GERANIUMS

There's something welcoming and calming about a row of potted, homely geraniums blooming on a window sill...

This post is part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.

MANLY, SYDNEY

Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region. Manly was named by Captian Arthur Phillip for the indigenous people living there, "...their confidence and manly behaviour made me give the name of Manly Cove to this place". These men were of the Kay-ye-my clan (of the Guringai people). While scouting for fresh water in the area, Phillip encountered members of the clan, and after a misunderstanding he was speared in the shoulder by one of the clan; to his lasting credit, the progressively-minded Phillip ordered his men not to retaliate.

Manly is most notable for its beaches which are popular tourist destinations. Manly features a long stretch of sand on the ocean side, that runs from Queenscliff Beach to North Steyne Beach and Manly Beach. This is followed by rock pools and sandy beaches called Fairy Bower and Shelly Beach. There are also a number of beaches on the harbour side of the peninsula. Norfolk Island pine trees are also symbolic of Manly and are a prominent feature of both the ocean and harbour beaches.

Transport services to Manly include a Ferry service from Manly Wharf, and bus services to the city and other suburbs. The Manly Ferry journey takes 30 minutes and allows for scenic views of Sydney Harbour, surrounding national parks and Sydney icons including the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.The ferry service once advertised Manly as: "Seven miles from Sydney, and a thousand miles from care".

This post is part of the Blue Monday meme.

ST MICHAEL'S MELBOURNE

St. Michael’s Uniting Church is a Uniting Church in Australia church in Collins St in central Melbourne, Australia. Originally the Collins Street Independent Church, a Congregational Union of Australia church, and later Collins Street Uniting Church, it has become well known as a centre of liberal theology and political radicalism under its outspoken minister since 1971, Dr Francis Macnab, currently Executive Minister. The church became a congregation of the Uniting Church in Australia at its inception in 1977.

The first church on this site was built in 1839, one of the first churches in the Port Phillip District (now the state of Victoria). The original church was demolished in 1866 to make way for the larger church now on the site. The church was designed by Joseph Reed, who also designed the Melbourne Town Hall and the Royal Exhibition Building. The church is classified by the National Trust of Australia.

The building is in the Lombardic architectural style, with multi-coloured exterior brickwork, open cloisters on the side of the building and Romanesque arches.The interior of the church was designed in accordance with the principles of the Congregationalist Church, as a place where all members of the congregation could both hear and see the preacher. It features a sloping floor with tiered seating and a gallery to increase the capacity of the church. The church underwent major renovations in the 1970s. It is now undergoing further renovations to its exterior structure.

This post is part of the Sunday Psalms meme,
and also part of the Spiritual Sundays meme.

And here is J.S.Bach's Cantata No.51, "Jauchnzet Gott in allen Landen", BWV 51 (1730) :

WARRNAMBOOL, VICTORIA

Warrnambool is a regional city on the south-western coast of Victoria, Australia in the City of Warrnambool Local Government Area. The city has a population of 33,922. It is situated on the Princes Highway and is near the western end of the Great Ocean Road.

The word "Warrnambool" originates from the local Indigenous Australians name for a nearby volcanic cone. It is interpreted to mean many things including land between two rivers, two swamps or ample water. A popular legend is that the first Europeans to discover Warrnambool were Cristóvão de Mendonça and his crew who surveyed the coastline nearby and were marooned near the site of the present town as early as the 16th century, based on the unverified reports of local whaler's discovery of the wreck of a mahogany ship. The ship's provenance has been variously attributed to France, China, Spain and Portugal. There is no physical evidence to suggest that the Mahogany Ship existed.

The Lady Nelson under Lieutenant James Grant sailed along the coast in December 1800 and named several features, followed by Matthew Flinders in the Investigator and French explorer Nicholas Baudin, who recorded coastal landmarks, in 1802. The area was frequented by whalers early in the 19th century.The first settlers arrived in the 1840s in the Lady Bay area, which was a natural harbour. The town was surveyed in 1846 and established soon after, the Post Office opening on 1 January 1849.

Warrnambool attracts approximately 715,000 visitors per year, and is a comprehensive regional service centre. The town's tourism benefits from the views from the Great Ocean Road, and its nearby beaches, some of which are used for surfing. In the winter months, Southern Right whales can be seen in the waters near the city at the Logan's Beach nursery, and boats make whale-watching tours. Visitor levels are usually higher during the winter school holidays due to Australia's Biggest Children's Festival, the Fun4Kids Festival.

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

GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE

Looking up towards the sky in the Dandenongs, where lush eucalypt forests harbour the villages nestled around the Dandenong Ranges. This is a national park an hour outside Melbourne. Given their easy access from Melbourne, the Dandenongs are one of the favourite getaways in the areas, for tourists and Melburnians alike. The major draw card here is the setting: Gorgeous forests whose sight denies the drought that has plagued Victoria over the past decade, where you can observe native wildlife in their natural habitat. The area is the home to many birds, including rosellas, kookaburras and cockatoos.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

SWAN RIVER DAISY

Brachyscome iberidifolia, the Swan River Daisy is an annual herb found in Western Australia. Occupying a wide range, the species spreads out as fields. The Bellis daisy form and colours were familiar to Europeans when discovered and they have since become a popular garden plant. Poor or sandy soils do not inhibit a showy display, the species is hardy and adaptable.

The annual species is erect, many branched, forming fields of plants up to 40 cm in height. The leaves of Brachyscome iberidifolia are fully divided, each having long and narrow segments from the midrib. The ray florets are varied in colour, white through pink and blue to violet. The typical daisy arrangement is seen in the flowerhead, which appear between August and May in endemic examples.

It is found on sands or clay, and tolerant of salinity. It favours watercourses and depressions near granite, but is widespread on sandhills and other harsh coastal environ. North to the Pilbara region, extending into Murchison, Gascoyne, Coolgardie regions, and recorded in the Gibson Desert. Numerous records in the coastal regions of the west and south, it has also been found in the Abrolhos at East Wallabi Island.It is often found amongst the mosaic of wildflowers which appear in the heaths, woodlands, and plains of Western Australia.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

JACOB'S LADDER, PERTH

For over 100 years Jacob’s Ladder has been exhausting both locals and tourists as they take on the challenge of walking up the side of Mount Eliza. It's hard work climbing all those stairs, but the panoramic view of Perth and the Swan River on the top of the hill is well worth the climb.

In 1909 Joseph Huck and Sons, constructed the staircase based on plans provided by the Perth City Engineer, Mr Henry Payne. The staircase needed  274 jarrah steps to descend 46 metres down Mount Eliza.  A sandy track was cleared down each side of the staircase for building access.  Local lads were soon sliding down the steep slopes on iron sheets, for the ultimate early 1900’s thrill ride. Those lucky enough, finished their rides unscathed in the Chinese market garden at the bottom. Others became entangled in the council-installed barbed wire, and walked away with their enthusiasm curbed...

The original construction fee was only £171/1/0.  After more than 50 years of ups and downs,  the Perth City Council officially closed Jacob’s Ladder in 1961. Several years later, and after a few false starts Jacob’s Ladder was reconstructed with durable concrete steps. At £7500, it cost considerably more than its predecessor, though it now included 18 landings, and a lookout platform at the top. Today it serves as a shortcut up Mount Eliza, and a challenge to lunchtime office workers wanting to shake off those extra kilos.

Residents who live near the top of Jacob’s Ladder enjoy magnificent views over Perth and the Swan River. The real estate has always been very expensive, and today only millionaires need apply. Way back during the construction of the staircase, one local resident likened the hilltop palaces to a slice of Heaven. The idea was not lost on real estate agent Cyril Dent, who erected a sign near the staircase advising, “This Way to Jacob’s Ladder”. It was a comical reference to that other great ladder in the Bible. Everybody had a good laugh at the time, and have continued to do so, long after the sign was removed.

The Biblical Jacob's Ladder is described in the Book of Genesis (Genesis 28:10-19).  The ladder was situated on Earth and reached all the way to Heaven.

This post is part of the Signs, Signs meme.

RIVERSIDE DRIVE, PERTH

Riverside Drive, Perth Western Australia, is a road on the northern side of Perth Water which was planned in 1903, but which was not eventually completed until the 1930s due to the need to have reclaimed land on which to build the road. Construction of the road in the 1930s was seen as a threat to the lightering trade on the Swan River between Perth and Fremantle.

In the early 20th century the name of the road carried beyond its current length; proposed river-side roads were mentioned for South Perth and the northern shore of the Swan River as far as Peppermint Grove. Plans to widen were proposed in 1985 and in 1986. Significant changes in the landscaping along Riverside Drive were made in 1999.

At times of heavy rains and the Swan River flooding, Riverside Drive has been affected seriously, in the 1930s and 1940s as well as more recently. The pedestrian/bicycle path along the water is a magnificent way to take in the lovely vistas of Perth CBD's waterside location.

The Bell Tower (a specially built 82.5 metres high copper and glass campanile) located on Riverside Drive overlooking the picturesque Swan River is one of Perth's most unique and must see tourist attractions. Filled with fascinating historic content and boasting a unique and distinctive design (resulting from a major architectural competition) it has become an icon for Perth and Western Australia. The Swan Bells are a set of 18 bells hanging in the Bell Tower. Taking their name from the Swan River, which their tower overlooks, and forming a sixteen-bell peal with two extra chromatic notes, they are one of the largest sets of change ringing bells in the world.

This post is part of the Water World Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Footsteps Waters meme.

WARATAH

The Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) is a spectacular garden subject in suitable soil and climate; it flowers prolifically and tends to be long-lived. The Waratah occurs naturally in at least ten national parks in the geological formation, know as the Sydney Basin. Brisbane Water, Dharug and Macquarie Pass National Parks are among the areas where this species is conserved.

Waratahs are cultivated north of Sydney and in the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria. They are grown in Israel, New Zealand and Hawaii for the cut flower trade. It was introduced to England in 1789 but cannot survive English winters out of doors except in the south-west coastal regions, and it rarely flowers in glasshouses. It is also cultivated in California.

This post is part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Our World Tuesday meme.

DOUBLE KALANCHOE

Kalanchoe also written Kalanchöe or Kalanchoë, is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent flowering plants in the Family Crassulaceae, mainly native to the Old World but with a few species now growing wild in the New World following introduction of the species. Most are shrubs or perennial herbaceous plants, but a few are annual or biennial. The largest, Kalanchoe beharensis from Madagascar, can reach 6 m tall, but most species are less than 1 m tall.

Members of Kalanchoe genus are characterised by opening their flowers by growing new cells on the inner surface of the petals to force them outwards, and on the outside of the petals to close them. The genus was first described by the botanist Michel Adanson in 1763. Reportedly, the name came "from the Chinese name for one of the species." This Chinese species is thought to have been either Kalanchoe ceratophylla or Kalanchoe spathulata. Kalanchoe ceratophylla is called 伽蓝菜 in China, not very close in pronunciation: qiélán cài or jia lan cai depending on the romanisation.

The genus Bryophyllum was described by Salisbury in 1806 and the genus Kitchingia was created by Baker in 1881. Kitchingia is now regarded as a synonym for Kalanchoe, whereas some botanists treat Bryophyllum as a separate genus. Here is a fine specimen of a double yellow-orange Kalanchoe sold as an indoor house plant here in Melbourne.

This post is part of the Mellow Yellow Monday meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme.