A Botanic Sojourn…

 

There is a lovely place near Perth called Araluen Botanic Park

I’ve been told that I’ve been there numerous times since 1979, but I don’t really recall… I only see flashes of memory.

The last time I really remember being there, was at my aunty’s wedding. I was the flower girl. I loved that day. I kept the dress for the longest time and even wore it as an odd babydoll kind of top when I was younger, until it went astray.

I wish I hadn’t lost that frock.

I was a pretty flower girl…

Last weekend, I went back to Araluen (which means “singing waters” in Aboriginal) for the first time in decades. Every winter they have a mass tulip planting. It was advertised that “Springtime at Araluen” had started, but it turns out we were a bit early. Not surprising as it is still winter, and how….

The tulips were not quite ready, but I still managed to take a few nice shots. It was raining steadily the whole afternoon, but it didn’t matter. It’s such a lovely place. To add to the atmosphere, a male tenor was standing at the base of the valley singing beautiful music which resonated all over. It really was so special. Quite surreal.

 

This is is the oldest, largest (1929) pergola of its kind in the world. No shelter from the rain, but it’s very pretty…

 

We really were just a couple of weeks too early. Too much budding and not enough blooms…

 

So much for fucking global warming (is it just me who is suspicious of the hype??). On the dryest continent, in the midst of drought, the ducks are loving it. We have well exceeded our average rainfall now……………………..yeah, yeah I know. The wheatbelt… but……….

 

There were some very pretty blooms…

 

… and interesting bush views. In Australia, untouched native foliage is called “the bush”, as in “look at that log up there in the bush”…

 

The tulips were trying…

 

There were interesting rock bits…

 

… and waterfally bits….

 

… and random chairs made out of stumps, which would have been welcome if not for the rain…

 

Araluen as it is, was constructed by the Y.A.L. (Young Australia League) in 1929 and as part of the design, they built the “Grove of the Unforgotten” to commemorate the 88 members of the Y.A.L., who died in WWI. It has been restored. This is it. The waterfall flows down into a stone memorial and flower garden.

 

Dense ivy is lovely…

 

And the creeks flow freely. The water tastes a bit like fertiliser, but it still tastes fresher than tap water…

 

Trees make me happy.

 

There are more photos here

 

Feedback most appreciated.  I love you.

 

 

 

Song Of The Day – PJ Harvey – Good Fortune