Viewing Maple Leaves in the Blue Mountains

In May, Sydney entered late autumn. The maple leaves in the Blue Mountains began to turn red. From the beginning to the middle of the month was the best time to view the autumn leaves. On May 8th, which happened to be a weekend, the weather was fine and clear, with crisp autumn air. At nine in the morning, my daughter drove for nearly two hours to reach a place called Bebeah Gardens in the Blue Mountains.

This was a private garden, located by the roadside. The signs in the garden were very conspicuous. We followed the signs and walked while admiring the scenery. At first, the path was relatively narrow, with rhododendrons planted on both sides. Among the flowers, several uniquely shaped sculptures appeared from time to time. The further we walked, the wider the scene became, presenting a garden landscape.

We arrived at an open area where there were several relatively large trees. Due to several consecutive days of rain, some trees had already shed their red leaves on the ground, leaving only bare branches. A few other trees were just beginning to lose their leaves, and the red leaves were striking. We paused here to admire and take photos.

Suddenly turning my head, I spotted the owner's house. The beautiful architecture was nestled among the trees, elegant and unique, harmonious and unified, like a fairyland, exuding a strong charming atmosphere that was pleasing to the eye.

After taking some photos here, we walked ahead. Ahead stood a tall tree with yellow leaves covering the branches. Looking against the sunlight, the leaves were crystal clear and shimmering, like pieces of yellow amber hanging on the tree, very beautiful.

Not far from this tree, there was a staircase. Going down the stairs, there was a small lake. The lake water was as still as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds. In the center of the lake was a fountain, continuously spraying water columns. The water columns fell, causing ripples on the water surface. Fish swam happily in the water, sometimes surfacing, sometimes diving. Around the lake, various trees were planted, some standing tall, some slightly bowing, others leaning by the lakeside. The leaves of these trees had turned yellow or red, interwoven with green leaves, very beautiful, presenting a full autumn scenery. Against the backdrop of the lake, it was even more charming, like a paradise. We lingered here, picking up our cameras, taking photos continuously, reluctant to leave.

Outside the lake, there was a branch corridor. The branches on both sides extended towards the middle, intertwining. The lush leaves were layered, blocking the sun and sky, with colors of yellow, green, and reddish yellow, dotted together, very beautiful, making people feel relaxed and happy. Walking into the shaded corridor felt like entering a glass tunnel. We slowly walked along the corridor, taking photos inside.

At the end of the corridor, there was a wooden bridge. The lake water overflowed gently from under the bridge. Standing on the wooden board looking at the lake water, it felt like entering a fairyland, with a unique charm that captivated and intoxicated us.

Leaving the lake, we continued forward. There was a large tree with an exceptionally large crown and a very thick trunk. Purple-red leaves hung on the branches, majestic and tall, attracting many visitors to stop and admire. After viewing from the side illuminated by the sun, we came to the other side to view against the sunlight. The purple-red leaves under the sunlight looked like clusters of blazing red flames, extremely beautiful. Suddenly, a gust of autumn wind swept by, and a few leaves fell, like tired butterflies slowly circling and landing on the ground. My grandson stepped forward, picked a few leaves from the fallen leaves, planning to take them home to make into bookmarks and place in books. He was very thoughtful; not only did he prepare a bookmark for himself, but he also prepared one for me to take home as a keepsake.

Leaving this place, we came to a cluster of bushes. The leaves in the bushes were green, yellow, red, and reddish yellow, with various colors interwoven, colorful and pleasing. Nature presented its beautiful scenery before us, making it hard to leave.

Continuing forward, we came across a bamboo grove. The emerald green bamboos grew here, silent and unassuming, never vying for attention, complementing the garden's beautiful scenery.

After passing the bamboo grove, there was a pool of water. The water was still, surrounded by vegetation, shaded by greenery. The frogs in the water became the masters here.

Ahead, a maple grove appeared. Although the tree crowns were not large, their leaves had turned red. Under the sun's reflection, they were colorful and shining, attracting many visitors to admire. We stayed here for a long time, taking photos as souvenirs.

Leaving here, moving forward was a tropical rainforest, where evergreen plants like wild bananas and monstera grew. Due to the dense vegetation, we did not enter.

We kept walking through the garden, admiring the beautiful scenery. Near the exit, there was another courtyard. Green lawns, gray houses, towering trees, red, yellow, and green leaves, white flowers, blue sky, and a quiet courtyard formed a perfect picture of nature. We lingered here for a long time, playing and taking photos.

Leaving this place, continuing forward, there was a relatively flat area planted with a dozen species of trees whose names we didn't know. Tall trunks stood gracefully, with a few long leaves on top, similar to coconut trees. From a distance, they looked like several open umbrellas, or like a cluster of mushrooms growing from the ground.

In the garden, we encountered many flowers whose names we didn't know, blooming with smiling faces toward us. Some flower buds were like sixteen-year-old maidens, shy and ready to bloom.

Time passed quickly. Unknowingly, we spent four hours in the garden. The scenery deeply attracted us, and we couldn't help but exclaim: Eucalyptus trees cover the hills lush and green, courtyards scattered in between, Sydney's autumn scene now appears again, Blue Mountains maple leaves are at their reddest.

After lunch, we reluctantly left this place.