UMBRELLA TIME

We've had some rain in the last couple of days, with more forecast for this week. I'm always happy to see rain as our garden always needs it, and our water storage dams need filling!

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme,
and also part of the Blue Monday meme.

LOVE - DIVINE

Since 1886, St John’s Primary School has served the families and parish of Clifton Hill with a vision of school as a way of life. Today, St John’s is a vibrant mix of the old and the new, maintaining the Catholic tradition. The mural is located on the front of the School, facing Queen's Parade on Clifton Hill and has been created by Colleen Burke, who is a Melbourne-based artist and creator. Burke originally trained in Theatre and Theatre Design at Rusden, followed by studies in Fine Art and also Textile Design at RMIT.

Burke has been commissioned to produce events and designs and to curate exhibitions for Melbourne Fringe, The L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, Melbourne Museum, State of Design Festival and the Melbourne International Arts Festival. See: colleenburke.net.au The mural, which Burke created with the help of the schoolchildren celebrates the Christian values of Love, Hope, Faith and Charity and contains some charming images and beautifully vibrant colours.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

YARRA DUCKS

Wintry day on the Yarra River in Fairfield Park, in Melbourne's inner suburbs. Ducks don't mind the wet and cold weather!

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme,
and also part of the Camera Critters meme,
and also part of the Weekend Reflections meme.

AUTUMN SKY

Autumn sunset sky in Werribee, an outer suburb of Melbourne, Australia.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme,
and also part of the Friday Photo Journal.

DURANTA

Duranta erecta is a species of flowering shrub in the verbena family Verbenaceae, native from Mexico to South America and the Caribbean. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical gardens throughout the world, and has become naturalised in many places. It is considered an invasive species in Australia, China, South Africa and on several Pacific Islands.

The genus name is in honour of Castore Durante, a fifteenth-century Italian botanist. The specific epithet erecta means "upright" in Latin. The plant is also known as D. repens, from the Latin for "creeping". The latter name was originally used to identify smaller-leaved varieties of the species. Common names include golden dewdrop, pigeon berry, and skyflower. In Mexico, the native Nahuatl name for the plant is xcambocoché. In Tonga it is known as mavaetangi (tears of departure). Duranta is registered as an invasive weed by many councils of Australia. It is a prolific, fast growing weed that is spread by birds from domestic areas to natural reserves. It was introduced and marketed as a hedge plant some years ago. Many people now fight to keep this thorny pest under control. It is highly ranked in the most invasive weeds in Australia.

Duranta erecta is a sprawling shrub or (infrequently) a small tree. It can grow to 6 m tall and can spread to an equal width. Mature specimens possess axillary thorns, which are often absent on younger specimens. The leaves are light green, elliptic to ovate, opposite, and grow up to 7.5 cm long and 3.5 cm broad, with a 1.5 cm petiole. The flowers are light-blue or lavender, produced in tight clusters located on terminal and axillary stems, blooming almost all year long. The fruit is a small globose yellow or orange berry, up to 11 mm diameter and containing several seeds. The leaves and berries of the plant are toxic, and are confirmed to have killed children, dogs and cats. However, songbirds eat the fruit without ill effects.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

V for VISTA

There are many an opportunity in the Darebin Parklands to climb on higher ground and enjoy the vista spreading out in front of one's eyes. Whether it's the City skyline, ponds or creeks, lawns or wooded areas, the view is always pleasant and refreshing for the soul!

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme,

and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

BOLTE BRIDGE

View of the Bolte Bridge in Melbourne, which spans the Yarra River and Victoria Harbour in the Docklands precinct to the west of the Melbourne CBD. Construction took three years from 1996 to 1999 and cost $75 million.

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.

VIEWS

A wintry day in Melbourne today...

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

HOME

A wintry night in Melbourne tonight, with cold, rain and darkness. If you're on your way to your cosy home, spare a thought for the homeless out there...

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

CURIOSITY...

Curiosity satisfied the dog!

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme,
and also part of the Camera Critters meme.