Sometimes the view from the lens is better than reality. Like for instance when it’s 10 degrees Celsius and almost drizzling.
After a long period of sunshine and warm weather (I was in shorts for goodness sake… and I’m a Brazilian, it takes a lot of heat to put me in shorts!) I walked through the Gardens and everything was heavy with moisture, dull and cold. Things just didn’t look as wonderful as they had last week even though most of the same plants were blooming. I figured that I would have a hard time finding photos I could use.
When I got home and I looked at the photos I was pleasantly surprised … it’s amazing how the weather colors our view of the world.
Happy Diamond Jubilee Your Majesty! The Victoria Jubilee fountain which was installed in the Gardens to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, has begun its restoration in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Estimated to cost $275000.00, the restoration promises to make the nymph and her cherubs look and feel younger. Much as I’d like to, I don’t think I can afford that make over.
The Azaleas draw my eye, both in the bed and reflected on Griffins pond.
Billy Pickering (the Nova Scotian athlete who was the model for the soldier above the Boer War memorial fountain), rises above it all.
More than a million visitors go through the Gardens every year. Ironically on this cold and grey day I encountered an inordinate number of people from sunny and warm places . They brightened up the place but I felt empathy for the cold they must have been suffering.
What took a bite out of this Acer platanoides ‘ Schwedleri’ ( Red Norway maple)? The cuts we make today will live on for a long time, so think twice before you do it.
Sorry for the repetition, but it bears repeating.
This Quercus (oak tree) was planted by King George VI a few months before the beginning of WWII. The Bedford Basin was filled with warships and He chose to plant a tree which was “the wood of the navy”, the mighty oak, used to build ships for the Royal Navy for centuries. (Thank you Joan for the heads up).
Never judge a book by its cover! This lovely Laburnum (Golden Chain tree) can be a lethal if consumed in great quantities. Then again we ask you not to pick the flowers… and certainly not to eat them.
What a glorious combination. Yellow and burgundy, they bring out the best in each other.
Horticultural Hall from a not often seen perspective. It was definitely not as busy as last week.
My raison d’être. I was at the Gardens this day to conduct a tour for The Rotary Club of Nova Scotia who were hosting their Australian and UK counterparts. I had to apologize to these lovely people for the weeds in our Tropical Display bed. Agaves (which feature prominently in said bed) grow like weeds in Australia and aren’t’ a welcome species in their gardens. The Wikipedia definition of a weed is “An unprofitable, troublesome, or noxious growth.”In general, therefore, a weed is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance.”
Different strokes for different folks!
Along the Gardens path... 