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.
Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.
Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle.
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post
some
photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me.
Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
I usually run with a theme. This week I am continuing to revel in Spring. Tulip Top Gardens is a private initiative, brought to us by one family. These stunning gardens are open at the same time as Floriade and win my vote each and every year.
It is just off the highway, and a million, million miles away from it. Unlike Floriade there is an entry fee, but it is well worth the price, and despite the fee a great deal less commercial. The work is done by four people, two of them in their seventies and each year they plant hundreds and hundreds of bulbs.
I took hundreds (literally) of photos so this is a sneak preview. Tulip Top Gardens deserves (and will get) a post of its own. Soon.
Less talk, more garden photos.
I bought some Bellis Perennis like the ones above - and the cockatoos beheaded and shredded about a third of the pot before I could plant them.
I adore the forsythia avenue (and they have planted more this year). The underplanting of violas sets them off beautifully.
I braved the walk to the look-out again this year. The trees have grown and you can no longer see much of the gardens below - but it is still a spectacular view.
Included in the admission fee is free tea and coffee all day - and even the tablecloths were decorated with flowers.
I liked the garden ornaments available for sale in one of the very few stores on site too.
I enjoyed the pattern in this bed too, and salute the indigenous designer.
Even the carpark was pretty. The site is festooned with blossom trees, gentle classical music plays, and frog calls add to the ambiance. Complete bliss - and we were lucky with the weather too. Sunshine, and gentle breezes.
Do you wonder that my trigger finger got a heap of exercise? Almost all of the site is disability friendly and there are chairs dotted about for people to soak up the sun (and in some cases nap). You can take a picnic or buy a meal there. There is a stall where you can buy some of the featured plants, a small shop, two food stalls and lots of beauty on display.
Each year my city celebrates Spring with a month long flower festival - Floriade. A park close to the centre of the city is taken over with spring blooms (and a multitude of temporary stores). It is free to enter which is undoubtedly the reason that so many enticements to spend, spend, and spend some more are part of it.
There is food and drink for sale, ranging from fast to restaurant quality food. You can buy jewellery, clothing, soap, curry pastes, ornaments, skin care and more. There is even a store where garden implements are sold. I have almost total sales resistance except where books or plants are concerned. Floriade is a low cost entertainment for us. We pay for a trip on the Ferris Wheel I featured in my last post, and I pick up some fridge magnets.
We went early this year, and there are still things yet to come out. Just the same there was a lot of colour and scent.
As I so often say, come wander with me.
These fat cats are ring holders.
Balloons.
Cormorants who were entirely unphased by the activity.
Each year, students from our Institute of Technology make gowns from floral material to display at Floriade. I suspect they would be itchy, heavy and essentially unwearable, but I enjoy seeing them.
As usual, I bought some fridge magnets and a couple of bookmarks, which I am happy to post to anyone who would like one. First in, best dressed.
Tulip Top Gardens next - and as usual, it did leave Floriade in the dust.
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.
Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.
Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle.
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post
some
photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me.
Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
I usually run with a theme. I mentioned last week that I am a creature of habit. Which is very true. Each year my city celebrates Spring with a flower festival - Floriade, and each year we go to it.
Which is where I am taking you this week. Ordinarily as well as many, many flowers and multitudes of shops there is also a wide range of art. The art was sadly missing this year, but I am going to show you some of the beauty and quirkiness of the area.
It was a beautiful day, and we wandered through Commonwealth Park to the festival. The first shot shows our 'new' Parliament House on the hill. Old Parliament House (which we are supposed to now call the Museum of Democracy) is the low white building in front of its newer replacement - though they are not as close as the photo makes them look. The second photo is our National Library.
This chessboard has been in place for as long as I can remember and I believe on weekends it sees a lot of action.
This fort is a childrens' play area.
The bird sculptures have been here for a very long time - and I take a photo of them (or several photos) each time I go past.
Another old one.
I cannot decide whether this one reminds me more of a lobster or a scorpion. It appeared for Floriade a few years ago and never left.
The paddle boats (which cannot be ridden on) are new this year.
The kangaroo and joey are old friends.
I would guess that the dome is illuminated for Nightfest which runs on selected weekends during Floriade.
In years gone by there were viewing platforms to see the patterns in the bulb beds. That is now a thing of the past - it is the Ferris wheel or nothing. So up we went.
Even by my standards this is a photo heavy post so I will stop here. There will be at least one more Floriade post (with flowers and my usual giveaway) and next week we hope to go to Tulip Top Gardens - which I think leaves Floriade for dead.
