ROSE AND BEE

This post is part of the Pink Saturday meme,
and also part of the I Heart Macros meme.

PARKLANDS MORNING

The Darebin Parklands is a reserve of bushland through which runs the Darebin Creek. It is situated very close to where I live so it's a pleasure to walk there at various times during the day, as on this fine morning.

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the Scenic Weekends meme,
and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme.

SUNSET

"I like that time is marked by each sunrise and sunset whether or not you actually see it." - Catherine Opie

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

BROWALLIA SPECIOSA - 'BUSH VIOLET'

Browallia is a genus of Solanaceae family. It is named after Johannes Browallius (1707–1755), also known as Johan Browall, a Swedish botanist, physician and bishop. Browallia speciosa ('Blue Troll') is a blue-violet tender perennial usually grown as an annual flowering plant also called the 'Amethyst Flower' or 'Bush Violet'. It is much used as a garden ornamental. It is is native to tropical South America.

It performs well in consistently moist, well-drained, humus-rich soils in sun to shade. In hot Summer areas, plants are best sited in sun dappled conditions, bright shade or afternoon shade. Do not allow soils to dry out. Sow seed indoors 8-10 weeks before last Spring frost date or purchase Spring starter plants in six packs from nurseries. Pinch plants back to encourage branching. Prior to first Autumn frost, some plants may be cut back, planted in small containers and brought indoors for winter flowering.

No serious insect or disease problems. Aphids, leafhoppers and whiteflies may appear. It can be grown in containers, hanging baskets, planted en masse or in large groups in beds, borders and woodland gardens. Houseplant for bright, warm locations in winter.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

ROYAL ARCADE, MELBOURNE

The Royal Arcade in Melbourne is a wonderful example of Victorian civic architecture. It features many arches, arcs and apses, as well as some delightful art. It's a pleasure to amble through this and appreciate the elegance and refinement of Australia's yesteryear.

This post is part of the ABC Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

TEA FOR TWO, TOO

This shop is found in many shopping centres in Melbourne and offers some good varieties of tea leaves, as well as anything to do with tea-making and tea drinking. They also like orange.

This post is part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme,
and also part of the Nature Footsteps Inspiring Photography meme.

DAHLIA - BISHOP OF LLANDAFF

Dahlia x hybrida 'Bishop of Llandaff' is a branching, tuberous tender perennial cultivar with dark eggplant-coloured, almost black, foliage. This produces a stunning contrast with its scarlet flowers. The plant was first bred by Fred Tresedar, a Cardiff nurseryman. It was selected by and named to honour Pritchard Hughes, Bishop of Llandaff, in 1924 and won the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1928. It does not need staking or lifting in sandy soils. Divide in late Winter when leaf buds are visible.

The plant is about 1 m tall and flowers from June until September (Northern Hemisphere) and December to April (Southern Hemisphere). As with all dahlias, frost blackens its foliage, and its tubers need to be overwintered in a dry, frost-free place. A seed strain has been produced from this plant called 'Bishops Children', they retain the dark foliage colour but produce a mix of flower colours and flower shapes from single to semi-double flowers in different sizes.

This post is part of the Nature Footsteps Floral Macros meme,

and also part of the Our World Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.

CURIOUS CAT

This post is part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the Camera Critters meme.

RAINY NIGHT IN SYDNEY

"The city lights cold and distant
Suspended above gloomy shadows
Hovering between the concrete and the ethereal.
Neon flashes mundanely its inanity
Its message thankfully illegible in the distance.
Revolving signs in multicoloured glare
Make known anonymous companies
And broadcast lurid messages of brands X, Y and Z..."

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme.

YARRA SUNRISE

Sunup on the Yarra River in Melbourne.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.