Another nearly Wordless Wednesday

Both Teresa and Carol reminded me that some people prefer to see the garden/ jungle as a whole rather than individual blooms.

So, here are a few shots to put some perspective into what I show/inflict on you of the garden.

That is a clematis wound around the eucalypt.  An annual treat.

On Monday I was tired, sore and grumpy.  So the skinny one suggested we go and look at kangaroos.  Lots of kangaroos.  Who relax better (as I have said before) than anything I know which isn't a cat. Bliss.

Sunday Selections #141

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.

Like River, I generally run with a theme.  This week?  Not so much.  I am running with obsessions instead.

The garden is continuing to give me joy - though it is getting hotter by the day and we badly need rain.

 I do love Columbines, aquilegias, Grannie's Bonnets.  I picked up these two at Tulip Top Gardens.

Some of my green and white tulips - a joy.

As is this one.

The Snowball tree (guelder rose) is coming into flower beautifully.  By the middle of next week those balls will be very, very white.

This cat lives in the lounge room window.

I do love our King Parrots - even when they chew the camellias.  Which this one did.

And the next photos are of a present I gave myself.  Our poor overworked toilet backed up.  Eeeuw.  A plumber charged us over $400 to NOT fix it.  He also destroyed a garden bed, and committed a number of other sins.  Negotiations with the company continue, but I am not going to go quietly.

Since the plumber didn't do the job, (and I refused to pay another one) a trip to the hardware store was in order.  While picking up plumbing supplies I noticed they had coloured solar lights - at a price which worked out to less than $1.50 per light - with a years warranty.  So I treated myself.  I may go back and buy some more too.  AND I have fixed the toilet too.

  

Sunday Selections #140

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.

Like River, I generally run with a theme.   This week I am featuring birds that I don't often show you.  You will probably need to click and embiggen because the first bird of the week is very, very small. 

The Silvereyes are tiny, quick moving birds which are hard to capture.  The lure of an apple kept them still enough (just) to fire off a few quick shots.  In the second shot you can see where its very original and imaginative name comes from.

 The next bird is a Rainbow Lorikeet.  They are quite common in coastal areas of Northern and Eastern Australia but we, being a distance from the coast, rarely see them.  And welcome them when we do.  This pair appeared just after six one morning last week.

Tulip Top Gardens 2013

Last week was filled with self indulgence as my city (area) celebrates Spring.  I have already posted about Floriade, but the next day we continued the garden glory binge.

Floriade and the Tulip Top Gardens are open for the same period each year.  Floriade is a local government initiative, and Tulip Top Gardens are the brain child and the blood, sweat and no doubt tears of a single family.

While both gardens will be open for another fortnight it was obvious to us when we saw Floriade that the gardens were at their peak.  So the very next day we headed off to Tulip Top Gardens.  It is a little way out of town, 13 kilometres from the showground, and in another state (New South Wales).  A pleasant drive, and always a treat.

Both gardens are a riot of colour, and tulips feature prominently.  Just the same there are a lot of differences.

Floriade is free to enter.  Tulip Top Gardens charges $13 for an adult (with senior concessions).  Included in that fee is unlimited tea and coffee and if you arrive around lunch time a sausage sandwich is thrown in (which usually gives the skinny one a big lunch).  Despite the entry fee Tulip Top is a great deal less commercial.  There is one shop where you can buy food, one garden shop and a couple of other stalls.  Floriade is a marketing bonanza and you can buy everything from bulbs to pearls - not forgetting sun glasses, designer clothing, fudge, soap or curry mixes.  And more.  And rather a lot more.  Including more food stalls than you could shake a stick at, ranging from hot dogs to restaurants.

Tulip Top Gardens was established in 1997 by one couple, and is still owned and run by the same family.  Each year over half a million bulbs and flowers are planted by hand.  Which puts my efforts to shame.  There are over 1000 blossom trees, a waterfall and watercourse.  The sound of frogs is everywhere - and some day I will see one there.  Classical music is wafted from the trees and there are chairs littered around the garden to sit and absorb the splendour - or, as I noticed several people doing, to nod off in the sun.

Less rabitting, more photos.  Clicking will, as always embiggen.

I loved the avenue of forsythia, and thought that the underplanting of gold pansies was brilliant.

 There is a look out - with shade and chairs.  It is a long and steep walk - but worth it.  So very worth it.

Do you see what I mean?

I try and get to both Floriade and the Tulip Top Gardens every year.  They are both wonderful - but Tulip Tops is first in my affections.

The smaller portion is still having significant issues with both his digestion and his mouth.  Which cancelled each other out so that he could enjoy these outings.  His poor sore mouth means that eating is difficult - so his digestion is not being tested at the moment.  Swings and roundabouts.

Two outings in two days both involving significant walking are too much for me.  I paid, and am still paying with increased fatigue and more pain.  And have paid as high a price for things which didn't bring me a fraction of the pleasure that these outings did.  So, in case you hadn't guessed, I am very glad we went.