Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Our holiday in Canberra
September 2007
Our main objective in having a few days’ holiday in Canberra earlier this year was to visit the Floriade display. I’ve written extensively about that visit over recent days.
Our next objective was to spend a whole day in the Australian National Botanic Gardens. We had visited these gardens about thirty years previously when they were in the early stages of development. I still have fond memories of that visit, but it was well before I had a digital camera. I probably have quite a few photos of that visit on slides in my extensive collection of photos from another era. My son is busily scanning these at present, so next year I might be able to share some from that time.
Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra
When we arrived at the gardens we went into the visitor centre to collect a map. The lady at the desk pointed out the most popular walking trails and commented that most people do the main trail in about an hour and a half. I replied that we’d probably take about six hours – and so it turned out. We do not move quickly through a place like these gardens. My wife has a very passionate interest in Australian plants (see her blog about native plants here) and I have a passionate interest in birds and bird photography (see my birding blog here).
Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Further reading:
- Great birding moments #32
- Lazy lizards
- One bird that finally sat still
- A colourful resident of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
- Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Dangerous Birds in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
No Comments »28th October, 2007; Category: Birds, Botanic Gardens, New South Wales, Parks and Gardens, Sydney
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
I was intrigued by the signs in one part of the Royal Botanic Gardens during our recent visit to Sydney. The signs were encouraging – instructing – visitors NOT to feed the birds. People often think it is great to have flocks of Silver Gulls, for example, crowding around them while they throw out scraps of food to the birds. Human food is not good for the birds and it just encourages them to become reliant on these handouts. Some species can also become very aggressive. One such species is the White Ibis in Sydney and the Straw-necked Ibis elsewhere. (I believe the latter has been a problem in Brisbane parks for example.) An Ibis can be very frightening for a two or three year old child, and potentially dangerous if the bird starts pecking the child trying to get food.
In one part of the botanic gardens there was a small flock of about a dozen Sulphur-crested Cockatoos feeding on the grass. I was able to get a number of good photos because they were quite tame. A group of tourists (possibly German) had either not seen the signs or were ignoring them. They started feeding the cockatoos who became very aggressive, landing on the woman with the food (see photo below). I tried to warn her about their potential to give a nasty bite but she either didn’t understand or didn’t hear me. I was not surprised when one cockatoo gave her a nasty bite on the arm.
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos
Victoria Lodge, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Victoria Lodge, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
Towards the northern section of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney is the delightful cottage known as Victoria Lodge. I love the way it has been incorporated into the general plantings of the gardens.
Surprisingly, I have been unable to find out very much information about this delightful building. The website of the Royal Botanic Gardens states only this:
Victoria Lodge is a sandstone gatehouse, believed to be built c. 1893/5. Originally very small. Additions were made about 1870 and the western and southern wings were added in 1921.
That doesn’t tell us much at all. Other sites indicate it is currently in use as an art gallery and as an artists’ studio. There is precious little on the internet about it.
Some questions – and a request:
Why was this building built? Who designed it? What has it been used for down through the years?
If any readers know more about this cottage, please respond in the comments section. Thanks.
Update July 2018: A reader has submitted a link to an article with more information about its history. The article goes on say that the lodge is being refurbished ready to be opened to the public. Click here to read more about it.
Australian Flowers, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
3 Comments »26th October, 2007; Category: Botanic Gardens, New South Wales, Parks and Gardens, Plants, Sydney
Kangaroo Paw flower, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
On our recent holiday in New South Wales, ACT and Victoria we visited five different botanic gardens. While in Sydney we spent an afternoon in the Royal Botanic Gardens which are within an easy walk of the CBD.
Grevillea flowers, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
While we were generally quite disappointed in the representation of Australian native plants in the gardens, we did find two small sections with a few interesting plants. Some of these were in flower at the time so our cameras naturally came out of their cases. The photos shown here are just a few of the nicer plants in flower.
Grevillea flowers, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
A colourful resident of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
1 Comment »25th October, 2007; Category: Birds, Botanic Gardens, New South Wales, Parks and Gardens, Sydney
Rainbow Lorikeet, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
One of the delights we enjoyed while visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney was the prolific bird life. Included in my list of birds was the Rainbow Lorikeet shown in the photo above.
This bird kept screeching at people passing below the tree. I suspect it was investigating the hollow in the tree as a potential nesting site, or it may have already established a nest in the hollow. I caught it in mid-screech in this photo. Click on the photo to enlarge the image.