I'm Watching You

 

Above: Forgotten
Strolling through Gasworks Park I espied this forlorn pair of sunglasses sitting on a tree trunk ..... waiting.


Today's quote: The only thing faster than the speed of thought is the speed of forgetfulness. Good thing we have other people to help us remember ~ Vera Nazarian.

Theme Day - Under Construction

Above: Redevelopment Project
Virtually everything here was destroyed or damaged when the Black Saturday bushfires of 7 February 2009 swept through and hit the falls reserve with such ferocity. The Steavenson Falls Recovery and Redevelopment estimated to cost around $3 million, has started. It is a massive job, and the only salvageable piece of infrastructure was the hydro-electric generator that powered the lighting system that lit up the falls at night. Before the fires, the reserve attracted up to 150,000 visitors a year and was a major regional tourist attraction.

Hazardous trees impacted by the fire are being removed as part of the recovery program - many of the trees are dead but could remain standing for several years as they decompose and eventually fall and if left unmanaged, the trees and limbs present a substantial risk to visitors and workers within the reserve.

Stage one of the redevelopment included reconstruction of Falls Road to allow visitor access, a new car park and bus parking area, a new viewing platform at the base of the falls, as well as significant underground drainage and service infrastructure.

The next stage of works will involve construction of toilet and visitor facilities, walking tracks and a spectacular viewing platform of the falls and is expected to be completed by winter 2011.

Above: Steavenson Falls Before Black Saturday
I took this photo a few short weeks before the fire swept through. Note the metal object on a pole on the left hand side in the foreground.

Above: Steavenson Falls After Black Saturday
This photo was taken November, 2010 - 21 months after the fire in almost the same place as the previous photo. The Falls were re-opened to the public eight weeks earlier.

Theme Day: Click here to view thumbnails for all participants


Today's quote: Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal, and transformation in our lives.

Weekend Reflections - The River

Above: The Maribyrnong

Another shot of the Maribyrnong, taken at 12.30pm. Photo faces east. The left side is a popular route for walkers and cyclists which forms part of the Maribyrnong River Trail.

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Today's quote: A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself ~ Laura Gilpin

The Bicycle

An old yellow bicycle propped up against a weeping willow - who put it there among the flowers? I see in my mind's eye a lady in a long, old-fashioned blue skirt, white blouse with small frills, a cameo at her neck, a straw boater with a red and blue ribbone and tan leather riding gloves to protect the delicate skin of her hands. With black leather boots she comes, places a small cane basket on the handle bars and with a ladylike movement, mounts her bicycle and rides off along the country road.


Today's quote: Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike ~ John F. Kennedy

The Queen Victoria Gardens' Floral Clock

Floral Time-Keeper
Opposite the Victorian Arts Centre and National Gallery of Victoria are the Queen Victoria Gardens - Melbourne's memorial to Queen Victoria.

This huge floral clock which is opposite the National Gallery of Victoria, has over 7,000 flowering and bedding plants which are changed twice yearly. The clock was donated in 1966 to the City of Melbourne by a group of Swiss watchmakers. Behind the clock stands a bronze equestrian statue, a memorial to King Edward VII - Queen Victoria's successor. The statue, by Melbourne born sculptor Bertram Mackennal, was unveiled on July 21, 1920.


Today's Quote: Do not squander time for that is the stuff life is made of ~ Benjamin Franklin

Scenic Sunday - Autumn Aurora

Autumn Leaves
Don't you just love walking down a street filled with glorious autumn colour?

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Today's Quote: Autumn is a second spring when every leaf's a flower ~ Albert Camus

Autumn Glory

The fiery reds of Autumn
I love the glorious colours of Autumn and was so taken with the beauty and colour of these trees when I was driving down a local street visiting a family member, I just had to stop and get out. The silver bit in the bottom right hand corner is my car. The Acer Palmatum (Japanese Maple) is one of the most beautiful trees, especially in Autumn when the leaves turn a rich, fiery orange-red. Unfortunately, the tree was so large, I wasn't able to get the whole tree in the photo. But here's another shot below -

Above: Acer Palmatum
These streets are in one of our outer suburbs not far from the Dandenongs - you can see the Dangenong Ranges in the distance at the top of this street near the main road. Photos taken 16th May this year.


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Today's Quote: God is the experience of looking at a tree and saying, "Ah!" ~ Joseph Campbell

Scenic Sunday - Stopover

A wagon ride?

Gotta dream boy
Gotta song
Paint your wagon
And come along

I spotted this wagon standing forlorn in the grounds of Lovegrove Winery Estate and was reminded of the film "Paint Your Wagon" and thought of the many hundreds of emigrants of an earlier age where horse and wagon was the only means of transport. Looking at these times from the comfort of the 21st century, they bring visions of romance and excitement, of being on the road facing new adventures with new landscapes to see each day.

In reality however, it would have been a long, tiring, often dangerous journey, not knowing when you might meet dangers and pitfalls along the way. Those early emigrants must have been a sturdy lot. I wonder how many of us today would have the strength and stamina to make such a journey?

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Today's quote: Hitch your wagon to a star - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Scenic Sunday - The Donkey Tree

When is a donkey not a donkey? When it's a tree! I spotted this Gum Tree last Sunday up in the Yarra Vally.

Give me a home among the gumtrees
With lots of plum trees
A sheep or two, a k-kangaroo
A clothesline out the back
Verandah out the front
And an old rocking chair

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Today's Quote: Do you think yourself wise? Then there's a donkey inside your waistcoat - Charles H. Spurgeon.

Tree Stumps

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn. Following on from yesterday's post, the trees may be dead, but the ferns are growing back.

Today's Quote: The best friend of earth of man is the tree, when we use the tree respectfully and economically, we have one of the greatest resources on the earth.- Frank Lloyd Wright

Saint Ronans (Wishing) Well

Three Coins in the Fountain?
Maybe not a fountain, but even better - a Wishing Well.

Driving along the beautiful Black Spur, on the side of the road is Saint Ronans Wishing Well. If you enlarge the picture, you can see the water trickling in the lower right-hand side.

Saint Ronans Well is a natural mountain spring and when you stand here you can hear (and see) the sound of trickling water as it gently flows over the small rock wall and down a gully, under the road to the other side. Listening to the twitter of birds trilling their merry song make this an enchanting place. There is a space for two (or maybe three) cars to pull over and park.

The "Banana"

Just the place for a nap
One could be forgiven for thinking this hammock was a giant banana - it does look like one doesn't it? I came across it last Sunday in the yard next to the local pub and thought what a wonderful place to lay your head and just move gently with the breeze, swinging slowly from side to side, the scent of gum trees in the air, the birds singing in the trees.

I am currently baby-sitting two very active little boys - Master 5 and Master almost 4 and that hammock would certainly come in handy.

A Tree Grows In The City

Strolling along Princes Walk, the Yarra to my left, I wondered what must Melbourne have been like before all these tall buildings existed and was glad the Yarra divides the city and we still have trees to provide greenery, freshen the air, and provide a shady, leafy place where people can gather and have fun while enjoying nature's bounty.

Winter

The Leafless Tree
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Proudly stands the leafless tree
Its twigs and branches bare
While waiting for its leaves to grow
And Spring to fill the air

Then slowly shall its leaves unfurl
And blossoms forth shall bring
A heady perfume, shady boughs
Sweet sound of birds that sing.