A shared love of gardening enhances the bond. Neighbours Ros and Bruce Ryan and Lesley and Eddie Paterson describe their relationship as "a family".

They spend many companionable hours together frequently popping in and out of each other's homes and gardens for morning or afternoon tea or for end-of-the day drinks in the garden.

Ros and Bruce moved to Bundanoon eight years ago after growing up and living in Singleton where they had deep family roots.

On a visit to the Highlands to play golf one year they checked out some real estate agent windows, quickly purchased a block of land in Elmswood Court and built their new home.

The village environment of Bundanoon was a huge attraction. Singleton had ceased being a village once the mining industry took hold. Their Singleton friends were sceptical and predicted they would return after two years. There's no chance of that now. They are blissfully happy and firmly entrenched in our community. Bruce is a keen member of the Bundanoon Bike Club and most Sundays goes on a ride with fellow club members.

"There are so many beautiful rides around here." Bruce helped his friend Rod Moore research the local book, Short Black - Short Rides on a Black Bike, as they toured the Highlands on "coffee rides".

Lesley and Eddie moved into Elmswood Court four years ago and immediately recognised their kinship with Ros and Bruce.

"Our paths were meant to cross," Lesley said.

"We always wanted to live in the Highlands, but never thought it would happen."

After searching coastal areas for an investment property they saw their Bundanoon house and said, "that's it". They painted and restored the house in preparation for tenants and then realised they could not bear for anyone else to live in it.

Now, they too are entrenched in our community. As well as spending time with Ros and Bruce, Lesley walks twice a week with a local group and volunteers at The Good Yarn.

The garden has a completely new look and transforming it has been her biggest challenge and a most rewarding achievement.

In only four years, Lesley and Eddie have turned the garden around. They have built up the tired soil, planted more trees and created beds as they reduced the amount of lawn.

As Eddie works during the week in Wollongong, Lesley is the chief gardener and has learnt a lot quickly. They moved from Jannali where they had a courtyard garden and a few agapanthus.

"Gardening here is so rewarding," Lesley said.

"Not too much that you plant doesn't do well. I consider myself to be a gardener on 'L' plates. I have had so much help from friends who have been so generous in sharing their knowledge, plants and cuttings."

Ros is also amazed at how well things grow in Bundanoon. Her garden was in the ramble three years ago and visitors will recall some ingenious rose arbours created from poly pipe.

These have since collapsed under the weight of the thriving roses and now sturdy wooden structures are recent additions to the garden.

Ros describes herself as a lazy gardener which is hard to believe given the beauty she has created. She also says that her garden is about people. The people who have contributed to the garden and the plants which are memorials to lost loved ones. Here, forget-me-nots are not weeds but rather emblems of cherished memories.

In establishing her Bundanoon garden, Ros pays tribute to her friend and "horticultural mentor" Liz Moore, who was a friend from Singleton days and who moved to Bundanoon six months ahead of Ros and Bruce.

"Liz has been wonderfully generous and giving and made us feel part of the local community."

Lesley also makes special mention of the help and encouragement she has received from Liz.

In their spirit of friendship and community both couples are truly looking forward to sharing their gardens with the rest of us at this year's ramble and we thank them for their generosity.