First port of call today was the Queen Vic Markets again so we could get something yummy for 'brunch' and stock the picnic hamper. Then we made the drive down to the Mornington Peninsula which took about 1½ hours or so. Destination: the garden at Heronswood (another Diggers Club garden). It is set in the grounds of an historic stone house, built in ~1860's, on the side of a high hill which looks back northwards over the bay. The waters are calm and the afternoon sun shimmered as an occasional ship went past on its way to and from Melbourne which was itself visible as a distant outline. We immediately founds a spot on the long green grass in amongst the blanket of little white and yellow flowers and under a magical desert ash, upon which to spread out the picnic blanket. The house is made of dark grey granite blocks and is used as the café, shop and entrance. We sat in the sun and ate Blue Castello cheese, sour dough, quince paste, ham, strawberries, almond croissant and macaroons. J made use of a low branch as a seat. It was extremely pleasant.

After we were all overfull, it was time to have a look around the garden. It rambles and changes in a similar fashion to the garden at St Erth. The ornamental herb garden had a number of unusual and interesting plants one does not often see. A liked the vegetable parterre. The entrance was a cactus garden - most unexpected. Hedges of fruit trees like avocadoes and pineapple guava were interesting. A bit early in the season for the roses still. One or two areas were a bit shabby and one even had a sign saying "Under Repair".

J & C's favourite bit by far was the ramshackle fruit orchard in the little valley below the house. There, they found a tire swing on a long rope under a tall and ancient tree. Two friendly black and white collie dogs came down from a neighbour's yard and played fetch. Claudie is happiest playing with dogs. They played there for some time right up until we decided it was time to go home.