MELBOURNE STREET TREES 172 - PINCUSHION PROTEA

Leucospermum (Pincushion, Pincushion Protea or Leucospermum) is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, native to Zimbabwe and South Africa, where they occupy a variety of habitats, including scrub, forest, and mountain slopes. They are evergreen shrubs (rarely small trees) growing to 0.5-5 m tall.

The leaves are spirally arranged, tough and leathery, simple, linear to lanceolate, 2-12 cm long and 0.5-3 cm broad, with a serrated margin or serrated at the leaf apex only. The flowers are produced in dense inflorescences, which have large numbers of prominent styles, which inspires the name. The genus is closely related in evolution and appearance to the Australian genus Banksia.

Shown here is a Leucospermum patersonii hybrid. An excellent ornamental hardy shrub for most well-drained soils and full sun positions. It is a relatively fast growing landscape shrub for coastal or inland gardens. The two-tone orange-red flowers make a great long stemmed cut flower. Grown commercially.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

RELAXATION IN YARRA BEND PARK

Yarra Bend Park has been one of Melbourne’s largest expanses of inner suburban parkland for nearly 150 years. Yarra Bend Park and neighbouring Studley Park were reserved in 1877. Both park areas and several reserves were combined in 1929 to create one large park. The combined area became known as Yarra Bend National Park despite never being raised to formal national park status.

When the weather is good (which is usually the case ≈250 days a year!) it is restful and relaxing to start the day with a walk in this urban oasis. It is wonderful to live within walking distance of this park and the stately Yarra River!

This post is part of the Wednesday Waters meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.

MELBOURNE POSTCARDS

Melbourne is a tourist mecca in the Southern Hemisphere and knowledgeable world travellers ensure it is on their itinerary. Spending some time here is sure to make any traveller want to return again.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

Southbank vista

City Baths

Melbourne Central Shot Tower

National Gallery of Victoria Great Hall

City Laneway

Mornington

St Paul's Cathedral

Melbourne Theatre Company

University of Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market

South Melbourne Market

The City

MORE WATTLES...

And the wattles continue to flower in Melbourne, species after species putting on their springtime display.

This post is part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme,

and also part of the Blue Monday meme,

and also part of the Through my Lens meme,

and also part of the Seasons meme.

AT THE GREENGROCER'S

We are lucky in Melbourne to have access to a wide variety of fresh garden produce stocked by many specialist greengrocers, markets and supermarkets, and even local neighbourhood stores. The market gardens and farms around Melbourne supply the City with produce, and what is not grown locally is trucked or flown from interstate, within hours of it being harvested. We also see some goods from abroad, especially out of season or specialist produce that is flown in.

It is also surprising to me that the produce is quite reasonably priced. I guess we have competitiveness to thank for that. However, one wonders how the producers are faring in terms of profits, as I know how hard it is to be a farmer or market gardener - not an easy life!

This post is part of the Friday Greens meme,
and also part of the My Sunday Photo meme,
and also part of the Photo Sunday meme.

TREE SILHOUETTE

This was a fine afternoon and a beautiful place to enjoy it in. By the banks of the Werribee River in Melbourne's West.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme,
and also part of the Saturday Silhouettes meme,
and also part of the Scenic Weekends meme.

AFTERNOON BY THE RIVER

A glorious Spring afternoon by the Werribee River.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme,
and also part of the Friday Greens meme,
and also part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Scenic Weekends meme.

ROSES IN OUR GARDEN

Roses have finally bloomed in our garden this year and today was a beautiful Spring day, perfect for enjoying them. After many cold and grey days (+/- rain), the warm sunny skies early in the morning invited a walk in the garden.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

"Mary Rose" is one of the most outstanding of the David Austin Roses. Wonderful, pink, old-style blooms are a lovely shade. Bush is strong growing, upright, and very well branched. Fruity, myrrh fragrance.

"Just Joey" a hybrid tea rose with large decorative coppery orange to buff blooms with waved and frilled petals. Strong tough growth. The unique coloured flowers are sweetly scented. One of the World's favourite roses, inducted into the Rose Hall of Fame in 1994.

"Mr Lincoln" rose was bred by Swim & Weeks, USA in 1964.  This is a very tall growing rose to 1.8 metres should be planted at the back of the rose bed where it will shine over and above all the roses and the breath-taking fragrance will still be enjoyed. Mr. Lincoln has retained its popularity over the years because it is just so reliable a performer with very tough, leathery foliage, especially loving the heat. As with most dark red roses, Mr. Lincoln has very sharp thorns and produces huge, thick watershoots which should be pruned with loppers rather than secateurs.

"Crocus Rose" (syn. Emanuel) is is a very robust and free flowering David Austin rose, bearing large, rosette-shaped flowers that are cupped at first; the petals later reflexing. The colour is soft apricot, paling to cream on the outer petals. The flowers are produced very freely, in large clusters elegantly poised on the end of slightly arching stems. They have a delightful Tea Rose fragrance.

 "White Lightnin: is a stunning white grandiflora rose with a strong fragrance and vigorous growth. The double high centred ruffled 10 cm diameter blooms (petals 30) are produced in waves throughout the season. Medium green, glossy leaves make a great contrast on a repeat blooming bush.

This golden yellow rose is the 'Beehive Gold', which flowers prolifically and has a slight fragrance.

QUEEN'S BRIDGE

The Queen's Bridge is a historic road bridge over the Yarra River in the Melbourne CBD. The bridge was built in 1889 and has five wrought iron plate girder spans, and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
The bridge was built by contractor David Munro, and replaced a timber footbridge built in 1860. The bridge is a very flat arch, and has five spans constructed of wrought iron plate girders. The bridge rests on iron cylinders filled with concrete, in groups of eight, with arched bracing between. It connects Market Street and William Street on the north bank to Queensbridge Street to the south. Trams on route 55 also cross the bridge.

This post is part of the Wednesday Waters meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.

CITY VIEW

A trip to Melbourne is a very rewarding experience for tourists, travellers or jet-setters. There is plenty to discover in Melbourne's secret laneways and rooftops, the cultural hub of Federation Square, buzzing bars, boutiques and eateries, and the iconic MCG. It's great to experience St Kilda, the Royal Botanic Gardens, bohemian Brunswick Street and the nation-stopping excitement of the Spring Racing Carnival. Always fun to join world class events such as the Australian Grand Prix or relax on a day trip to the Mornington Peninsula or to Phillip Island for fairy penguins...

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.