Our baby Arboretum

Today we went on a small outing.  Something we have been meaning to do for ages.  It was a very grey day but the promised rain didn't happen while we were out (or at least not more than a little incontinent pigeon rain - splat, splat and it was gone).

We went to our National Arboretum, which was officially opened in February this year.  Trees being slow growing, I will be long gone before it comes into its full glory, but I was excited to see the work already done and the promise it offers.

It is on a 250 hectare (620 acre) site, and was created after the area was burnt out in the Christmas 2001 and 2003 Canberra bushfires.  Planting began in 2005 and it is now home to over 90 forests of rare, endangered and symbolic trees from Australia and around the world.  Over 35 000 trees have been planted.

Many, many photos follow - which as always will embiggen if clicked upon.  The forests are small, but they will grow and the location is beautiful.  There is an amphitheatre - for concerts in the forest, walking trails, a cafe, restaurant and children's play area.  Joy.

This is a California Fan Palm - and I loved the tendrils on each leaf.

The dragon trees are obviously dangerous - they were all caged.

The entrance to the Visitors Centre.  I really liked the use of natural materials.

Detail from the railing at a look-out.

Sunday Selections #146

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. And, just for a change, I am reverting to garden delights - things which are delighting me in the garden, and a wonderful bouquet I was given as part of an award.  With luck, I will be able to give you something different next week.

As always, click to embiggen.

I fell in love with this Hippeastrum when I saw it in a garden pornography catalogue - and while it didn't bloom last year it has more than made up for it.

The first of our Christmas or Orchid Cacti to flower this year.

And the flowers from my bouquet.  Aren't they gorgeous?

Why is this true?

A friend sent me a link this morning which has made me both sad and angry.

The article was printed under the title 'No One Brings Dinner When Your Daughter is an Addict'.  And it makes my heart hurt.

The author's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.  And, as is right and proper, the family received support from friends, church, work colleagues.  People rang, people talked, people cooked dinners.  Lots of dinners.  Lots of support.

Time moved on, and his wife recovered.  Then a new crisis emerged, when his daughter was admitted to a psychiatric hospital and diagnosed with bipolar disorder.   As is common, his daughter had been self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

No dinners.  Much less support, from far fewer people.  The family essentially faced the pain on their own.

Until his daughter was involved in a car accident - on her way home after treatment.  Her injuries were physical - and food and comfort were provided.

Why?  Is there a perception that mental illness is catching?  Is it a question that somehow the families of people with physical illnesses  deserve support, while the families of those with mental illnesses or subtance abuse problems don't.  The pain is very real in both cases.   Cooking a meal for the family doesn't condone drug or alcohol abuse in my mind - instead it says I am sorry that you are going though a difficult time, and hope this helps.

Or am I being unreasonable?

Sunday Selections #145

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 has been a bit fraught, so it isn't a theme so much, as snippets from the week.  Clicking will as usual embiggen.

This King Parrot having a 'bad feather day' made me smile.

As did the Eastern Rosella pigging out on green apple.

The plumbing/toilet debacle didn't make me smile.  Sadly the toilet blocked again.  And I was forced to call a plumber (a different company needless to say).  In a very short time he came back with bad news.  The problem was major and our driveway would have to be pulled up and the excavators brought in - at huge expense.
Sadly we agreed.
Tuesday morning the team arrived - when they said they would.  And started work.

Shortly afterwards we got some (sort of) good news.  The problem wasn't with our plumbing.  The local council's sewer pipe had collapsed.  Mind you, the digger in these photos is parked on one of my bulb beds and the holes on either side of the wall were deep enough for the workman to be concealed when they stood up in them.  Many, many bulbs are irises were squashed and dug up (and are currently in the garage waiting to be replanted).  The council was called - and seven hours later replaced the sewer pipe.  They will meet some of the obscene cost - amount yet to be determined.  They won't meet the cost of putting the driveway back.
These plumbers were efficient, courteous and did as little damage as they could.
The previous plumbers have not replied to my letter - or responded to phone calls.  A mistake.  I have written to them again saying that since the work they billed me for did not and could not rectify the problem I thought they they should give me at least a partial refund.  I added that if I had not heard from them in seven days I would take the issue to the Department of Fair Trading.  So far they have been silent.  They will be sorry.
I will write to the current plumbers as well - to say thank you.

And to finish on a high note - the bottle brush (Callistemon) in our top garden is flowering most beautifully - a treat for the birds, the bees and me...

Sunday Selections #144

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.   And, just for a change, my theme is a return to some of my obsessions.  As always, clicking will embiggen.

I adore foxgloves, and iris and they are very happy in the garden at the moment.

As is this patch of pigface (dreadful name).

The birds continue to give me joy.  These cockatoos were watching me nearly as intently as I was watching them.

And on Friday evening the sunset coloured a jet trail beautifully...