A Field of Daffodils

As we arrive at Bark Ridge farm in the NSW Central Tablelands, we are greeted by a vision of golden daffodils, their dainty heads painting the ground yellow. Viewing this magnificent display, it’s easy to assume a spectacle such as this requires a great deal of meticulous planning and diligence to cultivate and maintain. After spending time with Bark Ridge’s owners and caretakers, Laurie and Lindsay Green, I realise this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth.

A Field of Daffodils A Field of Daffodils

Located on the crest of the Great Dividing Range just outside the heritage village of Rydal, Bark Ridge enjoys a history richer than many farms. Serving as a school for settlers in the late-19th century, then a community church, and later a horse-training facility for harness racing, Bark Ridge had several lives before its conversion to a private property. When the Greens bought Bark Ridge 27 years ago, they had a more standard pursuit for the grounds. Withits rural location, h rolling hills and bare paddocks, it seemed the perfect place for a country getaway from their busy Sydney lives. “We wanted somewhere close to Sydney, where family could come and visit, and we could relax,” Lindsay says. Of course, that was before the daffodils came along.

A Field of Daffodils

It began innocently enough, with Laurie and Lindsay seeking to revive the degraded, horse-trodden grounds. They decided to complement the few trees that remained by adding a some plants to flower during spring. Unfortunately, their efforts reaped little success.

A Field of Daffodils A Field of Daffodils

Read more about Laurie and Lindsay’s host of daffodils in the December 2014/ January 2015 issue of Australian Country magazine, available for order now!

Click here for more farm-life.

Words and styling Alice Griffin
Photography Ken Brass

More Like This

The Future is Now

The Future is Now: Exploring the Rise of Smart and Japanese-Style Toilets in Australia

The humble toilet has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. No longer a purely utilitarian fixture tucked away in the […]

3

Finding Your Throne: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Perfect Toilet

Embarking on a bathroom renovation can feel like navigating a complex maze of choices, from tiles and tapware to shower screens […]

Bowerbird Beauty

Chris and Raelene Schutz have transformed the site of a former drive-in picture theatre in South Australia’s Riverland. As invitations go, […]

Broughton hall bounty: a garden creation

A Gippsland couple have created a showpiece garden on a former dairy farm overlooking Tarago Reservoir. When Philip Hunter made his […]

Sea to Summit: Historical Route

The historical route from Victoria’s Gippsland Lakes to the rural city of Wangaratta is a rolling tapestry of colourful stories and […]

Magnificent Merrilla

The Campbell family is steering historic and magnificent Merrilla station on the NSW Southern Tablelands towards an exciting new future. As […]

Framed on Farm

Framed on Farm

Artist Nerida Woolley draws inspiration for her landscapes from the timber sheds and houses that punctuate the rolling green hills of […]

Family with Mum and 2 Kids

Recipe for Life

With boundless enthusiasm for the local community, baking and family and friends, Hannah McKillop has thrown herself into a new life […]

Follow Us on Instagram