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
Australia Fair Organ at Floriade 2007
Australia Fair Street Organ, Floriade 2007
Our holiday in Canberra
September 2007
One of the more unusual things we saw at this year’s Floriade floral display in Canberra was the Australia Fair Street Organ (shown in the photo above). This magnificent machine travels around the country giving renditions of well known songs at fairs and festivals. We stayed for a while listening to the amazing music. Audience members are able to walk around the back of the organ and observe how it all works.
Nearby we were impressed with the artistic bird sculpture shown in the photo below.
Sculpture display at Floriade 2007
Display of Gnomes at Floriade 2007 Canberra
Display of Gnomes at Floriade 2007
Our holiday in Canberra
September 2007
Over recent days (weeks actually) I have written about the delights of our visit to Floriade 2007 in Canberra. We were astounded at the magnificent displays of flowers in bloom. Floriade this year did not only display flowers. In one quite corner of the park there was a display of garden gnomes. Many Australian gardens display garden gnomes in a wide range of shapes and designs, so it was quite appropriate to include such a display at Floriade.
Display of Gnomes at Floriade 2007
The inclusion of garden gnomes as a part of Floriade has become a much loved tradition of the month long festival. It is actually a competition with children, schools and community groups encouraged to participate. As a retired elementary teacher I really appreciated the sentiment expressed on the sign shown in the photo below.
Display of Gnomes at Floriade 2007
Further reading:
- More information about the Floriade Gnomes can be found here at their gn(h)ome page.
Clowning around at Floriade 2007, Canberra
Clown at Floriade 2007 in Canberra
Our holiday in Canberra
September 2007
On our wanderings around the magnificent displays of flowers in bloom at Floriade 2007 in Canberra, we came across several different forms of entertainment. One of these was a clown who was engaged to entertain the crowds that came along to see the flower displays.
Clown at Floriade 2007 in Canberra
We arrived just as he was setting up an area for his act. I guess we stayed watching him for a good twenty minutes, perhaps longer. He was very slick and very funny and engaged the crowd watching or passing by in a wonderful way. He was extremely good at being flexible with his act and would quickly adapt to whatever was happening around him.
Clown at Floriade 2007 in Canberra
At the end of his performance he asked for donations from the audience and many people obliged. I was quite happy to add my little contribution to his hat as I felt that he lightened the day for me quite considerably. Not that I needed a boost in any way because seeing all those wonderful flowers on display was an amazing experience.
Clown at Floriade 2007 in Canberra
Aussie icons, myths and legends – Floriade 2007
Floriade 2007, Canberra
Our holiday in Canberra
September 2007
The theme of Floriade 2007 in Canberra this year was “Aussie icons, myths and legends.” All of the floral displays related in some way to this theme. One of the more startling and appropriate displays was that shown in the photo above.
The photo shows a vehicle that would be familiar to all Aussies (Australians), especially in the rural areas of the country. A Holden ute (short for “utility”) rusting in the farmyard near the flower garden. In fact, this ute has been utilised to grow flowers in the tray section. Very innovative.
Another Aussie icon stands nearby – the outback dunny. The dunny on every Aussie farm was a distance from the house – perhaps 20 to 50 metres away – to keep the smell from wafting into the homestead. Almost all outback dunnies were of the “long-drop” variety, the wooden seat with a hole cut into it for sitting on over a large deep hole. I remember being terrified as a child of going to the dunny, especially at night. Imagine my relief when my father and older brother constructed the latest convenience under the same roof as the house – and it flushed what’s more!
To more refined people a dunny is known as a toilet. (Bathroom for all my American readers.)
Floriade 2007, Canberra