Cottages at Monreale in the Dandenong Ranges is surrounded by a forest on all sides. Our gardens and back paddock have become home for a great number of birds and animals.

Tree ferns (Australis) that grow in sun and shade and are very drought resistant

Mountain Ash – the giants of Australia’s forests

European plants

• Camellias – over 45 varieties
• Rhododendrons – over 12 varieties
• Azalea over 23 varieties
• And a vast array of other plants yet to be identified, that appear seasonally.

Our gardens are home for a variety of native birds

• Lyrebird
• Crimson Rosella
• King Parrot
• Sulpha crested cockatoo
• Galah
• Kookaburra
• Mountain whip bird
• Magpie
• Numerous honeyeaters
  A large number of wren varieties
  Many small birds of different colours and shapes.
• Black duck
• Wood duck
• Common chooks

Our gardens are home for a variety of animals

• Brush tail possums
• Ring tail possum
• Rainbow trout
• Wallaby
• Wombat
• Echidna
• A variety of small marsupials

Unfortunately….

• Possums eat our magnolia blossoms
• Foxes eat our chooks