Today, I noticed that one of the trees on our street is so thickly laden with blossoms that the pretty pink petals crowd out the new fresh-green spring leaves.
It is an almost excessive bounteousness of beauty.
I feel a similar bounteousness exists in my life at present: a richness of experience, a time of promise, a profusion of things to be grateful for.
Showing posts with label trees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trees. Show all posts
Monday, 26 September 2011
Monday, 1 August 2011
Finding Beauty in Melbourne
It's been 19 weeks and 2 days since I moved to Melbourne, and while I still miss Adelaide very much, I continue to focus on finding beauty and good things in my new home.
Here are my Top Four Joyful Discoveries of the last few weeks:
4. Wilson Botanic Gardens
OK, I know I've mentioned this beautiful open space numerous times in previous postings, but these gardens really are worth a trip out to Berwick. Some of the trees are a little confused at present with the apparent change of season - who isn't? - but the variety of plantings, walks and sculptures make this a "must see" in the south eastern suburbs. Enjoy a cup of tea down Berwick's main street afterwards, with its convenient centre parking - a space always seems to open up, just when you need one!
3. South Melbourne Markets
Wow! Great food, yummy cakes, and the shop where I found the purple dress I've been sporting with joy the last couple of weeks. Might almost qualify as "a smaller version of Adelaide Central Markets". (Almost.)
2. Driving East along the Monash at Sunset
My husband and I did this on Saturday afternoon. I was driving and first noted the quality of the light reflected off the bridges, sound barriers and roadside vegetation; then Peter looked back and saw the stratified sunset behind us. I think the urban planners did a great job planting along the Monash, and seeing the various gardens bathed in rose-gold light was a real treat.
1. The Beach at Beaumaris
Admittedly, I saw this during lunchtime last Friday when the sun was shining strong and the temperature was warm - so I've probably seen it in its best possible light, for this time of year. However, new to this city as I am, I never realized there were beaches like this within Melbourne. I'd been to South Melbourne and St Kilda, where footpaths are separated from sand by cement pathways, but here there are strips of trees ... and sandstone cliffs to the south! I went home in rapture.
This picture is looking south; I only had the camera on my mobile phone with me, which was unable to do justice to the cliffs from afar.
Being in a new city isn't just about making new friends, it's about finding or creating a sense of 'home' in the midst of a new geography. For me, finding places or things I can connect with emotionally is a big part of this process. The search continues!
Here are my Top Four Joyful Discoveries of the last few weeks:
4. Wilson Botanic Gardens
OK, I know I've mentioned this beautiful open space numerous times in previous postings, but these gardens really are worth a trip out to Berwick. Some of the trees are a little confused at present with the apparent change of season - who isn't? - but the variety of plantings, walks and sculptures make this a "must see" in the south eastern suburbs. Enjoy a cup of tea down Berwick's main street afterwards, with its convenient centre parking - a space always seems to open up, just when you need one!
3. South Melbourne Markets
Wow! Great food, yummy cakes, and the shop where I found the purple dress I've been sporting with joy the last couple of weeks. Might almost qualify as "a smaller version of Adelaide Central Markets". (Almost.)
2. Driving East along the Monash at Sunset
My husband and I did this on Saturday afternoon. I was driving and first noted the quality of the light reflected off the bridges, sound barriers and roadside vegetation; then Peter looked back and saw the stratified sunset behind us. I think the urban planners did a great job planting along the Monash, and seeing the various gardens bathed in rose-gold light was a real treat.
1. The Beach at Beaumaris
Admittedly, I saw this during lunchtime last Friday when the sun was shining strong and the temperature was warm - so I've probably seen it in its best possible light, for this time of year. However, new to this city as I am, I never realized there were beaches like this within Melbourne. I'd been to South Melbourne and St Kilda, where footpaths are separated from sand by cement pathways, but here there are strips of trees ... and sandstone cliffs to the south! I went home in rapture.
Being in a new city isn't just about making new friends, it's about finding or creating a sense of 'home' in the midst of a new geography. For me, finding places or things I can connect with emotionally is a big part of this process. The search continues!
Sunday, 24 April 2011
My umbrella tree has a new shoot!
A tiny domestic miracle: a lively green shoot, leaves already showing at its tips, which will grow at an amazing rate over the next fortnight to join its sister branches adding life and joy to our livingroom. See the tiny sprout in the centre of the picture? It's about 3cm long (just over an inch, if you're still non-metric):
I love growing things. Sadly circumstances haven't been conducive to nurturing a really fantastic veggie garden over the last few years, but still I have my potted plants which enrich my life.
My longest "relationship" with a potted plant is the palm I bought to adorn the first flat I leased alone. It is one hardy plant! It has followed me through thirteen moves sincew 1996 - a pretty good track record.
This umbrella tree has only been with me since June last year. It's endured my long hospitalisation and subsequent recuperation, three moves and the long and very crowded drive from Adelaide to Melbourne five weeks ago (yes, the poor trunk is still crooked ... but I have faith in its resilience). The recent branches each have their own story: this newest is the first shoot born in Melbourne; the previous arrived while I was living in some friends' granny flat; the one before that marked my return home from hospital ... it's a living storybook.
"So what? It's a shoot on a plant." Yes, but it's a shoot on my plant, my beloved plant, and it's a vivid sign of new life.
This certainly counts as one of my favourite things.
I love growing things. Sadly circumstances haven't been conducive to nurturing a really fantastic veggie garden over the last few years, but still I have my potted plants which enrich my life.
My longest "relationship" with a potted plant is the palm I bought to adorn the first flat I leased alone. It is one hardy plant! It has followed me through thirteen moves sincew 1996 - a pretty good track record.
This umbrella tree has only been with me since June last year. It's endured my long hospitalisation and subsequent recuperation, three moves and the long and very crowded drive from Adelaide to Melbourne five weeks ago (yes, the poor trunk is still crooked ... but I have faith in its resilience). The recent branches each have their own story: this newest is the first shoot born in Melbourne; the previous arrived while I was living in some friends' granny flat; the one before that marked my return home from hospital ... it's a living storybook.
"So what? It's a shoot on a plant." Yes, but it's a shoot on my plant, my beloved plant, and it's a vivid sign of new life.
This certainly counts as one of my favourite things.
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