Another day in paradise - Roma

Yes, another day in paradise, blue skies and very warm days, temperature around 26 degrees.

Now I know that people in the northern hemisphere are sweltering in a heat wave, but it is winter time here, and leaving the cold behind down south has been good for the soul.    Also outback Australia is very dry and dusty, other than when there is a down pour of rain, and then it is mud, and more mud.

Roma's largest bottle tree.

A close up of  the trunk, which has a circumference of  9.62 m, a height of 15 m and a crown of 23 m, this tree is certainly a big one.

This morning we drove 16 km out of town to visit a nursery, called Moorelands Bush Nursery.   The land around is dry and dusty, with a gravel road leading to the nursery.    Walter was very dubious about this trip.   Who would want to build a plant nursery away out there.

We arrived to find twenty cars in the car park, and a busy cafe serving coffee, cake and brunch (eggs and bacon rolls).    Sadly we already had our coffee.    We spent a pleasant hour looking around the plant nursery.

Walter standing at the front entrance.

                                       

The Murray family who run the nursery are now the seventh generation of Murray's who have lived here since 1898.   They mainly produce premium Angus beef cattle, however in 2014 they decided to diversify by opening a plant and tree nursery on their property.    As well as the cafe, they also use the venue for weddings and parties.

There were plenty of sculptures for sale, as well as plants..

A beautiful arbour, with Walter posing in the centre of it.

More sculptures.

And plenty of healthy bedding plants.   

I can now understand why people have more plants and lawns around their houses here, compared to St George, who did not appear to have any plant nurseries.    There are in fact two plant nurseries here, who also stock the necessary soils and fertilisers.   

I had a little mishap when parking the car at the nursery.   Unfortunately I backed the car into this small, thin bottle tree and removed a bit of its bark.   Thankfully it will survive.   Luckily it was not the old tractor behind the tree.   Not sure what I was trying to do!   There was plenty of room.

The Big Rig!   It is 40 metres high with a lift that goes to the top, which saves having to walk up the steps.

I decided not to venture up, even if there was a lift.   Just too high and flimsy looking.  There is a museum there also, so perhaps I might give that a go tomorrow.

Apparently Roma is the birthplace of Australia's oil and gas industry, as natural gas was first struck by accident in 1900 when they were drilling for water. Roma then became known for its oil and gas strikes during the 1920s.  

The slab hut was built by hand in 1893 and housed a family of 11.

The work room which led into the kitchen.

The one bedroom.   How did they all manage to sleep in one bed!

I also spent an hour and a fortune doing a big shop in Woolworth's supermarket, which was very busy with people loading up the extra large shopping trolleys.  Shopping for the week or month or ?.   What with the extra large trolleys and people stopping to talk to friends it was quite a feat to navigate the aisles.

Another day of exploring tomorrow.