My first impression of this place was windy and uninviting, how can anything grow here, the soil full of rocks, grass over a meter that grew thick and their seed heads constantly picked out of our socks and boots. The fine red soil that stained and blew in everywhere. It took time to appreciate this environment and discover it’s secrets. My partner and I looked after a small house in the middle of 5 acres in the lower midlands for 5 years. Adjacent to the property is a native grass and wildflower reserve and below runs the Jordan river. I went for many walks and observed the colours change over the seasons. Kangaroo grass for example, when young is a fresh light green with burgundy tips, as it ages the colours turn to hues of light gold and cream, bronze and copper, eventually turning grey. It was beautiful to see the cycle of the wildflowers from season to season and how even on the bleakest of winter days or in the windy dry hot summers, there was always something interesting going on. Our garden and orchard brought in all types of birdlife and larger animals, visiting pademelons, hares and eastern barred bandicoots, Tasmanian devils, blue tongue lizards, echidnas and wombats all ventured past our front door.