DENELLA DOWNS Open Garden

Today was another big Open Gardens day. We started out meeting a friend at Adelaide Airport on his return from Prague in the Czech Republic, followed by our weekly visit to the Wayville Farmers' Market. Lots of shots of delicious fresh fruit, but much more was to come.

Two gardens were on our itinerary today, both in the greater Meadows area with the first one being Denella Downs. The second one was a third time visit for us to the magical Serenity garden at Bull Creek, where the owners are living their own version of "The Good Life."

There were so many interesting photos from the two gardens as well as the market, but I decided to go with the roses and intrusive bee shot. I was admiring these roses and shooting them against the blue sky when this bee flew into the frame as I clicked away. Although the roses were just past their peak, this had to be THE shot.

Roses and bee.

What makes the garden even more amazing is that the owner Dennis has been a paraplegic since 1986 due to a drunk driver crashing into him in a bad car accident. Crushed aorta and severed spine. From the compensation payment received 5 years later, Dennis bought this small farm, and 5 years after moving to this property, his wife left him.

He decided the garden would be his life's work, and gradually he turned it into an award winning garden. The story is worthy of a TV documentary.

Dennis, who still lives on his own, gets around the property in his electric wheelchair and" does the garden" with the help of 2 part time assistants. I do not know how he does it! I take my hat off to him and his remarkable achievement.

PS. As there is some interesting blue sky, this is also one more for Lenna's Sunday sky challenge, SundaySkies.