IN THE BOOKSHOP

Visiting the fantastic "Through the Looking Glass" bookshop in Sassafras in the Dandenongs. A perfect place to spend some time in (allow a couple of hours!) and buy some wonderful books.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

BLACK SWAN

The black swan (Cygnus atratus) is a large waterbird, a species of swan which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. Within Australia, the black swan is nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent on climatic conditions. It is a large bird with black plumage and a red bill. It is a monogamous breeder, with both partners sharing incubation and cygnet-rearing duties.

This posts is part of the Saturday Critters meme

GOOD FRIDAY

Best wishes for the Easter Season. Peace, health, serenity for all in these troubled times worldwide.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

EASTER ASTERS

Easter (or Michaelmas - depending in which Hemisphere you live!) daisies (Aster novi-belgii) were once popular in gardens, but are less frequently seen now. They are herbaceous perennials with upright, much-branched stems on which masses of small daisies are produced in late summer and autumn. The flowers range in colour from white through pale lilac blue, mauve, purple and pink to deep reddish plum.

They can be planted in mixed borders and can also be used effectively in beds on their own. The taller varieties often need staking, and are best planted at the back of garden beds. A. novi-belgii was introduced from North America into Britain in 1710. In America they were called New York daisies, however, in England these plants bloomed at the same time as St Michael's Day is celebrated (September 29th), and so they became associated with the festival of Michaelmas and were given its name. In the Southern hemisphere where Easter is an Autumnal feast, the daisies bloom at about this time and hence the term "Easter Daisies". 

These daisies are easy to grow. Plant them in full sun in a rich, moisture-retentive soil. When they die down in winter cut the dead stems back to ground level. When the new shoots appear in spring, apply a mulch of well-rotted manure or compost to which fertiliser has been added. Lift and divide the clumps every second or third year in winter.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE IT!

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

SUN-SHADE

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

ACLAND ST

Acland Street is a street in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, which enjoys great popularity as a recreational area, mainly due to its many restaurants and its proximity to the entertainment areas along St Kilda beach.

Acland Street runs on a north-west to south-east axis between Fitzroy and Barkly Streets. It was one of the first streets laid out when St Kilda was surveyed in 1842. The north-west end of the street is largely residential, and features many fine houses from the late 19th century, some of them converted to flats or other uses, such as the Linden Gallery, and earlier, Acland Street Gallery, which was at number 18, and closed in 1990.

The south-east end of the street, between Carlisle and Barkly Streets, is a commercial strip, with many cafés, cake shops, venues, retail outlets and restaurants. The section of Acland Street between Barkly Street and Carlisle Street is a tram zone where route 96 terminates.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

IT'S AUTUMN

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

ALL NATIONS PARK

All Nations Park is a contemporary park located in Northcote, an inner suburb. The park was created on the site of the former Northcote Landfill and opened to the public in 2002. The park is 13 hectares in size and is home to many unique features, including The Hilltop, Veterans Walk and ANZAC Memorial, lake and performance area, The Olive Grove, lawn areas, contemporary Indigenous gardens, playground with disabled access, skate park, art projects, and outdoor exercise area for All Abilities. The park is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike and offers stunning views of the surrounding area.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

"I'M AWAKE..."

"...So don't try anything funny!"

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

SINGING TO THE MOON

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme