Popes Glen
Kirsten Willis and Jade Begeng
Blackheath has a strong connection to its English colonial history. Rhododendrons and the residents' attachment and fondness towards them foster a culture of flower care in the town. These gardening habits may feel destructive to the native swamp orchids that inhabit the Blue Mountains. However, swamps with this convergence are often far healthier than those outside the care zone. The gardening habits, characterised by an acute understanding of the soil and surrounding conditions, have instilled a sense of responsibility in the gardeners. There exists a shared recognition that the well-being of their gardens is intricately connected to the health of the underlying swamps.
