Sunday Selections #346

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

Like River I usually run with a theme.   Floriade is my city's celebration of Spring.  It runs for thirty days, starting in mid September, and is an explosion of colour and scent.  It is now in its thirtieth year.  We went to see it this week, but many of the tulips are not yet out, so we will have to go back again (oh, how we suffer).

However, while the flowers were not at their peak there was sculpture, fun and whimsy in profusion.  So much that even my obsessive self thinks I will need to devote two posts to the fun.

Floriade is set in Commonwealth Park, beside the lake in the heart of the city.  This chess board is a permanent fixture, and I believe it is very well used.

I suspect this lotus/waterlily is illuminated (as are a lot of the other exhibits) for Night Fest.  It looks fine during the day as well.

I hope that if you embiggen you can read this sign.

 

This is a new one.  Horizon by Lucy Humphrey.  I would be perfectly happy to see it given a permanent home by the lake.

The kangaroos are always there, but the strings of balloon lights behind them are temporary.

As is this installation (another I suspect is illuminated at night.)

 This colourful gentleman was having his photograph taken by a professional photographer, but I have no idea what the story behind his blooming beard is.

I liked the umbrella plant too.

And the lights festooned across garden beds.  Not quite so sure about the disco balls.

And yes, as usual we went on the Ferris Wheel.  Photos will follow.

The Darleks have returned too.  Propagate, Propagate...

They are quite big aren't they?

There really is a lot more to come so I am stopping at this point.  More next week.

Despite the largely absent tulips we had a lovely wander.

Anenomes for Joanne

This post is for Joanne, who has had (to put it mildly) a cow of a year and loves anenomies.  Ours are starting to come out in profusion and I think of her each time I see their smiling faces.

Sunday Selections #345

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

Like River I usually run with a theme.  We (even the slowest of us) finished the Out of the Shadows walk last week before six am.  Our public transport on the weekends is woeful and I knew there wouldn't be a bus operating in the suburbs for hours.  There was a breakfast after the walk, and I am certain that I could have got a lift home with one of the other walkers after it.  However, I was peopled out and decided to walk into town.

There was still frost and a little mist about...  And a kangaroo.  

 

So come walk with me, and enjoy the very different things I saw.  The suburbs I wandered through are older ones, and (mostly) fairly affluent.  Some of the older homes remain, and some have been replaced.  And there were strong hints of Spring to enjoy too.

I loved the look of the house and garden above.

This was parked outside a fairly upmarket motel.

I said it was still frosty, didn't I?

Loved those roof tiles.

I am not certain what the building above is.  It is on the outskirts of town, but I could see no signs.  Trendy apartments?

When I did reach town, I had a twenty minute wait before the first bus of the day headed to my suburb.  I was very glad to see it when it arrived.  Mind you, I cursed the weekend timetable again.  The stop closest to home doesn't operate on weekends, so I had a further walk.  And a lot of it is up-hill.

I was a tired puppy by the time I got home.  I am still glad I did the walk though - both walks.