I’m on a book tour in Sydney at the moment, having a wonderful time promoting Roses are Blue, and meeting young readers, and teachers, librarians and booksellers. This afternoon I had a few hours free, and went for a walk around Parramatta, where I’m staying.

What could be more perfect in the midst of a book tour to promote a book with Roses in the title, than to stumble upon a garden filled with beautiful beautiful roses like the one above, and like these

and these

and even these

And though roses were the main feature of this garden, there were also paths and arches and gazebos

and masses of sweet scented jasmine in delightful hedges:

Oh, and did I mention there were roses:

If you are a rose lover like I am, then I thoroughly recommend an excursion to the Rumsey Road Garden in Parramatta.