BOROONDARA CIVIC CENTRE

The Boroondara Civic Centre in Camberwell: Next to the original Victorian Town Hall (not in photo) are the new Council buildings and Library. In 1975 planning began for these new council offices with the second and third buildings opening in 1978, designed by mid-century modern architects Mockridge Stahle and Mitchell. The striking precast white reconstructed stone structural frames and round header windows are a reference to the original town hall (and perhaps a passing nod to the Fascist architecture of the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana in Rome).

The Camberwell Library (with multicoloured glass windows), whose official opening in September 2012 redeveloped an old tired building into a new vibrant and functional building. With the $21 million Camberwell Library and Office Project, Abigroup together with it’s consultants, contractors and suppliers have transformed this aged facility into a sustainable new asset for the citizens and staff of The City of Boroondara.

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WOOD

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BAY VIEW

View of Port Phillip Bay from Southbank. Another skyscraper is being built in the centre foreground, just behind the heritage Public Library building. The view will shrink again...

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ANT

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SUNSET AT THE PARK

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CROWEA

Crowea exalata, or Small Crowea, is a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, which is native to the states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria in Australia. It is a small shrub growing to 1 metre tall. It is named after James Crowe, an 18th-19th century surgeon and botanist. The specific name exalata means without wings, referring to the lack of ridges on the stems - this is not a definitive characteristic.

This species flowers during most months of the year, resting only in extremes of heat and cold, and with flushes in autumn and spring. Pointed buds open to five-petalled starry flowers 2 cm across, in clear tints of rose purple. They are of a solid waxy substance, and make a vivid display for the size of the plant. Before falling they close again to look like buds of deeper pink.

Propagation by cuttings is easy using tip growth (which is very soft in character), at a half-ripe stage. Nurseries dealing in native plants usually stock this small shrub and it should be planted in light, lime-free soil. A position with some shade is desirable - otherwise the soil should be shaded in some way from hot sun. This may be done by surrounding the plant with 5-10 cm of leaves, bush litter or compost. Rocks make an attractive setting, and in fact this is a beautiful rockery subject.

Pruning should be done to maintain bushy growth, or a straggly plant with bare stems may develop. The end of winter is a good time to do this - or any time when sprigs of cut flowers are wanted, as these are dainty and long-lasting in water.

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POMEGRANATE

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CITY

View of the City from St Vincent's Hospital. There's something comfortable, stable and safe about red bricks! The tale of the three little pigs spring to mind...

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SUMMER

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EVENING FALLS

...On the street where I live.
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AUSTRALASIAN SWAMPHEN

The Australasian swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus), family Rallidae, is a species of swamphen occurring in eastern Indonesia, the Moluccas, Aru and Kai Islands, as well as in Papua New Guinea and Australia. It is also found in New Zealand where it is known as the Pūkeko, derived from the Māori language. The Australasian swamphen previously was considered a subspecies of the purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio).

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SUNRISE

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KNAUTIA

Knautia is a genus in the family Caprifoliaceae. The common names of these flowers are a variant of "widow flower." Others are given the name "Scabious," although this word belongs to a related genus (Scabiosa). The name Knautia comes from the 17th-century German botanists, Drs. Christoph and Christian Knaut.

It is a perennial plant that grows between 25 and 100 cm. It prefers grassy places and dry soils, avoiding heavy soils, and flowers between July and September. The flowered head is flatter than similar species devils bit scabious and small scabious. There are 4 stamens in each flower, and 1 notched long stigma.

The fruit is nut like, cylindrical and hairy, 5–6 mm in size. It has a tap root. The stem has long stiff hairs angled downwards. There are no stipules. The leaves form a basal rosette, are paired on the stem, the lowest typically 300 mm long, spear shaped, whereas the upper are smaller.

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GIPPSLAND

Narracan Falls are located out the back of Moe, Gippsland, about 10 km South from the highway. The waterfalls are sourced by the Narracan Creek which arises in the hills northwest of Thorpdale and eventually joins the Latrobe River near Lake Narracan. The falls can be accessed by a walking path of about 50 m from the car park which leads to the base of the falls. There is car and coach parking as well as picnic tables and open fireplaces in the reserve.

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A NIGHT OUT

Melbourne is bustling at the moment and huge numbers of visitors have come to watch the Australian Open Tennis Tournament. Needless to say the night venues all around the City are full of crowds and COVID be damned! Here is Southbank looking festive and crowded.

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YET ANOTHER WEEK

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AT NIGHT

When all is still and only the moon shouts...

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LADYBUG

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SUMMER IN THE CITY

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NEMESIA

Nemesia is a genus of annuals, perennials and sub-shrubs which are native to sandy coasts or disturbed ground in South Africa. Numerous hybrids have been selected, and the annual cultivars are popular with gardeners as bedding plants. In temperate regions the annual cultivars are usually treated as half-hardy bedding plants, sown from seed in heat and planted out after all danger of frost has passed.

The flowers are two-lipped, with the upper lip consisting of four lobes and the lower lip two lobes. The cultivar 'Innocence', a low-growing bushy perennial with white flowers, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The cultivar shown here is 'Sunsatia Banana', which is a popular ornamental hybrid.

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VERTICAL GARDEN

In the entrance way to a high rise apartment building in Southbank, on one of the main walls facing the street, there is this vertical garden of living plants that certainly takes the edge off the concrete, tiles and glass of the building. It provides some much needed rest to the eyes and I daresay one breathes easier there!

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CONTENTED COWS

Pastoral land in Gippsland, to the East of Melbourne, perfect for a day-trip away exploring the lush countryside, boutique dairies, quaint cafés and welcoming small towns.

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SUMMER'S HERE

We've had quite a few days of hot, Summer weather and suddenly everyone is doing summery things, eating summery foods, enjoying the heat and sunshine.

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JACARANDA SUNRISE

A lovely Summer day and nothing better than the sun peeking through the oleanders and jacarandas on a fine morning.

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KOI POND

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FULL MOON

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ROSE SEASON

Fragrant roses freshly picked from our garden. It's a good season for them this year.

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ON THE YARRA

The Yarra River in Fairfield is a perfect spot for all sorts of water sporting activities as the waters are slow moving and gentle. A beautiful spot to just sit on the banks and relax, the hustle and bustle of the City a short distance away, but it feels like it's miles off.

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SILVAN

Silvan is a town in Victoria, Australia, located 40 km east of Melbourne. Its local government area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges, and the town marks half way between the Belgrave and Lilydale, both large towns. At the 2016 Census, Silvan had a population of 1246. The area's soils, well suited to growing fruits, vegetables and flowers, draw tourists to the various pick-yourself orchards and berry farms in Silvan. A cultivated hybrid variety of blackberry known as the silvanberry is named after the town.

Originally known as Wandin Yallock South, the town was first surveyed in 1868. The town's name was changed to Silvan in 1913, the same year the local primary school changed its name to Silvan Primary School. In 1917, and as a result of a growing population in Melbourne's south east, the Silvan Reservoir was commissioned, with the reservoir completed in 1932. A conduit from the Upper Yarra dam was completed in 1957. In 1954 the first Tulip Festival was held, becoming an annual tradition continuing to this day. 

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CANDLES MOSAIC

Candles burning behind a crystal mosaic window.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

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