Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Geelong Botanic Gardens

Well, here are some other photos from our trip to Victoria. These were taken in the Geelong Botanic Gardens, while Paul was giving a seminar at the Geelong Conference Centre. Apparently they are the second oldest botanic gardens in Australia, and were intended to spread over the many hectacres of the Eastern Park, but as the notice says "inhospitable soil and weather conditions" put paid to that. the first photo is of the interesting installations at the entrance, near the twentyfirst century garden (read low water). I have taken a photo of some of the bollard art - there are at least 50 of these bollards, each painted to represent some person, all the way along the waterfront of Geelong - surf lifesavers, bathing beauties, military bandsmen, stately ladies, historic figures, a Geelong footballer (of course) and in the botanic gardens, the original curater holding a Sturt Desert Pea (which he was the first to cultivate) and a young lady who has stolen a piece to press in her flower press (which is behind her back).





It was a hot day, but dry and rather pleasant in the breeze in the Gardens. David certainly seemed to enjoy the walk. We had a little morning tea break at the cafe in the gardens, before going into Geelong on an errand for Paul.

The last is a photo of the largest grass tree that I have ever seen, again at the entrance. It looks as though it has been relocated, because of the guy wires, but no explanation or plaque that I could find.

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