HAPPY NEW YEAR!
This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May 2014 be a year filled with health, happiness and prosperity for you!
This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.
This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.
Monday, 30 December 2013
BULLEEN ART AND GARDEN MURAL
Bulleen Art and Garden (BAAG) is a gallery and plant nursery on Manningham Road in Bulleen. It is easy to spot with its bright red, purple and yellow coloured wall jumping out at you as you drive past. Artwork and fun signs invite you in.
There is a garden specialty store stocking so much more than just a simple mix of products for the backyard. They've got hand-woven baskets, food preserving equipment, cookbooks and kitchen items. There are imported garden lanterns, unusual dining ware and sculptures to complement outdoor dining. There are shoes, gloves and other gardening apparel as well.
And all of the nursery supplies and plants you would expect to find as well. A gallery offers quirky artworks for sale and there is always experienced nursery people to talk to regarding gardening queries.
This mural is found in the nursery area and has been painted by Lachlan Plain (lachlanplain.com). Jason Smith, CEO of Heide Museum of Modern Art, described L.Plain’s 2012 mural "The Final Journey of Pedro Piscator" as: “On the one hand whimsical, but with a darker side…ambitious and thought provoking.”
This post is part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme,
and also part of the Monday Murals meme.
There is a garden specialty store stocking so much more than just a simple mix of products for the backyard. They've got hand-woven baskets, food preserving equipment, cookbooks and kitchen items. There are imported garden lanterns, unusual dining ware and sculptures to complement outdoor dining. There are shoes, gloves and other gardening apparel as well.
And all of the nursery supplies and plants you would expect to find as well. A gallery offers quirky artworks for sale and there is always experienced nursery people to talk to regarding gardening queries.
This mural is found in the nursery area and has been painted by Lachlan Plain (lachlanplain.com). Jason Smith, CEO of Heide Museum of Modern Art, described L.Plain’s 2012 mural "The Final Journey of Pedro Piscator" as: “On the one hand whimsical, but with a darker side…ambitious and thought provoking.”
This post is part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme,
and also part of the Monday Murals meme.
Sunday, 29 December 2013
KANE'S BRIDGE AT STUDLEY PARK
Studley Park is part of the 642-acre Yarra Bend Park and the Yarra River runs across the park. It is located 4 km north-east of the Melbourne CBD in the suburb of Kew.
Kane's Bridge was built in 1929 to link Studley Park and Yarra Bend Park. It was washed away by the floods in 1934 and rebuilt in 1935. The bridge was named after Councillor T J Kane of Collingwood, who was a member of the Yarra Bend Management Committee. It is a suspension bridge and looks quite solid and substantial. However, like all suspension bridges it does vibrate and sway. While we were crossing it, a group of 5-6 joggers ran past and we could feel the bridge move quite substantially in response to the rhythm of their footfall.
This post is part of the Scenic Weekends meme,
Kane's Bridge was built in 1929 to link Studley Park and Yarra Bend Park. It was washed away by the floods in 1934 and rebuilt in 1935. The bridge was named after Councillor T J Kane of Collingwood, who was a member of the Yarra Bend Management Committee. It is a suspension bridge and looks quite solid and substantial. However, like all suspension bridges it does vibrate and sway. While we were crossing it, a group of 5-6 joggers ran past and we could feel the bridge move quite substantially in response to the rhythm of their footfall.
This post is part of the Scenic Weekends meme,
and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme.
Saturday, 28 December 2013
YARRA RIVER AT STUDLEY PARK
It is hard to believe that these photos of the Yarra River were taken only about 4 km from the Melbourne City Centre. We are very fortunate to have the River and the many parks that we do in Melbourne.
This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the Scenic Weekends meme.
Friday, 27 December 2013
Thursday, 26 December 2013
MELBOURNE STREET TREES 56 - FRANGIPANI
Plumeria (common name Frangipani) is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It contains seven or eight species of mainly deciduous shrubs and small trees. They are native to Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America as far south as Brazil but can be grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
The genus is named in honour of the seventeenth-century French botanist Charles Plumier, who travelled to the New World documenting many plant and animal species. The common name "Frangipani" comes from an Italian noble family (itself literally meaning "bread-breaker(s)" in Italian), a sixteenth-century marquess who invented a plumeria-scented perfume.
Plumeria is related to the oleander, Nerium oleander, and both possess an irritant, rather similar to that of Euphorbia. Contact with the sap may irritate eyes and skin. Each of the separate species of Plumeria bears differently shaped, alternate leaves with distinct form and growth habits. The leaves of P. alba are quite narrow and corrugated, whereas leaves of P. pudica have an elongated shape and glossy, dark-green color. P. pudica is one of the everblooming types with non-deciduous, evergreen leaves. Another species that retains leaves and flowers in winter is P. obtusa; though its common name is "Singapore frangipani" it is originally from Colombia.
Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night in order to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. The flowers have no nectar, however, and simply dupe their pollinators. The moths inadvertently pollinate them by transferring pollen from flower to flower in their fruitless search for nectar. Plumeria species may be propagated easily from cuttings of leafless stem tips in spring. Cuttings are allowed to dry at the base before planting in well-drained soil. Cuttings are particularly susceptible to rot in moist soil.
The most common frangipani is Plumeria rubra. This species comes in many colours, from white to cream to yellow, even oranges, pinks (both pale and hot pink), reds and even deep cerise. They are also the ones with the most fragrant flowers. These trees are common in Melbourne and will grow well in sheltered spots.
This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.
The genus is named in honour of the seventeenth-century French botanist Charles Plumier, who travelled to the New World documenting many plant and animal species. The common name "Frangipani" comes from an Italian noble family (itself literally meaning "bread-breaker(s)" in Italian), a sixteenth-century marquess who invented a plumeria-scented perfume.
Plumeria is related to the oleander, Nerium oleander, and both possess an irritant, rather similar to that of Euphorbia. Contact with the sap may irritate eyes and skin. Each of the separate species of Plumeria bears differently shaped, alternate leaves with distinct form and growth habits. The leaves of P. alba are quite narrow and corrugated, whereas leaves of P. pudica have an elongated shape and glossy, dark-green color. P. pudica is one of the everblooming types with non-deciduous, evergreen leaves. Another species that retains leaves and flowers in winter is P. obtusa; though its common name is "Singapore frangipani" it is originally from Colombia.
Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night in order to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. The flowers have no nectar, however, and simply dupe their pollinators. The moths inadvertently pollinate them by transferring pollen from flower to flower in their fruitless search for nectar. Plumeria species may be propagated easily from cuttings of leafless stem tips in spring. Cuttings are allowed to dry at the base before planting in well-drained soil. Cuttings are particularly susceptible to rot in moist soil.
The most common frangipani is Plumeria rubra. This species comes in many colours, from white to cream to yellow, even oranges, pinks (both pale and hot pink), reds and even deep cerise. They are also the ones with the most fragrant flowers. These trees are common in Melbourne and will grow well in sheltered spots.
This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.
SIGNS AT MELBOURNE CENTRAL
Part of the Christmas decorations at the Melbourne Central shopping centre in the City were these signs. Quite effective and festive looking, despite their simplicity.
This post is part of the Signs, Signs meme.
This post is part of the Signs, Signs meme.
Wednesday, 25 December 2013
STUDLEY PARK BOATHOUSE, KEW
Historic Studley Park Boathouse, Kew, is only 10 minutes from the city centre and offers visitors the opportunity to dine in the restaurant, relax over a lighter meal in the indoor/outdoor café, or have a light snack from the kiosk while enjoying sweeping views of the Yarra River and natural bushland. One can also hire row boats, canoes and kayaks from the oldest operating boathouse in Australia.
This post is part of the Waterworld Wednesday meme,
This post is part of the Waterworld Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme.
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
CHRISTMAS IN MELBOURNE
Christmas in Melbourne is very special. Whether it's the Christmas markets, the City Squares, or the Christmas decorations, the lighting displays or the Christmas villages, Melbourne has it all. The Myer Christmas windows, the Boulevard Christmas lights, Carols by Candlelight, special Christmas church services, you'll find it here.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
This post is part of the Nature Footsteps Inspiring Photography meme,
and also part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.
