PURPLE TORCH

Bartlettina sordida, the purple torch, bartlettina, or blue mist flower, is a flowering plant which is endemic to cloud forest habitats in Mexico. It was formerly classified in the genus Eupatorium.

The plant is an evergreen, erect shrub, growing to 2.4 m tall and 1.2 m wide. Bartlettina sordida has reddish-purple branches clothed in slightly rough, dark green leaves with prominent venation and paler undersides. The leaves are very large, up to 25 cm long and 20 cm wide. The inflorescence is a terminal corymbose panicle, 20–30 cm across. The large clusters of scented flowers appear in spring, mauve to lilac to magenta-blue in color. The clusters have a bursting fireworks appearance. The seed has a fluffy pappus and is easily dispersed by wind.

Bartlettina sordida is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in gardens and parks. They are pollinator plants, attractive to butterflies. It is toxic to grazing animals, causing liver damage. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It is prone to becoming a rampant environmental weed when grown outside of its natural range. It has become an invasive weed in the eastern USA, Australia, Europe, Africa, China, Japan and New Zealand.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

MARIBYRNONG RIVER

Melbourne’s second major river, the mighty Maribyrnong, runs for 160 kilometres from its source on the slopes of Mount Macedon through to Port Phillip Bay. Maribyrnong River’s name comes from the Aboriginal phrase Mirring-gnay-bir-nong, meaning ‘I can hear a ringtail possum’. It was originally called Saltwater River due to the seawater that entered from Hobson’s Bay, into which it directly flowed.

Although it flows through Melbourne suburbs with a high density population, there are many parks and reserves along its length. The river and surrounding areas are home to a range of animals. One of the more interesting locals is the shy Black Wallaby, attracted by the ample water supply and efforts to restore its natural habitat – including coarse shrubs, bushes and grasses. It's also home to many species of plants, fish, birds, reptiles, insects, and frogs, the majority of which are native.

Here the view is from Moonee Ponds towards the City.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY

The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb north of Melbourne's central business district, with several other campuses located across Victoria.

The university comprises ten separate academic units and is associated with numerous institutes and research centres, including the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research and the Grattan Institute. The university has fifteen graduate schools, including the Melbourne Business School, the Melbourne Law School, the Melbourne Veterinary School, and the Melbourne Medical School.

In the QS World University Rankings 2025, the University of Melbourne was ranked 13th (1st nationally). Times Higher Education ranked Melbourne 33rd globally (1st in Australia) in the 2021–2022 iteration of its annual World University Rankings. In 2022, it ranked 33rd among the universities around the world by SCImago Institutions Rankings. I am proud to call this University my Alma Mater (all photos are from the Parkville Campus).

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

MOONSHINE

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme

and also part of the Seasons meme.

PUB DINNER

Sometimes the special occasions one celebrates are not birthdays, anniversaries, promotions, send-offs, births, weddings, (deaths?); but simply those occasions where one is with compatible company, enjoying a meal together, the joy of being alive and the simple fact of being able to celebrate life.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

WAITING...

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

SUNRISE IN THE PARKLANDS

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

AMARYLLIS

Flowering in our garden.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

UNIVERSITY SQUARE

University Square is one of Melbourne's oldest public squares, located at 190-192 Pelham Street in the heart of the academic precinct of Carlton. Situated right next to the University of Melbourne campus, it serves as a major open-air gathering spot for students, locals, and visitors.

The historic 19th-century square has been undergoing a multi-million-dollar modern transformation managed by the City of Melbourne. Following extensive redevelopments, the square has transitioned from a concrete-heavy space into a leafy park featuring expanded green lawns, biodiverse garden beds, and barbecue facilities. 

A centerpiece of the park is an award-winning open-air venue, the MPavilion designed by architect Glenn Murcutt AO, which regularly hosts free community cultural events, performances, and public workshops.

Following the grand opening of the new underground Parkville Station, Barry Street along the western edge has been permanently closed to vehicular traffic to blend directly into the expanded parklands. Ongoing Stage 2 plaza and landscaping upgrades are actively finishing up through late 2026 to increase the overall tree canopy by over 40%.

This post is part of the Nature Notes meme

SOUTHBANK

This poat is part of the Travel Tuesday meme