Private Annapolis Royal Tuesday 4th October

Trish came with us on the bus again to show us some private gardens, the first belonging to Rusty and Betty who have spent 10 years
creating an acre of beautifully laid-out gardens with many many magnolias, conifer cultivars, pieris and Bill's favourite - hydrangeas. We have seen 3 species of a possible 200 and the most fabulous colours from green to pink to blue to deep red: I must get some hydrangeas! There were many clumps of luscious uneaten hostas - the secret to keeping the deer and snails off is mulching with sharp gravel.

Morning tea at Leo's in the main street was followed by a stroll around the gardens behind the shops, little green oases tucked into a small space. The mayor came to shake hands and hand us each a coat of arms pin and a pen: Merryle is bringing two more tours here next year so she is a popular lady in town and we feel like honoured guests.

We had to visit the little lighthouse bought by Durline for $1 and relocated to the Annapolis Royal waterfront by her Historical Society. Tide was way out but will come back in quickly, 2 metres in an hour this close to the Bay of Fundy.

The bus took us out into the country to a garden tucked away in the woods on the shore of its own little lake where Greg and Allie's
walled garden rambles over an acre. It is amazing what two keen retirees can do to an acre! Though Greg's retirement has been forced by the economic downturn: he is a saw miller who has inherited a mill and hasn't worked this spring and summer due to lack of demand for lumber. So he's available to cart stone, build garden beds carve a thing of beauty out of the woods. At the back is a carriage house made from hemlock which contains an actual carriage, pushed out today to make room for 36 Australians' afternoon tea. It was an amazing spread of raw vegetables like broccoli, cauli, teeny carrots smaller than your little finger and Tommy Toe tomatoes and cut up fruit like pineapple, strawberries and blueberries . Just as we were saying how nice and unusual along came trays of cakes and cookies.

Allie has a small gift shop which was well-patronized but I haven't bought anything yet, too conscious that I came with 18 kg of luggage and max is 20.

The rain cut short our visit: we are catching the tail end of hurricane Ophelia which caused havoc further south in Vermont and looks like raining on us for the next two days. But it doesn't matter: we just ignore the rain.