Treesholme farm visit
What a delight it is to visit the places one drives past each week in the Valley. Treesholme Alpaca and Protea Farm is one of these.
On a Monday morning, after one inch of rain in some parts of the Valley and nearly three inches on the mountains, seventeen hardy and gumboot wearing Garden Group members arrived at Treesholme to visit the alpacas and proteas. Cheryl White welcomed us warmly and told the background story to the venture; if you have not yet seen the cute car she drives around the village, keep an eye out for it.
It is amazing the difference she and her family have made to the house and garden that had been sadly neglected and vacant for some time. There are still some of the original proteas but they are about 26 years old and normally they are expected to be productive for only 20 years so many had to be pulled out. New rows have been planted and, like all gardeners, Cheryl is learning by experience the different conditions needed for each type of protea and the waratahs. The alpacas were a little wary of us but looked spectacular between the rows of trees as they wandered over the now much greener grass.
The Garden Group is always grateful for the sincere kindness gardeners show us in sharing their gardens and their hard earned knowledge. Thank you Cheryl for being one of these warm-hearted people.