Sunday Selections #552

 

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. We are still in lockdown and for at least another three weeks.  Consequently my images are a bit same old/same old.  I do hope you can enjoy them despite their predictability.

Early one morning last week (around 7am) I headed into town to do a shift at Lifeline.  Starting (of course) at home.

My trip takes me to a city centre where I change buses.  I do like seeing the murals which now cover boarded up offices and businesses.  

I am always amused by the slippers on the mural above.

While Floriade has been cancelled, there are floral displays in the city centres and the suburbs.  Sadly I won't see most of them this year.

The largely empty bus interchange on a grey morning.

My city has been described as 'a good sheep paddock spoiled.  It is entirely appropriate that Ainslie's sheep by Les Kossatz has a home in the main city centre.

 

Another boarded up business.

And more floral displays in the city centre.

Back to my garden again.

By afternoon the grey day had disappeared.

 Then to the usual garden shots -and the usual plethora of photos too.

There are more orchids coming out every day.

 The red tulips are being joined by white, pink, purple and yellow ones.

I cannot at the moment remember what this beauty is - which is irritating me.  My find the plant app is failing too.

Most of the daffodils/jonquils are past their best, but some are still just coming into bloom.

River's clivia are in full bloom.  Ours have a way to go yet.

Next week (weather and energy permitting) I hope to take you on a small walk in my neighbourhood.  Spring is such a vibrant and delightful time of the year.

Where ever you are, and whatever you are doing I hope the week to come is packed with health and happiness.

Sunday Selections #355

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. I don't think I am alone is saying that we don't explore our own city enough.

Lake Burley Griffin is a lovely addition to my city.

Last week we went on a small outing, down to the lake.  After himself's recent trip the Beijing Gardens seemed an entirely appropriate place to visit.  They are close to the Chinese Embassy and while we quite often drive past them I don't remember stopping in before.  A mistake.  We enjoyed our visit.
 
The Cninese Embassy.

Beijing is one of the cities which has 'sister city' status with my own, and the Chinese gave us the Beijing Gardens to honour the connection.

We could just see it, through the trees.

 

 This is titled 'Bronze Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow' - which isn't an act of cruelty (precisely) but signifies just how fast the horse is travelling.

 The 'Stone of Appreciation' which signfies the recognised qualities of fineness, openness, perforation and wrinkling.

The next photos come from a sculpture depicting the four Celestial Symbols.

 The Azure Dragon (East/Spring).

The Scarlet Bird (South/Summer)

The White Tiger (West/Autumn).

 The Black Tortoise (North/Winter)

Some detail from the roof of the pagoda.

Isn't it a lovely area?  Nearby is a garden established to recognise our sister city status with Nara in Japan.  I will take you there soon too.

Next week we are going back to our National Gallery to see the hyper-real exhibition.  Photographs from the exhibition suggest that some of it will be very beautiful and some I will find confronting.