often on the way home we stop at Donnybrook to buy some fruit - they are in the middle of the orchard region. We usually take a picnic, and have morning tea when we get there, then do one of the loop trails, come back to the car and have our picnic lunch, then do the other loop trail before heading home. 

We have been in drought since October, and it was sad to see how dry the paddocks at the tree park were. You can see a comparison below - I know we were a few days early this year - but we hadn't had any rain either. 


I've brought you images from the Golden Valley Tree Park before. 

The Golden Valley Tree Park is a sixty hectare landscaped park set in the picturesque hills of Balingup. The heritage listed site has a collection of international trees that was begun over one hundred years ago, and is now the largest arboretum in Western Australia. The land was bought by the Government in the late 1970s and  park was established around 1980. 

We were a little early this year - but there was enough colour to satisfy me - and it was a lovely day for a walk and a picnic.


This is a persimmon tree 


And an avenue of Chinese pistachios that were looking a little sad this year


my new favourite - Zelkova serrata from Japan


The tree park is 1.5 kilometres south of Balingup, or you can walk to it from Balingup via an easy 2 kilometre walk along the part of the 1000 kilometre Bibbulmun Track, which passes through the park. Please shut the gates as sheep graze on the property. 


To learn more about the Golden Valley tree park you can go to their web page

or some of my previous posts - 

Autumn season of change - 2016

Autumn in the Golden Valley tree park - 2017

Autumn colour in Western Australia - 2019

Autumn in Western Australia - 2021

Balingup Golden Valley Tree Park - 2022

The area that comprises the park was first settled in 1898 by Frank and Margaret Cleverland.  Their home was built of bricks made from clay dug from nearby Yungerup Spring. The original 20 plantings of exotic species by Olwyn Cleverland during 1930-1940's has grown to an impressive world collection of over 500 species, represented by over 3000 individual specimens. The Park, which is heritage listed, is maintained by volunteers and sponsorship. From its first plantings over 100 years ago the the Golden Valley Tree Park is now the largest arboretum in Western Australia.

Nuts on the Oriental Plane tree - 


There are places to walk, places to sit, and places to picnic - the Balingup Golden Valley Tree Park is a treasure of the south west of Western Australia
Forgive me - these 2 photos are from a previous greener year....
The other unexpected thing we experienced this week was the Aurora Australis - ie the southern lights as opposed to the northern lights. We had never seen it before. Due to huge sun activity the aurora effect could be seen about half way up the Australian continent. We couldn't see it with the naked eye where we were, other than a faint glow, but I was able to capture some images with my camera. Though not sharp, I thought I would share them with you. the top image here was taken over the ocean, and the other one in our Ferguson Valley region about 20 minutes from home. There was a lot of excitement from everyone about this event and lots of people out taking photos. I've seen some amazing ones on the net. 
Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

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Tuesday, 9 May 2023

Autumn has arrived at Golden Valley tree Park, Balingup, Western Australia

 Hi everyone, I hope you and yours are doing well. I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks because I have been so busy.... mainly with the Dardanup Art Spectacular and Art Trail in Dardanup and through the Ferguson Valley near Bunbury in Western Australia. 

I was one of six artists who exhibited at the old Dardanup convent. A huge thankyou to Jenny Spokes and the Dardanup Art Spectacular & Art Trail Committe, Father Wayne from the Dardanup Catholic Church and his helper Ifor at the old Convent Prayer House for your hospitality, generosity and assistance, and to the amazing talented artists who shared the space with me - Christine Blowfield, Sandra and Sylvia Nysten, Cynthia Dix and Gemma Mangano.

Whilst I wasn't in the winner's circle at the Art Spectacular Exhibition, I thank the people who purchased my ecoprint and photo image at the Art Spectacular exhibition (it would have been lovely to meet you), and those who came to my space at the Convent to purchase or just chat! It was lovely to meet you all. And to my husband Rod without whose support and help I couldn't do any of this! Thankyou everyone!

You can see us below here - Sandra, Cynthia, Christine, Gemma, Sylvia, and me, with Ifor in the background. Thanks girls and Ifor for making it such a fun weekend.


It had been such a busy leadup to the the Art Trail getting my exhibition pieces for the competition ready and getting my bits and pieces - ecoprinting and photography - ready for the Art Trail, that it was a relief when it was over and I was able to step back and relax. The first thing we did on Monday was go for a bush walk!

Then on Thursday we took our annual drive down to Balingup to go to the Golden Valley Tree Park. It is autumn here in Australia and as our Australian trees are evergreen, the tree park is a wonderful place to see deciduous trees turning reds, oranges and goldens.


I have blogged about the Balingup Golden Valley Tree Park many times before. There are walk trails that wind around the park, plus a wheelchair and pram friendly walk. Most of the trees have labels so you can identify them. And there are picnic tables and places to sit.

The Golden Valley Tree Park is a sixty hectare landscaped park set in the picturesque hills of Balingup. The heritage listed site has a collection of international trees that was begun over one hundred years ago, and is now the largest arboretum in Western Australia. The land was bought by the Government in the late 1970s and  park was establshed around 1980. 

One of my alltime favourites is the Chinese Pistachio walk.



And I can't go past the colours of the Red Maple


And the Persimmon Tree


The sheep that graze in the park were enjoying the fallen acorns


The Scarlet Oak


Some of the fruit we saw growing at the tree park, clockwise from top left - Canary Island Madrone, Chinese Persimon (in the center), Pomegranate, Red Mexican Hawthorne, and Sweet Chestnut. So interesting to see these fruits we don't normally see. 


That's about all from me today. If you would like to see more from the Balingup Golden Valley Tree Park you can visit my previous posts below here. As you can see we have been to Balingup Tree Park many times over the last 10 years or so.

Usually we go sometime during May. We were perhaps a little early this year. It is a bit hard to pinpoint down the best time to go - too early and the leaves haven't turned golden yet, and too late and the leaves have all fallen. Though anytime during May we have found is perfect regardless. It is very popular on Mother's Day, and second Sunday in May. 

Golden Valley Tree Park 2022

Autumn in Western Australia - 2021

Autumn Season of Change 2016

Autumn in Western Australia - Golden Valley Tree Park -2017

Autumn Colour Balingup - 2019

For more information please go to: Balingup Golden Valley Tree Park

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed this little look at the Balingup Tree Park. Please click on the links to see more!

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 


I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!


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Monday, 9 May 2022

Balingup Golden Valley Tree Park - Western Australia

Hi everyone. How are you? I hope you and yours are doiing well. We have been having glorious autumn weather. Clear days and cool evenings. 

But to be honest I have been feeling out of sorts for several weeks now. No particular reason - just an accumulation of things - a few health issues with family and friends, the ongoing Covid situation, and housing problems for a family member. I just feel like I need to go and sit in the bush (forest) for a few days - forest bathe - and get back on an even keel. 

So it was rather lovely to go for an autumn walk in the Balingup Golden Valley Tree Park which is about an hour or so from our home in the south west of Western Australlia. In a country where we have predominantly everygreen trees, the tree park is very special. We have been coming here almost annually for about 10 years. 

The Golden Valley Tree Park is a sixty hectare landscaped park set in the picturesque hills of Balingup. The heritage listed site has a collection of international trees that was begun over one hundred years ago, and is now the largest arboretum in Western Australia. The land was bought by the Government in the late 1970s and  park was establshed around 1980. 


I have blogged about the park before - here are a few examples: 

Autumn season of change - 2016

Autumn in the Golden Valley tree park - 2017

Autumn colour in Western Australia - 2019

We were maybe a week or so early this year, and it was a cloudy overcast day, but it didn't matter, it was still beautiful, the weather was good for walking, and being able to go midweek meant that we could wander without the crouds. Mother's Day in the second weekend of May is very popular! 

The tree park is 1.5 kilometres south of Balingup, or you can walk to it from Balingup via an easy 2 kilometre walk along the part of the 1000 kilometre Bibbulmun Track, which passes through the park. Please shut the gates as sheep graze on the property. 

The area that comprises the park was first settled in 1898 by Frank and Margaret Cleverland.  Their home was built of bricks made from clay dug from nearby Yungerup Spring. The original 20 plantings of exotic species by Olwyn Cleverland during 1930-1940's has grown to an impressive world collection of over 500 species, represented by over 3000 individual specimens. The Park, which is heritage listed, is maintained by volunteers and sponsorship. From its first plantings over 100 years ago the the Golden Valley Tree Park is now the largest arboretum in Western Australia.

The Australian tree collection covers 25 hectres for Australian trees and the World Collection covers 35 hectares. 

You can read more about the history and management of the park here - Golden Valley Tree Park - about us.

Here are a few pics from around the park. 

Sit and enjoy the view from the pear walk

There are lovely places to sit along the way, as under these Chinese Tallow trees. 


There are over 30 species of oaks in the park. 


The Chinese Pistachio walk is one of my favourites in the park. 


Beyond this gate is the London Plane trees Avenue to Nowhere planted in 1908 by the Craig family in anticipation of a newer grander house. However the plans were abandoned after a leg injury sustained in the First World War and the property was sold in 1920. 


These are Red Miexican Hawthorne trees. The bright red berries remind me of Christmas. 


These are persimmon trees


And a huge Chinese Pistachio tree


This delightful map which I think is aimed at children, outlines some of the features of the park



The old mulberry tree


Sadly our day ended prematurely when it started to rain. We sheltered under some trees, until they too released their water burden, so we ran back to the car and headed home. We had had a lovely day. Make sure you take your lunch, so you can take your time to meander through the different areas of the park. Or buy your lunch in Balingup on the way through. 


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