Archive for the 'Botanic Gardens' Category

Flowers of the Canberra Botanic Gardens

Daisy, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Daisy, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

We always enjoy visiting botanic gardens, no matter where they are. We have found over the years that most gardens have an excellent range of plants and flowers which keeps my wife interested. I also enjoy taking photos of the flowers. An added bonus is the often prolific bird life, which interests me. I use my observations to write about on my birding blog.

One of the best – arguably the very best – such garden is the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra. We have visited these gardens on every occasion we have been to Canberra. In 2007 we spent a whole day there and only covered about half the gardens.

In this post I will feature some of the flowers I photographed on our visit earlier this year. (You can see other flower photos in the posts published in the previous few days, and also in the coming few days.)

Flowers, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Flowers, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Flowers, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Flowers, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Australian National Botanic Gardens

Kangaroo Paw flower, Australian National Botanic Gardens

Kangaroo Paw flower, Australian National Botanic Gardens

The Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra are worth a visit at any time of the year. We have visited on a every occasion we have been to Canberra and never tire of these magnificent gardens.

Set on the slopes of Black Mountain and only a short distance from the heart of Canberra, these extensive gardens are a tribute to our wonderfully diverse and beautiful plants and flowers. Most of the paths are very easy walking but some can be a little steep. Many are wheel chair friendly which makes walking for the rest of us a breeze.

I enjoy the bushland setting of the gardens; you forget that you are a five minute drive to the centre of our capital city. The birdlife is prolific with many wonderful species. They are used to people in large numbers, so photographing them I find very rewarding. There is always something flowering too, and I enjoy getting photos of the many plants in flower.

Eastern Spinebill on Kangaroo Paw flowers, Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Eastern Spinebill on Kangaroo Paw flowers, Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Kangaroo Paw flower, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Kangaroo Paw flower, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Sturt Desert Pea, Australian National Botanic Gardens

Sturt Desert Pea, Australian National Botanic Gardens

After our short holiday in Sydney last year we drove to Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. We were visiting friends of our daughter. After unloading the car we had a few hours in the afternoon free so we decided to head over the the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

These botanic gardens would have to be our favourite such garden in Australia. On our last visit in 2007 we spent a whole day there. This time we only had a few hours on a beautiful summer’s afternoon and evening.

I had a great time photographing birds and flowers. My wife concentrated on the plants only while our daughter found several comfortable seats to read a book.

Banksia flower, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Banksia flower, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Flower in the fern gully, Australian National Botanic Gardens

Flower in the fern gully, Australian National Botanic Gardens

2008 Road Trip: Wagga Wagga, New South Wales

Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens, New South Wales

Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens, New South Wales

During our 2008 Road Trip to Sydney we drove from Narrandera to Wagga Wagga during the second morning. This took us through some interesting farming country. The weather was far more pleasant than the heat of the previous day.

We arrived there just in time for a picnic lunch. coming into the town we saw signs pointing to the Botanic Gardens. As we approached the entrance I remembered that we had visited these gardens about four years ago. We found a suitable picnic table and were soon having a lovely lunch.

During our meal I managed to get a good photo of a Tree Sparrow, a species of bird I had previously not seen in Australia. It was one that had eluded me. A few years ago I did see this species in Thailand.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Adelaide Botanic Gardens Bicentennial Conservatory

Adelaide Botanic Gardens Bicentennial Conservatory

Adelaide Botanic Gardens Bicentennial Conservatory

One of our favourite places to visit in Adelaide, South Australia is the Botanic Gardens. One of the main attractions of the gardens is the Bicentennial Conservatory.

Adelaide Botanic Gardens Bicentennial Conservatory

Adelaide Botanic Gardens Bicentennial Conservatory

The photo above has been used by an Adelaide artist – you can see her painting here.

Click on the photos to enlarge the image.

Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Adelaide Botanic Gardens