Prunus cerasifera, or the purple leaf plum is a small deciduous tree commonly planted for its deep reddish-purple leaves and white/pale pink flowers that are among the first to appear in spring. Although it is short lived, it is fast growing and great for use as a specimen or shade tree.
It is in the Rosaceae family, and this like many of the stone fruits are part of the Prunus genus. Purple leaf plum grows to approximately 4-6 m tall and wide at maturity, and has a rounded shape. It should be planted in a location with full sun. The leaves will turn green if grown in the shade. Most cultivars for sale have the reddish-purple leaves, there are ones with green foliage also available.
Flowers are small, fragrant and either white or pale pink. Purple leaf plum is one of the first trees to flower in the spring, with the blossoms appearing before the leaves. Although the fruits are small at only 3 cm, they are edible. These little gems can be yellow, purple, or red, depending on the cultivar chosen. Birds love to eat these fruits off the tree, too.
This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.
Yarra Bend Park is the largest area of natural bushland near the heart of Melbourne. The park features steep river escarpments, open woodlands, playing fields and golf courses. One can explore the park by foot or by bike; go boating on the river and enjoy superb views of the city skyline. Pleasant picnic areas, barbecues, rotundas and playgrounds make it popular with families.
This post is part of the Waterworld Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.
CERES Environment Park is an award winning, not-for-profit, environment and education centre and urban farm located by the Merri Creek in Brunswick East, Melbourne. The purpose of CERES is to provide a place which exists to initiate and support environmental sustainability and social equity with an emphasis on cultural richness and community participation.
CERES sits on a 13 acre plot of land that was once a municipal tip. Today it is a thriving community environment park which is unique in Australia and attracts 350,000 visitors each year. CERES has an Organic Market & Shop, Permaculture and Bushfood Nursery, Café, market gardens, chickens and renewable energy displays. CERES also hosts many school excursions, events, festivals and workshops and offers organised tours. CERES is open everyday during daylight hours and entry is free.
An added bonus in CERES is the creativity of the people involved in it, which is evidence by the many artworks, murals, mosaics, sculptures and installations that are scattered throughout the plot.
This post is part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme,
and also part of the Monday Murals meme,
and also part of the Blue Monday meme.
Spring is well and truly here in Melbourne, with some lovely sunny days and new growth visible in the gardens, parks and nature reserves. In the Darebin Parklands, there is definitely a lot going on with many people walking the tracks, blossom sprouting forth and the burgeoning new growth of Spring readily appreciated.
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.
The Port of Melbourne is Australia's busiest port for containerised and general cargo. It is located in Melbourne, Victoria, and covers an area at the mouth of the Yarra River, downstream of Bolte Bridge, which is at the head of Port Phillip, as well as several piers on the bay itself. Since 1 July 2003, the Port of Melbourne has been managed by the Port of Melbourne Corporation, a statutory corporation created by the State of Victoria.
Most of the port is in the suburb of West Melbourne and should not be confused with the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne although Webb Dock and Station Pier, parts of the Port of Melbourne, are in Port Melbourne. Port Melbourne (or Sandridge as it was known until 1884) was a busy port early in the history of Melbourne, but declined as a cargo port with the development of the Port of Melbourne in the late 19th century. It retains Melbourne's passenger terminal however, with cruise ships and ferries using Station Pier. The port will be at full capacity in 2015.
Apartment buildings in the CBD and surrounding suburbs are constantly being built and it is difficult to ignore their mushrooming into existence. They bring with them rapidly rising population, greater demands on infrastructure, burgeoning traffic, increased noise, congestion, pollution and some would argue more crime. The least evil I guess, is loss of sea views. The last three images I have photoshopped...This post is part of the Geometric Friday meme,
and also part of the Skywatch Friday meme.
One of Melbourne's favourite tourist attractions, the Conservatory in the Fitzroy Gardens opened on the 13th of March 1930. For over 80 years now it has been providing spectacular floral displays, all year round.
The building copies the Spanish mission architectural style, measuring 30 x 15 metres and originally costing 4,000 pounds. The Conservatory is a vital part of the City's commitment to excellence in horticulture. There are five separate displays each year. It is visited by tourists, schools, families and anyone who wants to capture a moment of floral beauty.
Showing now are spectacular displays of Cineraria and Cyclamens.
This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.
Melbourne has become famous, the world over, for its café culture scene. Our city streets are abuzz with endless cafés, bars and restaurants. Diverting from the main drag of café-lined laneways, a walk around the City and inner suburbs will allow you to discover a wealth of food and coffee havens.
Melbourne has been voted the coffee capital of Australia. Everywhere in the City, the air is filled with the aroma of espresso coming from a myriad of cafés. Further afield, Carlton, Richmond, St Kilda, Fitzroy, South Melbourne and Prahran also offer great café strips, with a more laid-back feel.
This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.
