tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86008612024-03-14T02:09:36.938+11:00Gardens On The GoJoin me as I explore the horticultural worldKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-37742435734439323202021-08-14T14:13:00.002+10:002021-08-14T14:15:20.927+10:00<p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fEl9XKLPcjxUcxCc11rTqGAeA1jNvSYBOBckg-2g2S3zBACZoKZtXmaoPRzlxcfi2VCrJw463-JwUVkCPruOqtbtbMUb6pMReTV6Smt1RBZ7h_jc_L74qCqZZ-EiHo8wbSVlQA/s2048/9781444955927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2031" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fEl9XKLPcjxUcxCc11rTqGAeA1jNvSYBOBckg-2g2S3zBACZoKZtXmaoPRzlxcfi2VCrJw463-JwUVkCPruOqtbtbMUb6pMReTV6Smt1RBZ7h_jc_L74qCqZZ-EiHo8wbSVlQA/s320/9781444955927.jpg" width="317" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Book Review</span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Oi Aardvark!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">By Kes Gray & Jim Field</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I really loved this book. I. Not only is it colourful with gorgeous illustrations. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Frog is writing a new Alphabet book for animals and so he works his way from A to Z .</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Its a bit of fun which is a wonderful way of encouraging children to read. Teaching rhyme and creativity. Finches on winches, horses on golf courses, iguanas on piranhas and lots more. It also teaches that you can play with words, and perhaps encourage children to find a rhyming word themselves.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is from the creators of </span><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Oi Frog</i></b><span style="font-family: arial;">, </span><i style="font-family: arial;"><b>Oi Dog</b></i><span style="font-family: arial;">, </span><i style="font-family: arial;"><b>Oi Cat</b></i><span style="font-family: arial;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Oi Duck Billed Platypus</i></b><span style="font-family: arial;"> (I will have to get a copy of this one) and </span><i style="font-family: arial;"><b>Oi Puppies</b></i><span style="font-family: arial;">. All of these I have not read as yet but I think would be a lovely collection for first readers</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">ISBN 978 1 444 95591 0</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hardcover</span></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-11694893335429664732021-08-09T15:42:00.000+10:002021-08-09T15:42:38.705+10:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2y_c1WH1LEcT7rrMUQWTVaZ18W7MZDiLOhD-_j7bJ6g1dtCByU2uxs8Qx475zdqx8GXIj10aPwL0UshUNe2IiDvulV7y2UeLJMXJ0dE_BoBYt1-yQtZ9LPfR9kYel2N_BYxaMQ/s2048/9780734420282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2042" data-original-width="2048" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2y_c1WH1LEcT7rrMUQWTVaZ18W7MZDiLOhD-_j7bJ6g1dtCByU2uxs8Qx475zdqx8GXIj10aPwL0UshUNe2IiDvulV7y2UeLJMXJ0dE_BoBYt1-yQtZ9LPfR9kYel2N_BYxaMQ/s320/9780734420282.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />BOOK REVIEW<p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Lucy and Copper<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Mandy Foot<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lucy adores her pony Smudge; she has been riding him since she
was little. Lucy has grown and is too big to ride Smudge as her toes almost
touch the ground when she rides him. She loves to brush his mane and his tail
and he looks lovely. Her father introduces Copper to Lucy, he is a bigger pony.
Lucy is not interested at all in riding another pony, especially one that is
bony and dusty! Eventually Lucy understands that she can still love Smudge and
ride Copper, they can all go riding together.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This book is a feel good story that helps to explain that we
gather new friends along the way in our lives and still keep our old friends.
It is a good book for those children moving on from first picture books to
first readers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">About the author:- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mandy Foot is a self-proclaimed animal nut and
horse lover and works in a studio in the Adelaide Hills. Mandy’s picture books
for Lothian include the very popular Captain Kangaroo series and the bestsellers
‘The Wheels on The Bus’ and ‘Old Macdonald Had a Farm’.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mandy has published 21 children’s picture books to date and sold
over 250,000 copies within Australia.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ISBN 978-0-7344-2027-5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hard cover<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">www.hachettechildrens.com.au<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-30483607111602360152021-06-11T17:07:00.003+10:002021-06-11T17:07:49.266+10:00CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Book
of Australian Trees<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Author:
Inga Simpson</span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHClPMJr_3Ue06XC-BPDJi6nUsmTtUfu6SS9SeWhbOXrjtb5tNg4AtGDX_RCXsBKsWq8Tq_Tn7dgVMo38JPlCJ9nDKUSvWDmA8pxd9WestDd6Fp9b1cspCXELlR8ggtnzJBdoR6A/s2048/9780734418531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1553" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHClPMJr_3Ue06XC-BPDJi6nUsmTtUfu6SS9SeWhbOXrjtb5tNg4AtGDX_RCXsBKsWq8Tq_Tn7dgVMo38JPlCJ9nDKUSvWDmA8pxd9WestDd6Fp9b1cspCXELlR8ggtnzJBdoR6A/s320/9780734418531.jpg" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you value,
love and respect trees it makes sense that you will want to share those
feelings with children. The Book of Australian Trees is an engaging book that
discusses 15 iconic Aussie trees and explains the differences between them and
the vital part they play in the earth’s ecosystems. From providing food and
habitat for birds, insects and animals to why they are important to humans “What
trees breath out, we breathe in”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trees are
often undervalued in our society, particularly in our cities. Educating our
children to learn the importance of trees and the stories they tell is crucial
to ensure trees receive the love and respect they deserve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Australia
has some of the tallest, oldest, fattest and most unusual trees in the world.
They have changed over thousands of years, adapting to this continent’s
deserts, mountains, and coasts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When you
first stand in a forest, the trees all seem the same. But if you look more
closely, they are each a little different, like people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This book is
a love song to Australian trees, from the red Ironbark to the grey gum, the
Moreton Bay fig to the Queensland bottle tree”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I think this
is a lovely book to gift to a child (and a good way to get them off their
electronic devices for an hour) or to introduce to a school library or even for
a garden centre to have ‘story time’ while parents are shopping for plants. I
loved this book!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Author:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <i>Inga Simpson began her career as
a professional writer for government before gaining her PhD in creative
writing. In 2011 she took part in the Queensland Writer’s Centre Manuscript
Development Program and, as a result, Hachette Australia published her first
novel MR WIGG, in 2013. NEST, Inga’s second novel was published in 2014 before
being longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize and
shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. Inga’s third novel, the acclaimed ‘Where
the Trees Where’ was published in 2016. Inga won the final Eric Rolls Prize for
her nature writing and recently completed a second PhD exploring the history of
Australian nature writers. Inga’s memoir about her love of Australian nature
and life with trees ‘Understory was published in 2017.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Illustrator:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <i>Alicia Rogerson is a regional
artist and illustrator that lives in Bridgetown, WA. She creates her artwork
within her studio that sits on a hill beside a forest. Inspired by nature,
objects and collections of things, her artworks are bold, inspiring and
feminine. A recurring theme is weaving in elements from her dreams, childhood
and the imagination</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Publisher:
Hachette Australia<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hardback
9780734418531<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">RRP $29.99<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-85561680378574331482021-06-11T16:38:00.000+10:002021-06-11T16:38:15.441+10:00BOOK REVIEW: Plants of Power<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVvvTxHrOcoxnrj9PuU1QBrKUITY6WpWca5ZtyheC0euV8taBesP7cIWJWZJmEcEOcfz8jJB5C6ws6lctOFdQneD_HMPeGucDTsSJC5P561ShHiBjuJNdDnMbcdjyuO5-sjiDhg/s2048/Plants+of+Power.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVvvTxHrOcoxnrj9PuU1QBrKUITY6WpWca5ZtyheC0euV8taBesP7cIWJWZJmEcEOcfz8jJB5C6ws6lctOFdQneD_HMPeGucDTsSJC5P561ShHiBjuJNdDnMbcdjyuO5-sjiDhg/s320/Plants+of+Power.jpg" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: arial;">Plants of Power<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“Cultivate your garden apothecary and transform your life”</span></i><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial;">Following
your passion is hugely rewarding. This was the case with the authors of Plants
of Power, Stacey and Miranda when they decided to hang up their corporate suits
and high heels when they felt their sense of connection to something bigger was
missing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial;">“Humans
are part of the ecosystem and the faster we reconnect with nature, the fast we
will feel better and whole”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial;">“Plants of
Power is a modern guide to the most important plants to include in your own
garden apothecary”. Stacey and Miranda say they wrote this book to encourage us
to bring the outside in. They offer a guide that is both practical and
demonstrates reciprocity, in which you can discover old wisdom, new
applications and accurate growing advice.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial;">Miranda
and Stacey say we should be connecting with the earth, getting our hands in the
soil and get to planting for our own health and wellbeing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You don’t
have to be a gardener to find this book useful. Each plant listing has a “how
we love to use this plant”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial;">With a
listing of 66 plant profiles with each covering the seasons they should be
grown in Spring, summer, autumn and winter ensuring. Growing seasonally
increases your chance of success for propagating and cultivating.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial;">Each plant
listed has the Scientific name as well as common names the plant is known buy
and its superpower. There is plenty of detailed information about the plants
including harvest and cultivations notes. There are also suggestions about how
the plants can be used in a recipe, magical working or guide.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br /></span></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: arial;">About the
Authors:</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stacey
Demarco is a bestselling author who specialises in pagan, nature and
mythos-based subjects. She is internationally respected, with her works
translated into many different languages. She is the author of the popular
annual Lunar and Seasonal Diary for both the northern and southern hemispheres
and is known widely as ‘the Modern Witch’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stacey has
an eclectic collection of plant friends and seed-saves and lives in Sydney’s
Northern Beaches in a small house with a big garden with her husband, animal
companions and about 10,000 bees. Her favourite plant is chickweed because
being clumsy she often finds and anti-inflammatory very handy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Miranda
Mueller is a permaculturist who lives with her husband and two children,
chickens and other animals in the Dandenong Ranges. She runs a successful herb
and vegetable seedling nursery encompassing a gardening business and teaches
permaculture from the home farm. Miranda regularly opens the farm gates to
encourage others to reconnect with the art of growing food, for people’s health
as well as for the earth’s wellbeing. Her favourite plant is the dandelion, a
plant that has been labelled a weed, yet delivers so much wisdom and nutrition
whilst growing in the cracks of concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: arial;">RRP $39.99
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: arial;">352 pp<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ISBN:
9781925924350 <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Publisher:
Rockpool Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-15211203467390820082021-06-11T16:29:00.001+10:002021-06-11T16:29:43.768+10:00BOOK REVIEW: Spirit of The Garden<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgZehQa8vgICbeDg8MqrYhaDDVHsNCkD_NloPl_bXTlBH7PniSFwn1XCA28VWmcoq5tWod2FoNQMgShWnBqaF5P63XqtiWM5ZPhodLDuCj9Q2ePfF3bb6ICZ4r2GZk0BxHoQttA/s1920/Spirit+of+the+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgZehQa8vgICbeDg8MqrYhaDDVHsNCkD_NloPl_bXTlBH7PniSFwn1XCA28VWmcoq5tWod2FoNQMgShWnBqaF5P63XqtiWM5ZPhodLDuCj9Q2ePfF3bb6ICZ4r2GZk0BxHoQttA/s320/Spirit+of+the+Garden.jpg" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Spirit of
the Garden<o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">By Trisha Dixon<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You know
that feeling you get when on a bushwalk or a trek, the smell and sounds of the
bush that makes you feel at one with nature. That sense of place! Renowned
author and photographer Trisha Dixon captures this in her book <b>Spirit of the
Garden</b>. Gardens can be formal or wild, serene or ostentatious, native or
exotic, colourful or monochrome. According to Trisha if we like a person, we
will probably like their garden.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This book is
like no other I have read. There are many books about garden design or how to
create a garden, but this book talks more about the connection with nature and
country and how you can work with nature to create your own piece of paradise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As a nature
lover myself I could feel myself being absorbed into her words. “Mystery and
the evocation of a sense of enigma are the secret ingredients in creating a
garden that people will remember long after they have left it”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trisha’s
vast personal library as well as her research has inspired her to share written
reflections from both Australian and International Landscape Designers from
various parts of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the
chapter <i>Creating Beauty Where We Live</i> Trisha says “The beauty of nature
finds a way into our subconscious narrative and so we garden, in order to
surround ourselves with beauty. Whether we succeed or not is totally a matter
of perception – one person’s paradise is not always another person’s ideal. It’s
all in the seeing.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trisha says
gardening is an art form, but as in art, there are no rules – Individualistic
expression is what counts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The book
explores the value in the spirit of gardens and landscape and the different
approaches to garden design, framed in the context of a harsh and changing
climate that we need to embrace. Trisha welcomes the shift away from the
Anglocentric approach to landscape design to one that shows an intimate
engagement with the spirit of place, an acknowledgement of the Aboriginal history
and mythology embedded in the land.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Beautifully
written in her epilogue “Many threads are woven into the fabric of a landscape:
the design process, where or who the plants came from, the canvas that
underlies the creation – be it urban or rural, man-made or natural - and the
layers of time, of history”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Spirit of
the Garden</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> is a new
release and is a beautiful book featuring a series of written reflections,
interwoven with Trisha’s evocative painterly photographs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a
pleasure to read Trisha Dixon’s book <b>Spirit of the Garden</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ISBN:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>978-0-642-27970-5<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hardcover<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RRP $65 NLA Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-10703718399991300882021-06-11T16:25:00.001+10:002021-06-11T16:25:51.530+10:00BOOK REVIEW -SAFER GARDENS: Plant Flammability & Planning for Fire<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SAFER
GARDENS</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">: Plant
Flammability & Planning for Fire<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By Lesley
Corbett</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShaFkSs_PpnMMLWA2gvEY36qrEG1nJJ7cPFVGKQO_rolpdxGKzmhU-SpJzjXQlNgSQgFB4Y5nOHsgvbG9Pkek3Uo0-4ull_xCaeWBXNo88wZo6fw0mSX577oNaKNuZ-v7cWXtgQ/s2048/corbett-cover-v15-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1359" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShaFkSs_PpnMMLWA2gvEY36qrEG1nJJ7cPFVGKQO_rolpdxGKzmhU-SpJzjXQlNgSQgFB4Y5nOHsgvbG9Pkek3Uo0-4ull_xCaeWBXNo88wZo6fw0mSX577oNaKNuZ-v7cWXtgQ/s320/corbett-cover-v15-front.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For those of
you who may have been affected by bush fires or even live in an area where it’s
a possibility you should read this book. It is excellent and easy to follow.
The author, Lesley Corbett says the intention of the books is to provide an
overview of fact-based information about plant flammability and related matters.
She has bought together scientific research and data from experts in the field.
To help us make wise and informed decisions about how to garden more safely in
fire prone areas The flammability of individual plants is only one aspect of
gardening in fire-prone areas. Good design and ongoing maintenance are also
critical (this is outlined in chapter 4. The book includes an excellent Plant
Flammability table with a key. I can see that Lesley has put such a lot of work
into this book and I think all landscape designers should include a copy as a
reference. Having said that it’s a good read for everyone as our climate warms
and bushfires are more frequent and more destructive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The book is
broken up into four parts. An introduction -The Big Picture - Individual plants
and the Science:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Publishers’
info:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Destructive
bushfires are increasing in frequency and intensity around the world. For
people living in fire prone areas there are no reliable guides about which
plants have low flammability and which are frighteningly flammable. Safer
Gardens is that guide, with over 500 plants assessed, based on fire research
from around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Readers can
look up a plant in the Plant Flammability Table to get an idea of its
flammability then turn to the A–Z for more detailed information.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The book
contains advice about ways to create a more firesafe garden, including the need
to carefully manage the use of mulch and hedges.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is
citizen science, written by a gardener for other gardeners. Complex and
potentially confusing science are made comprehensible and usable, to help you
make your garden and hence your house safer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Science-based
information about a plant’s flammability, invasiveness and particular needs<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reliable
guide for people living in fire prone areas<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Over
500 plants assessed<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fire
research from around the world<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Australian
Scholarly Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Format:
Paperback<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Released:
April 2021<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ISBN:
978-1-922454-60-7<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Price: $50.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-25722243050322099742021-06-11T16:23:00.002+10:002021-06-11T16:26:21.267+10:00BOOK REVIEW: The botanical art of WILLIAM T COOPER<p> <span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Wmv-FnFagRWcxoUPdidwbVp5RDnxMYMWCrsMLKCgOE9FYH0EQxaBzAABhaL_L9WP9NtI4NseIDalV5oIMKIAMrG9wwfQsYJP5VZV-zGAdIxaI7xPqYqG8x4Q68tAs3XF-SB2YA/s2048/The+Botanical+Art+of+William+T+Cooper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1689" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Wmv-FnFagRWcxoUPdidwbVp5RDnxMYMWCrsMLKCgOE9FYH0EQxaBzAABhaL_L9WP9NtI4NseIDalV5oIMKIAMrG9wwfQsYJP5VZV-zGAdIxaI7xPqYqG8x4Q68tAs3XF-SB2YA/s320/The+Botanical+Art+of+William+T+Cooper.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />For the lovers of nature</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The botanical art of </span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">WILLIAM T
COOPER<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This beautiful hardcover book by eminent bird artist William T Cooper is
a real treasure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admire greatly
artists who can create such beautiful images and this book doesn’t disappoint. It
is a lovely book for reference but also as a beautiful coffee table book to read
at your leisure. It has five chapters which include:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Rainforest trees and shrubs <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Vines, ferns and epiphytes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Dry Country, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Swamps, mangroves and Beach Forest<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Beyond Australia<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">William T. Cooper was one of the world's most esteemed bird painters. In
his paintings, birds nibble at plump red berries, rest on branches covered with
lichen, and clutch forest fruits and leaves in their claws. These botanical
details, the backdrops to his bird portraits, celebrate the flora of Australia,
and are the subject of a new lavishly illustrated book written by his botanist wife,
Wendy Cooper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Bill always wanted to tell a story in his paintings, with the botanical
components as part of that story” I think he succeeded in doing that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In <b><i>The Botanical Art of William</i> T. Cooper</b>, Cooper’s
sketches, studies and paintings of plants, as well as many of the finished
illustrations in which they appear, provide a unique insight into his artistic
process. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wendy Cooper’s notes, in particular those about where a specimen was
collected or what attracted Bill to the particular branch or fruit or flower—complement
her husband’s art, with their partnership continuing on the page. She also
includes<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">detailed botanical descriptions of each plant and personal notes about
where a particular specimen was found.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A beautiful full colour hardback to dip into and treasure, The Botanical
Art of William T. Cooper celebrates William’s work and showcases the
spectacular flora of Australia and beyond in all its messy, imperfect glory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Additional Information<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">• An insight into the botanical art included in many of Cooper's famous
bird paintings<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">• Includes sketches, studies and paintings from the National Library and
Wendy <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cooper’s private collection<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">• A fabulous gift for lovers of birds, nature or art<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">About the Author<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wendy Cooper was Bill Cooper's partner in life and work. She is a
respected botanist who has discovered, and named, a number of new plant
species, and has also had species named in her honour. She is the co-author,
with Bill Cooper, of <i>Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest</i> and <i>Australian
Rainforest Fruits:A Field Guide</i>. Contributor Rupert Russell is a
naturalist, writer and friend to the Coopers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Released 1<sup>st</sup> May<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">ISBN 9780642279712<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">NLA Publishing 324 pp<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Category: History/Botanics</span><o:p></o:p></i></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-69991690090166351442021-06-11T16:20:00.003+10:002021-06-11T16:20:47.815+10:00I'm back<p>Well it has been way too long since I posted on this site. It was a good intention but as usual workload takes over. I am hoping to start posting again.</p><p>I have reviewed a few books recently and so I may start with sharing those reviews.</p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-77208105206851764482013-01-13T15:04:00.000+11:002013-01-13T15:04:36.885+11:00London - Natural History Museum<h3>
27th March 2012</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdH_z71Xgyn8TMlJopw9Wzj_2QWWi4GzFNttTQ0Zi9B-sT2XsG7HJR-08sxeQTM69DevZN1g1h8IeE86oM4XyhGsoBdNUSCJxRZh2ITQaMHbgLyrCL7LiAMyCOHMrh222mfTiqA/s1600/P1050497Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdH_z71Xgyn8TMlJopw9Wzj_2QWWi4GzFNttTQ0Zi9B-sT2XsG7HJR-08sxeQTM69DevZN1g1h8IeE86oM4XyhGsoBdNUSCJxRZh2ITQaMHbgLyrCL7LiAMyCOHMrh222mfTiqA/s320/P1050497Small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Imagine opening the front door and being greeted, not by rover the beagle, but by a full size <i>Diplodocus</i>. This is one on the surprises that I found at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg50HMpf7sJNiar36wAjDtP-PnIGhrAMMOe6_eQTuUfPMk0o4i5YUUV6LSMEvPkI0eoJf_xmhGfA-mnNMIuvrrPMhnSUK9Dwo6wAIC1fq5YnO-ltpDrlvljF7j9yvrBrpN6gMRDA/s1600/P1050502Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg50HMpf7sJNiar36wAjDtP-PnIGhrAMMOe6_eQTuUfPMk0o4i5YUUV6LSMEvPkI0eoJf_xmhGfA-mnNMIuvrrPMhnSUK9Dwo6wAIC1fq5YnO-ltpDrlvljF7j9yvrBrpN6gMRDA/s640/P1050502Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interactive Diplodocus in the main hall of the Natural History Museum</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-at9mCvJ0lV3nJWNJOLc-OKYuoSsXVEvc63ud0vOX5tkSwOxCOucKapS5VQlFamxw-WBVlud_94pqgvX2jmn2EURSqM6NXcPpyQAyobew-pRRZ91x8L7IKsKZDbp98-sADhWnfg/s1600/P1050522Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-at9mCvJ0lV3nJWNJOLc-OKYuoSsXVEvc63ud0vOX5tkSwOxCOucKapS5VQlFamxw-WBVlud_94pqgvX2jmn2EURSqM6NXcPpyQAyobew-pRRZ91x8L7IKsKZDbp98-sADhWnfg/s1600/P1050522Small.jpg" /></a>Anyone interested, even slightly, in the world of nature and the life and times of some of the giants of horticulture and botany -Joseph Banks for example, could not fail to be impressed by the collections in the Natural History Museum.<br />
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collections which range from complete skeletons of a whale to a tiny beetle or butterfly, I found astounding. The plant and insect collections date back 400 years.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cross section of a Giant Sequoia cut down in California in 1892 when it was over 1300 years old</td></tr>
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It is easy to be impressed by the magnitude of the collections, 3.5 million butterflies for example, or the section of a giant sequoia that overlooks the main gallery. The giant sequoia reaches 80 metres with a girth of 27 metres and live to approximately 3,000 years. The growth rings on this tree indicates and age of 1300 years old. The time line shows that this particular tree started its life in the year 557. Thirty years before the start of Islam, 600 odd years before the crusades in England. It celebrated its 1,000 year old birthday the year William Shakespeare and Galileo were born<br />
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But what about the more overlooked aspects of the building? Such as ....if you happen to glance upward to catch a glimpse of the richly decorated panels that adorn the ceiling of the central hall.</div>
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According to two of the curators of the museum, the ceiling is one of the most overlooked or least noticed elements of the artwork contained in the museum, even though it is on permanent display. To the horticultural world, this ceiling is somewhat akin to the painted ceilings of the Sistine Chapel or Palace of Versailles.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ceiling of the the Natural History Museum. The iron girders are also filled with stylised representations of plants</td></tr>
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The paintings were part of an original building design by British architect Alfred Waterhouse but were very nearly deleted from the final building by the First Commissioner of works at the time who believed his job was to curtail "frivolous spending". Vigorous negotiation and subtle subterfuge by the architect saw the decoration reinstated.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxEoF-n4pct8N78hX153uAAHpo281d8xbKDQ3yjMMFUQA1UbfWk6zc0j_GGMgRgDQDJE0ECECEQ9K9qyzf6uEnj7oNWNEZDNtSgMyc4ebCZSHr27vJ2QovXPsvYoR4ZajsIrVwg/s1600/P1050520Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxEoF-n4pct8N78hX153uAAHpo281d8xbKDQ3yjMMFUQA1UbfWk6zc0j_GGMgRgDQDJE0ECECEQ9K9qyzf6uEnj7oNWNEZDNtSgMyc4ebCZSHr27vJ2QovXPsvYoR4ZajsIrVwg/s320/P1050520Small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The panels from the ceiling above the landing at the northern end </td></tr>
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The depictions on the ceiling panels are a mixture of familiar European plants such as the English Oak <i>Quercus robur</i> and the more exotic, from an English perspective, T<i>heobroma cacao </i>or<i> </i>cocoa tree.<br />
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The main panels are in sets of six. The main central branch of the plant rises through the central panels, branching into the other panels of the set as if it grew that way.</div>
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Most of the depictions are either European in origin or were considered useful to people in Europe at the time.</div>
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Oak trees, now very scarce in Britain, Scots Pines and some types of fruit trees such as apple (labelled <i>Pyrus malus)</i> and peach (labelled <i>Amygdalus persica</i>) are pictured.<br />
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Among the other panels it seems odd to find depictions of the Tasmanian blue gum from the far away and little known Australia. However this tree was farmed in Southern Spain for the production of eucalyptus oil.</div>
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The <i>Banksia speciosa</i> also finds a place on the ceiling panels, thanks probably to the influence of the botanist explorer Joseph Banks.</div>
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According to the book "The Gilded Canopy - Knapp and Press", the species depicted on the ceiling is not one collected by Joseph Banks but rather from a later expedition by the noted botanist Robert Brown who accompanied Mathew Flinders on the ship HMS Investigator.</div>
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The large herbarium provided the models and inspirations for the designs on the ceiling and many of the plants are still in residence, so to speak, in storage at the Natural History Museum.</div>
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Samples collected by Joseph Banks in Botany Bay in 1770 are still useful specimens though not on open display.</div>
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If you want to know more about the ceiling of the Natural History Museum and some of the background history you should obtain a copy of "The Gilded Canopy - Knapp and Press" from Natural History Museum publications</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnT_SSFWI8NasVdnb8IAnjYKpjhhf4rfh4_h8R_zvtN9LU6goBLgd2K31oWjoHOHtwHo6I3DOY1qCSTOqEOKiIrtffGuVSUeNFbrIkiGdlFIfMkEqC3CKNwUqVQ95GiUFtQe3ZQ/s1600/P1050532Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnT_SSFWI8NasVdnb8IAnjYKpjhhf4rfh4_h8R_zvtN9LU6goBLgd2K31oWjoHOHtwHo6I3DOY1qCSTOqEOKiIrtffGuVSUeNFbrIkiGdlFIfMkEqC3CKNwUqVQ95GiUFtQe3ZQ/s640/P1050532Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The panels above the central hall in groups of six providing an artists view of a growing plant</td></tr>
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Other sections of the Natural History Museum are a complete contrast to this look into the history of the natural world. The Cocoon is a fantastic hands on experience for anyone. Here you can touch and interact with the exhibits as you are guided by "virtual tour guides".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggF0LA7f7p-3V9wu0Ko0KHB5nOSlOkvZfzrX196abB79gFvnJ2uxqcVru04IxZA0OFMlOK_Vda0qjdkqOqfG2Ag1U1-UnJmg_3oYyVGE7HZeQWNL-umeKXlV_WhW11JHmMNcUDTQ/s1600/P1050503Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggF0LA7f7p-3V9wu0Ko0KHB5nOSlOkvZfzrX196abB79gFvnJ2uxqcVru04IxZA0OFMlOK_Vda0qjdkqOqfG2Ag1U1-UnJmg_3oYyVGE7HZeQWNL-umeKXlV_WhW11JHmMNcUDTQ/s640/P1050503Small.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibits in the "cocoon". Interactive and meant to be touched.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98hkiNsl0FGOs1JpHgPYna4IVCIdt-53gmsl6pprqGbNqmfbq-QMg9NG0aJxC8oMndHxWM9_qDq9ncFHiljAOhORsV5qYNowCIfeLkN9H-0pCCyZEHZurFInBW_32R63hJyhhyphenhyphenA/s1600/P1050506Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98hkiNsl0FGOs1JpHgPYna4IVCIdt-53gmsl6pprqGbNqmfbq-QMg9NG0aJxC8oMndHxWM9_qDq9ncFHiljAOhORsV5qYNowCIfeLkN9H-0pCCyZEHZurFInBW_32R63hJyhhyphenhyphenA/s400/P1050506Small.jpg" width="400" /></a>Here is a chance to see science in action. You can view scientists at work in a state of the art laboratory performing tasks such as preserving a beetle or extracting the DNA of a mosquito.</div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-92157358013862605322012-06-08T12:53:00.000+10:002012-06-08T12:53:05.475+10:00<h2>
Chateau de Versaille - 15 April 2012</h2>
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There is no way you could suggest the Palace of Versaille nestles into the countryside of the Ile-de-France region. It is the countryside. The palace and the gardens dominate.<br />
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Visiting Versaille is a severe test of patience.<br />
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Getting there via the metro etc is easy enough. The testing begins when you have to queue for entry tickets. As I was visiting in mid-April, the online ticketing did not seem to be functioning so had to buy tickets at an agency. Stand in line. Then you have to queue for entry and have your bags checked. After that queue you then have to pick up your audio guide for the Palace. Another queue. I guess if you have come as far as I had, you really have to visit the Palace....but of course this means yet another enormous queue!<br />
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Visitors shuffle through the galleries, chambers and corridors posing for photos, listening to their audio guides and sometimes queuing to get through the door to the next chamber.<br />
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Patience grasshopper!<br />
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Many gardens in Europe have the appearance, at least in part, of a natural landscape embroidered with some art, ponds and perhaps a fountain or two. Many have an arboretum that invites you to wander along meandering paths flanked by exotic and sometimes ancient trees. Not Versaille!<br />
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The gardens define the French style of parterre and grand avenues. Trees stand to attention in ranks ready for inspection by the King. Ponds and fountains follow a grand design that accentuate the flamboyant characteristics of the palace and courtyards. Each avenue leads your eye to another grand statement made by the Kings garden designer. Most of the credit for the structure of the gardens could go to Louis XIV and Andre le Notre with help from an army of others who expanded on the work begun by Louis XIII.<br />
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The grand canal is a statement in its own right. The grand canal dominates the view from the rear courtyard of the palace (if you can call any side the rear). The canal is no natural watercourse but a man made lake deep enough to sail and row upon. And by man made, I mean in the true sense of the word. The excavations being completed by hand tools and wheel barrows over an 11 year period.<br />
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One cannot but admire the skill of the engineers and architects of the day to make this, not only work, but endure for over 300 years. Imagine the stress of the "clerk of works" trying to manage a huge workforce when the price for losing an argument with "the boss" could be the guillotine.<br />
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You cannot fault the level of workmanship and the overall effect but you can't help wonder at the arrogance of the King who considered this his own. I wonder how the King would feel if he had any idea of the fate of his project.<br />
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Instead of private gardens and intimate salons decorated by master craftsmen and artists, today thousands of visitors knock on his door every day. They traipse through his bedroom chambers with cameras recording every detail. <br />
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The gardens are assailed by golf carts, mini-trains, bicycles and pedestrians posing in front of fountains and statues.<br />
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The cost of building such a structure must have been a severe strain on the economy at the time and I'm sure the original builders would never have imagined what dividend it would pay for the community into the future. I would imagine that, by now, it has paid for itself.<br />
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At least the gardens let you slip out of the queue and you can wander the 800 hectares to suit yourself, stopping as you please to inspect the ranks of trees and the magnificent and perfect parterre gardens.<br />
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Instead of walking you could hire a four seater golf cart on an hourly rate to cruise the highways and byways of the estate or you can catch the hop on - hop off mini train that will take you to Le Grand Triannon and the canal.<br />
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The fountains do not operate continuously but is an added extra to your ticket. To see the fountains operating certainly adds to the spectacle.<br />
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The palace is certainly spectacular and that is the reason it is sooo popular. Over six million visitors each year.<br />
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I think it would be a shame to miss the palace and just visit the gardens but you must allow for a big day to do all and hope, with all the crowds, that everyone has applied deodorant!<br />
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<br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-15359298827355085062012-05-24T21:22:00.000+10:002012-05-24T21:22:58.023+10:00<h2>
Potsdam - Sans Souci - 12th April 2012</h2>
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Schloss Sans Souci</h3>
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One wonders at the arrogance of the 18th and 19th century rulers of Europe but at the same time, you thank them for their grand vision. How many other gardeners and landscapers have drawn on the collective experience provided by the great gardens of Europe.</div>
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This Prussian palace and garden is inspired from the French garden at Versailles. Even the French name Sans Souci (without care or could be <i>no worries</i>). Not only French but Sicilian, Italian and Dutch influences the architecture with a smattering of Greek mythology.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walls are covered in vines in summer but at the time of my visit all was bare. Just buds and blossoms.</td></tr>
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Being early spring, much of the garden was only showing the promise of the months ahead. I had caught the emperor in his underwear so to speak.</div>
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Still this was an opportunity to appreciate the fully deciduous plantings that are not readily on offer in the temperate parts of Australia.<br />
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The Sans Souci Palace construction predates European settlement in Australia by almost 50 years. The final shape of the garden was not complete for about another 100 years. The garden designer certainly had a long view.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2W4GiYJB4YgfdJEKeW3wfu6A3C-QdG_1nvwIo31EUKffMEiJ-IwFB22UE01V0TDgAqDHN2kanPiOeARjUsiVznS3i4tZQ8Cz-6rOzG0MRnprss8C3mcK-7NxdM8hF1NSV-KsbQ/s1600/P1070950Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2W4GiYJB4YgfdJEKeW3wfu6A3C-QdG_1nvwIo31EUKffMEiJ-IwFB22UE01V0TDgAqDHN2kanPiOeARjUsiVznS3i4tZQ8Cz-6rOzG0MRnprss8C3mcK-7NxdM8hF1NSV-KsbQ/s320/P1070950Small.jpg" width="320" /></a>Needless to say, the trees and vines have been established for over 100 years and the vines covering the various arbours creating green tunnels in the summer show the effects of countless prunings.<br />
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Tree trunks, laid bare, show their underlying form and texture which is often obscured by their normal summer foliage. I found the subtle displays of bracket fungus and moss fascinating.</div>
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Massive trees with pneumatofores, almost like giant mangroves surrounded by the green tips of bulbs instead of water and sand.<br />
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It is tempting to compare Sans Souci to Versaille and there are some similarities but personally, I think Sans Souci is more livable than Versaille. I could see me waking up there on weekends. Cooking a breakfast bar-b-que in the back courtyard while the gardener catches up on the pruning and mowing. I would have to do something about all the sticky beaks looking over my fence though.<br />
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Talk about over the fence, if you look out of the front door of the palace you have a grand view to a neighboring hillside that is adorned with a ruin. You know what countries with long histories are like, ruins here and there, well this ruin is by design. The hill actually houses a reservoir for the water supply for various fountains and the ruins are a decoration visible from the front of the palace. The story goes, however, that the fountain system did not work until after the invention of the steam engine and steam powered pumps powerful enough to lift the water from the Havel River and fill the reservoir.<br />
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And what garden is complete without a Chinese garden pavilion flanked with golden figures and protected by security motion detectors activated as soon as you step over the chain fence. <br />
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The Chinese house must have cherry blossoms.</div>
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Wandering through Sans Souci park is an enjoyable way to spend a full day. Any way you go you will find some point of interest. Of course if you want to see it all you will have to be more organised and follow one of the recommended tourist walking routes.<br />
Don't overlook the picture gallery next to the Palace which contains painting by many old masters such as Rubens and Caravaggio.<br />
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Unfortunately for me, the New Palace was having a facelift and hair transplant at the time of my visit. The building was surrounded by teams of workers and machines cleaning facades, replacing paving and turf in preparation for the exhibition “FRIEDERISIKO – Frederick the Great”.<br />
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The Sans Souci garden houses an annex of the University of Potsdam. In fact the University has a sizeable presence in the garden although it did not appear to be intrusive or affect the enjoyment of the garden in any way.<br />
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It appeared to me that the university was deeply involved in the operation of the glass houses on site and maintenance of the vegetable garden. So perhaps the I should thank the staff and students of Potsdam University for the tremendous displays and plant arrangements in the glass houses.<br />
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I liked the tortoise sanctuary they had in one of the displays. Evidently they had taken in some unwanted pet tortoises because the tortoises had grown too large for a small domestic fish tank and too aggressive for the previous owners to manage.</div>
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The greatest influence on Potsdam was King Frederick II who was a patron to the arts and sciences of the time.</div>
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Frederick is now buried at Sans Souci and visitors often leave flowers on his gravesite. Some leave potatoes. It was King Frederick the great who introduced the humble staple, the potato, to prussia.</div>
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But that's another story.<br />
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<br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-66933193633092210572012-05-01T11:12:00.003+10:002012-05-10T21:45:21.556+10:00<h2>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gardens of Poland</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wroclaw - 3rd April 2012</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I came into Wroclaw on an overnight train from Cologne via Dresden. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Having a first class ticket on the Polish rail seemed to mean that I had a compartment meant for six, to myself. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A fairly comfortable trip on PolRail although the heater in the compartment seemed to be stuck on high. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There was a lot of construction work at the railway station so I didn't have time to appreciate the 19th century </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">architecture. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A short ride in a taxi and I was enjoying the luxury of my hotel on the banks of the Odra river.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">A large Dwarf</span></em> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had a very impressive room at the HP Park Plaza with a top floor view of the river and old town. Although very comfortable and extremely hospitable, the structure itself, being a large glass fronted building seemed quite at odds with the surrounding architecture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was my first visit to Poland and I did not quite know what to expect. Wandering through the streets you see old buildings and cathedrals surrounded by cobblestones similar to many cities in Europe and then you are confronted by pictorial reminders that this city was in ruins at the end of World War 2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Buildings that were not destroyed by cannon and bombs were dismantled by the retreating German army for raw materials to build last minute defences against the Russian Army. After the war, bricks from the city were ferried to Warsaw to help with the reconstruction effort in that city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This history, in my view makes the town reconstruction all the more remarkable. Most of the original architecture has been restored and now, as you trip over the cobblestones in the street, it is easy to drift back two or three centuries. You snap out of it when you stumble over a 21st century shopping centre, tucked in amongst the old buildings that has all the usual modern conveniences. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">The Odra River, Wroclaw</span></em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More by good fortune than design, I happened upon a gate providing access to the University of Wroclaw Botanic Garden. The Polish <i>Ogrod Botaniczny</i> sounds much better than Botanic Garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now considering the harshness of the last Polish winter and the fact that it is only spring, this garden is starting to show the promise of summer. The tips of bulbs were beginning to show, some daffodils were in full flower and mass plantings of pansies added to the colour of the garden. The alpine plant display in full flower, I found particulary delightful.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Botanical Gardens University of Wroclaw</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">Big nuts</span></em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The extremely thorough plant labelling was due, no doubt to the science staff and students at the university who use the garden as a teaching resource. Beneath some trees lie large carved representations of the nuts or fruits peculiar to that species of tree. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It wasn't unusual to see dwarfs placed at strategic places around the garden either. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The dwarves started as a political statement during the time that Poland was behind the Iron Curtain. They have now become somewhat of a tourist attraction. But that's another story.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrCb4nXCFcYKv-z9qARVzOc_QSyDKk3gGrZcNEGie2wUGfcEqdLg9P4EaQ1cWtfXt7r_jfs6A4KwzDteVKnjz1xnogtx-_jVdbOhE_AK1X88Kx71idnJgL67htHTlTZmXen6phg/s1600/P1060596Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrCb4nXCFcYKv-z9qARVzOc_QSyDKk3gGrZcNEGie2wUGfcEqdLg9P4EaQ1cWtfXt7r_jfs6A4KwzDteVKnjz1xnogtx-_jVdbOhE_AK1X88Kx71idnJgL67htHTlTZmXen6phg/s320/P1060596Small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Garden dwarves</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The strong connection with the university and education generally is reflected in the elements of the garden layout. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Established in 1811 as a scientific institution, the plantings are grouped in sections to exemplify different plant characteristics such as types of flower distribution on stem, methods of pollination, leaf, and fruit types. These collections include edibles such as beetroot and potatoes as well as plants used historically for medical purposes. Wormwood is one example.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBuUGlXNvvcY9yL5qQ5Sbn6tp9R4B0vAI4HgeEVxaadivQhJmhc1F0bJiKJdNfbGm-oT3wOkS84IjfkZMiH0MmrHAezgDbQ1y9EmhLfyB9iICbaS8Ei5QMmHspF1z6q8WTwXs0w/s1600/P1060570Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBuUGlXNvvcY9yL5qQ5Sbn6tp9R4B0vAI4HgeEVxaadivQhJmhc1F0bJiKJdNfbGm-oT3wOkS84IjfkZMiH0MmrHAezgDbQ1y9EmhLfyB9iICbaS8Ei5QMmHspF1z6q8WTwXs0w/s640/P1060570Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">Succulent display including sombrero and poncho at the rear</span></em></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL97HtEkD4P6qdF63ZgnyoC0sFe4w51WOy3p3J0auzw8AFco4Vu2tsJhWLEY6rATj3k4_HPGT7l-k1Ef_DnDdPG7Q1X3j4noB5fpnwFzAqxWCcp_jZw9IWM9o-fVlOLDUE-ybebw/s1600/P1060568Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL97HtEkD4P6qdF63ZgnyoC0sFe4w51WOy3p3J0auzw8AFco4Vu2tsJhWLEY6rATj3k4_HPGT7l-k1Ef_DnDdPG7Q1X3j4noB5fpnwFzAqxWCcp_jZw9IWM9o-fVlOLDUE-ybebw/s320/P1060568Small.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The garden has a collection of green houses each devoted to a particular class of plants, as they usually are. I liked the little touch with the sombrero and poncho in the succulent display.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The collection of aquatic plants is a particular source of pride for the curators of the garden. Their collection consists of 350 different taxa of tropical and sub tropical water and marsh plants. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No mean feat when the recent winter had temperatures at 20 degrees celsius below zero and lower. Plants such as <em>Hygrophila</em>, which has the status of a weed on the Australian east coast are entirely unknown in Poland. With winter temperatures like that, I'm not surprised.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The greenest of the green houses is devoted to a large collection of Ivy (Hedera). The green house even had ivy transfers covering the glass. Must be someones favourite!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIu-HHaKW9IJye2PmqoDjzDDsieDAFo739O9ngOrx5XznrkiO1WvZ688ze0MPPyd2cnHt3fxWqSxbB4rO-VAXhIarbu1FMnoKZ_6lmRRKiyJexIQaDyVe3lGS1m6Nc9Li6UVRBcg/s1600/P1060526Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIu-HHaKW9IJye2PmqoDjzDDsieDAFo739O9ngOrx5XznrkiO1WvZ688ze0MPPyd2cnHt3fxWqSxbB4rO-VAXhIarbu1FMnoKZ_6lmRRKiyJexIQaDyVe3lGS1m6Nc9Li6UVRBcg/s640/P1060526Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>The ivy house complete with ivy transfers on the glass</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This garden even has a display of coal, which I suppose was a plant sometime or other, and fossilized trees. As part of the alpine plant display, the garden has a large scale cross section of strata containing a coal seam and fault line. This exhibition illustrates the evolution of nature providing fossilized evidence dating back to the Pre-Cambrian era.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkbQQ1hHsuoegqYg7erac7bT0Hd-lNr25i1sVkI7nFMPbGXcc5nTkt4h8d7JHiobtoKFUdil99Xivxq9kdecqdCGb143vkbqpZnMvcuzYu0bXGUpDbc3PGHknyuWeSwWjKUjBKA/s1600/P1060663Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkbQQ1hHsuoegqYg7erac7bT0Hd-lNr25i1sVkI7nFMPbGXcc5nTkt4h8d7JHiobtoKFUdil99Xivxq9kdecqdCGb143vkbqpZnMvcuzYu0bXGUpDbc3PGHknyuWeSwWjKUjBKA/s1600/P1060663Small.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Fossilised trees and coal seam</em></span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The arboretum surrounds a natural pond which is a remnant of the Odra river. The pond forms a perfect focus for the arboretum which is laid out like a recreation park in three geographic groups. Pecans, willows and larch trees, among others are representatives from North America, East Asia and the Caucasus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A bridge and a timber walkway cross the pond which in summer is covered with a range of aquatic plants such as <i>Marsilea quadrifolia, Schoenoplectus americanus,and Trapa natans. </i>Most of these aquatic plants have weed status in Australia but suit the application here because they are quick growing and vigorous. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03vetvZJDdWzNs9Hc0gqlFila1fjZMNLMTCjlRoFGJRNuDGiEBopLNw2Tuae45b7ROwAqF8e2V0Hxa2KxI5vIDrLso_iMXamswxnLw8SQn54K7b12jY7xGrOYeAn-dGJbilL8Zw/s1600/P1060653Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03vetvZJDdWzNs9Hc0gqlFila1fjZMNLMTCjlRoFGJRNuDGiEBopLNw2Tuae45b7ROwAqF8e2V0Hxa2KxI5vIDrLso_iMXamswxnLw8SQn54K7b12jY7xGrOYeAn-dGJbilL8Zw/s1600/P1060653Small.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">As the publicity for the garden suggests, this is an oasis</span></em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The view from the alpine display looking back into the garden really sums up this relatively compact but exquisitely presented garden.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYCX6ARL6RXL_oZNfa5tBMKaZfYAi58FD5GsUbWMB1qYZ9wme_ZtxTt1J9ZoInnxKrG3sZjW5IkL2RjzdI-Om9V1qduhmBnjgk06WXZPMwddTOe6JDoS-5qyKD5VTsB_w3-KrAw/s1600/P1060674Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYCX6ARL6RXL_oZNfa5tBMKaZfYAi58FD5GsUbWMB1qYZ9wme_ZtxTt1J9ZoInnxKrG3sZjW5IkL2RjzdI-Om9V1qduhmBnjgk06WXZPMwddTOe6JDoS-5qyKD5VTsB_w3-KrAw/s1600/P1060674Small.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">View from the alpine plant display</span></em></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuVXnrtqziRFFhc2vyp7CdykugsYaolh8ogwRHVK2xTjZoRg90PaYTN9fxkIs9jn2WcsdoKV9gqGrKIM0Y59nelBkhP0PZ90wM2atk6keyKtXAIk6MRpm7hCH_-GIZAkmA_0LYA/s1600/P1060691Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuVXnrtqziRFFhc2vyp7CdykugsYaolh8ogwRHVK2xTjZoRg90PaYTN9fxkIs9jn2WcsdoKV9gqGrKIM0Y59nelBkhP0PZ90wM2atk6keyKtXAIk6MRpm7hCH_-GIZAkmA_0LYA/s1600/P1060691Small.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeadqojE-PgCuvTGPwOE7szoziBChhv1tBQuWXXqaQFXDAmtvJVyNG3V1VWewwwFL8jQBaOfiVju2L4Ora1FTGzMFYCeufwI_VIXDVrD8q-HTT7nO-ebOhXjYh1b612JzeTfh5Q/s1600/P1060697Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><em><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeadqojE-PgCuvTGPwOE7szoziBChhv1tBQuWXXqaQFXDAmtvJVyNG3V1VWewwwFL8jQBaOfiVju2L4Ora1FTGzMFYCeufwI_VIXDVrD8q-HTT7nO-ebOhXjYh1b612JzeTfh5Q/s640/P1060697Small.jpg" width="568" /></em></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Delicate and soft Pulsatilla Halleri</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My advice to you , if you are heading to Europe, take a trip to Poland, you won't be disappointed I guarantee you. Polish people are welcoming, friendly and fortunately for me, many people spoke some English. Of course this only made me feel like a heel because I only speak English and, to top it off, When I thought I was saying 'thankyou' to people, my husband pointed out to me that I was actually saying 'hello' in a weird Australian accent, leaving these people totally bewildered I am sure.</span></div>
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</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-66791093353212501472012-05-01T11:00:00.002+10:002012-06-08T14:16:31.363+10:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HrfZPtuJLQoHxRATd-rQc8CAXNLFDtqpdL-wnE-T5bF_TgmCQ8KEpeI7dXHkcaESWsvWsPB1I3iQ_tsSoBRL1enC2YXeOtj_sNllY69IbIdxZyokQW5wGfN1uC_8sVxZabU6Cg/s1600/P1060864Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HrfZPtuJLQoHxRATd-rQc8CAXNLFDtqpdL-wnE-T5bF_TgmCQ8KEpeI7dXHkcaESWsvWsPB1I3iQ_tsSoBRL1enC2YXeOtj_sNllY69IbIdxZyokQW5wGfN1uC_8sVxZabU6Cg/s400/P1060864Small.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
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Krakow</span></h2>
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Krakow Botanical Gardens - 6th April 2012</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Visiting the botanic gardens in Krakow really reminded me of the strong common interest shared by plant enthusiasts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A last minute email contact bought me knocking on the door of the offices of Professor Bogdan Zemanek of the Jagiellonian University.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Even though the the garden was not scheduled to be open for another two weeks, Professor Zemanek kindly offered a tour of their facilities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Add to this that it was the Friday before their Easter long weekend and the weather was cold and damp to gauge the graciousness of his offer....</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Polish people are so nice!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ0zt7nbyI3lpz0MiFB0v3kTga63UNDcDmtlGl4hjY5hmjgS5pnjLYUMZFtkxT2nqvfoWyYqlvUkWdB6Q-0roxCw68fodGLuHC9r6GjSfe-yht1XEar3WSaEfxi7kBJG-_4WmTg/s1600/P1060803Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ0zt7nbyI3lpz0MiFB0v3kTga63UNDcDmtlGl4hjY5hmjgS5pnjLYUMZFtkxT2nqvfoWyYqlvUkWdB6Q-0roxCw68fodGLuHC9r6GjSfe-yht1XEar3WSaEfxi7kBJG-_4WmTg/s640/P1060803Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The botanic gardens attached to the Jagiellonian University are the oldest in Poland. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Founded in 1783 on the land surrounding a small palace built as a suburban villa around 1600 which had an existing Renaissance garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An observatory was incorporated in the garden precinct using the palace buildings in 1792. The street outside the gardens is called Mikolaja Kopernika, named after one of the local talents called (in English) Copernicus who, around the 16th century, is credited for the theory that the sun is the centre of the solar system circled by the earth and other planets. So this area has a long history of scientific investigation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The garden itself is situated in a section of Krakow that was once the bed of the Vistla River. The river changed its course and left the clay bed behind. The main pond in the garden is a remnant of a bend in the river</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnEKdtzzEN_jGYFzXRTWvL8WaHOjpBCAqgOnC_MhvUyvv6RdRgCE90s5C_tamEEdcPynwxeSpZ5PmyjPPBGDI4s9alT1TxO9-yzhogjSHKEFpYcqBx_5sMPo2SxtOHyMji35Mgw/s1600/P1060920Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnEKdtzzEN_jGYFzXRTWvL8WaHOjpBCAqgOnC_MhvUyvv6RdRgCE90s5C_tamEEdcPynwxeSpZ5PmyjPPBGDI4s9alT1TxO9-yzhogjSHKEFpYcqBx_5sMPo2SxtOHyMji35Mgw/s640/P1060920Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first section of the garden you see is the geometric display of plants in the French Baroque style. This is the legacy of the the original garden design which was fashionable in the 18th century and reflects the early use of the land as a Renaissance garden belonging to the Czartoryski family.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FjkBTJAmdvlunJG7zQCj8CreKbGh8MgPJZfRkcmW-qkjcSZqXFZgd-d-TYf3BT9F7VgFJ55bSI_eWvVlRXN-KlvEV_gVJ_PFyjPK8VYoucuNnjgjHs5pi69wg4MzKXdrnpkqTA/s1600/P1060804Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FjkBTJAmdvlunJG7zQCj8CreKbGh8MgPJZfRkcmW-qkjcSZqXFZgd-d-TYf3BT9F7VgFJ55bSI_eWvVlRXN-KlvEV_gVJ_PFyjPK8VYoucuNnjgjHs5pi69wg4MzKXdrnpkqTA/s640/P1060804Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The second half of the 19th century saw upgrades to the garden which included a pond, which I mentioned before and an increase in the plant collection brought from Vienna, Paris, Vilnius, St. Petersburg and many local palace gardens. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Plant enthusiasts love to share!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How lucky are we that science and exploration were so highly regarded in the 18th and 19th century that so much effort was put into the nurturing and display of rare and unusual plants. We are indeed lucky that this infrastructure still exists considering that today almost everything must suffer a cost-benefit analysis and bean counters have the last say. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The garden somehow survived Nazi occupation during the second world war also, when all other sections of the University were closed. Fortunately the Polish staff, gardeners and assistants managed to minimise damage to the collections and this collection became a source of material for the restoration of other botanical gardens.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_isNOrgJlyF-XKi_cJzsZdcZEDWybIXPacMmpSkhwiOSQzblBkV9RDzJna8BH0VO_LpwZgx1f0bN7ot6pM273SGNb0UBIEZUWPTRcN6WcB8kovXc3f30Yx8AULOBBkVqZLvhwJw/s1600/P1060832Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_isNOrgJlyF-XKi_cJzsZdcZEDWybIXPacMmpSkhwiOSQzblBkV9RDzJna8BH0VO_LpwZgx1f0bN7ot6pM273SGNb0UBIEZUWPTRcN6WcB8kovXc3f30Yx8AULOBBkVqZLvhwJw/s400/P1060832Small.jpg" width="400" /></a></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful Medinilla</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoY9IH2jdpbPXXKFtQEKVqVDfH9oBXuePZQNQB_8cnUxTzj-rvWuRi_9ga2zCNogQqCFF2chgwK-NxYOmeNbh3LdLme8M154Bc3iJ1QJ3ipMaFEL1VBQPdX-yqyFEawzOkKieTA/s1600/P1060840Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoY9IH2jdpbPXXKFtQEKVqVDfH9oBXuePZQNQB_8cnUxTzj-rvWuRi_9ga2zCNogQqCFF2chgwK-NxYOmeNbh3LdLme8M154Bc3iJ1QJ3ipMaFEL1VBQPdX-yqyFEawzOkKieTA/s400/P1060840Small.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of the beautiful and healthy azalaeas in the collection</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT8P4pe8M7954lZj579B6DsjDtuwM4yjPPewrkD4t8G4w_1lEc_z8S_UHV4EHi8Jpz_MCHRId_aRhcn8SoQWeAk6TeE6JNQc114d6ORWNryyjwsFT1M5-3r6ItUyP90wcCCsr5g/s1600/P1060842Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT8P4pe8M7954lZj579B6DsjDtuwM4yjPPewrkD4t8G4w_1lEc_z8S_UHV4EHi8Jpz_MCHRId_aRhcn8SoQWeAk6TeE6JNQc114d6ORWNryyjwsFT1M5-3r6ItUyP90wcCCsr5g/s400/P1060842Small.jpg" width="225" /></a></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the weather was overcast and gloomy looking, you can <br />
understand why the azalea colleciton is so popular.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuZs3-SN3xI0oI7BUa2HQD4UPLnx-IxwyIg4ZqO5Rravri0Xkyh5zJmQ57VN6U1sN044Bmqk8k0htcTNMl_25SsWERxmnGqvS6O7VR8VDAgaBurrvfAW1-jc64-2TcCdEx6q0GA/s1600/P1060850Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuZs3-SN3xI0oI7BUa2HQD4UPLnx-IxwyIg4ZqO5Rravri0Xkyh5zJmQ57VN6U1sN044Bmqk8k0htcTNMl_25SsWERxmnGqvS6O7VR8VDAgaBurrvfAW1-jc64-2TcCdEx6q0GA/s640/P1060850Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fascinating "ant plant' Myrmecodia tuberosa. I just bought one of these online when I returned home</td></tr>
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A collection of orchids in the glasshouse</h3>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The second half of the 19th century saw the introduction of tropical plant collections mainly due to the efforts of travellers and explorers of the new world. The main benefactor of the Krakow gardens was Joseph Warszewicz who became the director and chief gardener. Joseph travelled to Central and South America collecting plants and seed samples which he used to develop the collection at Krakow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Many of the orchids and cycads in the garden are descendants of this original collection and indeed, the first generation of plants from the seed collection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As Professor Zemanek explained, other gardens may have older cycads, for example, but their plants may have spent 200 years in the jungle and 50 years in the garden. Here, at Krakow, the plants have spent 150 years in the garden having been originally struck from collected seed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm10d7yzBrspb5h868TrvT03wlc_L4nYryrUOI3iZvWNsyhwKLUN4nxze2avBIh4_UO7aAW2kMGkYVbd3RvbFGZc3ldUfb0fPiHpxOxMzELSv120uUojng1TE_VNWKuWnolimK0w/s1600/P1060861Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm10d7yzBrspb5h868TrvT03wlc_L4nYryrUOI3iZvWNsyhwKLUN4nxze2avBIh4_UO7aAW2kMGkYVbd3RvbFGZc3ldUfb0fPiHpxOxMzELSv120uUojng1TE_VNWKuWnolimK0w/s400/P1060861Small.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtA-reaym0UJsHhik1KiJuvQrmJkTQZlKbEHFyXX10HdBoSozOw8h25nb_vk2trR1MB7wyQNGh7wr1hz4HmspvBbF5wqhXl3LVxz5tcdPWdCNCseDqInRWVr2l6DjrHvlVEd8w7g/s1600/P1060869Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtA-reaym0UJsHhik1KiJuvQrmJkTQZlKbEHFyXX10HdBoSozOw8h25nb_vk2trR1MB7wyQNGh7wr1hz4HmspvBbF5wqhXl3LVxz5tcdPWdCNCseDqInRWVr2l6DjrHvlVEd8w7g/s320/P1060869Small.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There are three glass houses here, two of which are open to the public. The largest is "Jubilee" which consists of the palm house and a long hot house sectioned for different species of plants. The glass house, Jubilee, opened in 1964, is named to commemorate the 600th (yes, 600) anniversary of the Jagiellonian University.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIK4fOtTasfpPVHr0tdnUgqnuiqEj9flT4yCuiKRqawWCfpLBWcvb36AzMA9Oxvxe0MIL05xIWkYYdHKNmLQ2f4tIxWWtVWEfbFGFJzoB3dOrNjhH_JFqkSS24OQ74mYVBiY8wg/s1600/P1060868Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIK4fOtTasfpPVHr0tdnUgqnuiqEj9flT4yCuiKRqawWCfpLBWcvb36AzMA9Oxvxe0MIL05xIWkYYdHKNmLQ2f4tIxWWtVWEfbFGFJzoB3dOrNjhH_JFqkSS24OQ74mYVBiY8wg/s320/P1060868Small.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">According to Professor Zemanek, originally the site adjacent to the Jubilee glass house was the highest point in the garden and when the garden was planned, had commanding views of the Vistla River and surrounding valley. Gradually this view has been eroded by surrounding buildings so that now you can only see across the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Victoria glass house derives its name from the genus of water lilly that grows in the pond there, the <i>Victoria amazonica. </i>This is the oldest of the glass houses in the garden being built 1786 - 1787</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The "Dutch" glass house, Dutch being the type, designed for epiphytic plants and orchids but also contains rare plants which are kept isolated. The Dutch glass house is normally closed to the public but is sometimes used for educational visits.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihitpFlYSW0JFxQJ4-2csxNF2OxHZ9KY2NW1f1-MOd7NrjrC2QIWH4YbiG60qtv5vhAJ7Nl0sk-g6Wrf6slGPTmi_0Fff8UbQd5m9ro5lj5k8VuSlM_olKIeleK2ESHzegIwOnPA/s1600/P1060905Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihitpFlYSW0JFxQJ4-2csxNF2OxHZ9KY2NW1f1-MOd7NrjrC2QIWH4YbiG60qtv5vhAJ7Nl0sk-g6Wrf6slGPTmi_0Fff8UbQd5m9ro5lj5k8VuSlM_olKIeleK2ESHzegIwOnPA/s640/P1060905Small.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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You might normally see a collection of cakes or quiches in one of these units but it seems they are perfect for carniverous plants, of which there is a great collection<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The emphasis on education is obvious with the target group </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">being all ages. All plants are labelled and some of the glass house plants have full descriptions and pictures of dissections showing particular adaptations that have made the plant successful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I found the <i>Myrmecodia tuberosa </i>(the ant plant) </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">particularly fascinating having seen examples previously at the botanic gardens in Kew, London. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Krakow Botanic Garden is one of the European gardens exhibiting a Wollemi pine. Professor Zemanek explained "we have two specimens of the Wollemi pine. One from the Polish collection and another supplied from Dresden Botanical Garden". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They plan to place the Dresden plant in the outside garden to see how it copes with the harsh winters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"The level of frost at Krakow is more severe than Dresden. At Krakow we may have a severe frost event every twenty years that Dresden may experience every 100 years" explained Professor Zamenek. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sometimes it's flattering to see the level of interest in plant species from the southern hemisphere. Many of the plant species indigenous to Europe have been studied for a thousand years where as, from the European point of view, the south was "Terra Incognita". Some regions only being explored botanically from the last 200 years or so and surprises, like the Wollemi pine, still possible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">What I particularly loved about these gardens was the level of care the staff give to the plants. the layout in many areas replicated a home garden, with lots of finishing touches that added to the charm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Aboretum is the largest part of the garden and is arranged as a landscaped park with examples of trees from East Asia and North America. The landscaping is complemented with collections of ornamental plants such as lilacs. The pond, which could be called a billabong, provides a space for the water plants. The water plants here are mainly native as introduced plants from more temperate regions do not survive the harsh winters. This section of the garden provides a very tranquil setting and is guarded by an old Ginkgo and a 200 year old common oak. Many specimens of trees here are more than 150 years old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Botanical Gardens are research units and deeply involved in the protection of flora and vegetation of the world and in Professor Zemanek's words "Living museums". Not only providing knowledge of the principles ruling nature but also by framing the minds of the young generation, making people living among stone walls of cities conscious of the spiritual dimension of nature. </span><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-9507247520057158172012-05-01T10:59:00.000+10:002012-05-01T10:59:05.621+10:00<h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Venlo Floriade </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Background - 28 March 2012</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The site of the 2012 Floriade is in North Limburg, an area of the Netherlands close to the borders of Germany and Belgium. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Limburg area is noted for asparagus, mushrooms, blue berries and chocolate and hosting various festivities focusing on aspects of horticulture that vary from asparagus to roses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I arrived in Venlo a few days before I was to join the official international media preview of the 2012 Floriade to soak up some of the local colour and to overcome the effects of that long haul flight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Every time I visit Europe I am impressed by the bicycle culture. The well used cycle paths criss - cross the cities and towns and are well used. The relatively flat terrain around Venlo-Blerick lends itself well to this form of transport. I can't say the same about the weather for the few days I was there though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cycling in Australia always conjures up images of MAMILs. That is - Middle Aged Men In Lycra, you know, that stretchy stuff that leaves little to the imagination. Not so here. Cycles are a very convenient form of getting from A to B with no special clothes needed. I saw many mothers with pre-school age children tucked up in a purpose built extra seat on the bike.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I must say driving required a huge change in attitude for me coming from Sydney.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The steering wheel is on the left side of the car and the gear stick on on the right and the bikes have some priority on the road. At least they have their own pathways and sometimes traffic lights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Generally though, I drove from Amsterdam to Venlow in less than three hours and found the roads excellent.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Market square in front of the Stadhuis<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A place to stay</span></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venlo preparing for the Floriade<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I found very comfortable resort style accommodation tucked in a forested section that was really quite close to the main railway station. First class restaurant and included heated pool and sauna. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And you can't beat the hot chocolate sitting by the lake outside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bilderberg, Hotel De Bovenste Molen</span></div>
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<br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-39568921955350981172012-05-01T10:54:00.001+10:002012-05-01T10:54:22.531+10:00<h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kids at Floriade</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">28 March 2012</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEC99VKQOLL-SB9AqULsStzbmJOBeP9zfDo1Mbr4PVAiQRopfQH6mtFD4DSj89ePseSSIxXD1c2vbwETSdUIeAQQhDLHxgL6OJleQM5sGm1F37M76Y0zoJFsEUJW_aKNjVi9JOw/s1600/P1060004Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEC99VKQOLL-SB9AqULsStzbmJOBeP9zfDo1Mbr4PVAiQRopfQH6mtFD4DSj89ePseSSIxXD1c2vbwETSdUIeAQQhDLHxgL6OJleQM5sGm1F37M76Y0zoJFsEUJW_aKNjVi9JOw/s320/P1060004Small.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is underneath?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Relax and Heal, Green Engine, Education and Innovation, Environment and World Show Stage are the main divisions of the 2012 Venlo Floriade in the Netherlands. The focus on younger visitors and schools was particularly pleasing from my point of view.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Simple exhibits and demonstrations inspire children to look more closely at how plants "work" and where food comes from. When children live in large cities, the connection between links in the food chain are not always apparent. A larger than life radish for example has only the green foliage visible but invites children to "pull it out" exposing the familiar shape of the radish. There were other examples like this allowing the kids to make the connection between the distinctive plant that is above the ground and the familiar food source hidden underneath.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Other exhibits invite visitors to connect the scents with the plants.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Match the smells</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I particularly liked a hands on demonstration of the effort a plant has to go through to lift water up into its leafy canopy. Children, or indeed anyone, are encouraged to pump up a column of water to get some idea of the energy the plant uses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Some lucky children attend the Kids University for Cooking in the Floriade 'House of Taste'.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OZxzCRf7W7G-k78N_FcT11auR0DUV7hsfp-USP41wiLW0k_Qn2Owp80vUjuNRafbd7L7G1gw8yM-LM7xLrp4jVE9iEEEvWOeGdTZ0_vbuIWWSZNbu6PB8z629JW8-JdNv6qScg/s1600/P1060010Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OZxzCRf7W7G-k78N_FcT11auR0DUV7hsfp-USP41wiLW0k_Qn2Owp80vUjuNRafbd7L7G1gw8yM-LM7xLrp4jVE9iEEEvWOeGdTZ0_vbuIWWSZNbu6PB8z629JW8-JdNv6qScg/s320/P1060010Small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids University for Cooking</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here, school classes participate in workshops and taste studios designed to make them aware of their dietary habits in a fun and exciting way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The organizers hope to use some of the by products of these sessions in the on-site restaurants and cafes. The proceeds being recycled to develop new teaching programs and learning concepts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Visit www.kokkerelli.nl for an overview of the program incorporated at Floriade.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-8012095177808595922012-04-26T10:02:00.000+10:002012-05-01T21:00:41.133+10:00<h2>
Wieliczka Salt Mine</h2>
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Poland - 6th April 2012</h3>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No photograph can capture the ambience of this place</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This subterranean monument is the result of 700 years of mining by generations of inhabitants of the Wieliczka region of Poland.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you are familiar with the Lord of the Rings then this is Moria, the mines worked by the dwarfs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2400 chambers, 245 km of excavations from 64 to 327 m deep, spread over nine levels, three of which are open to tourists.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You have to experience it first hand to appreciate the soaring caverns offset by claustrophobic tunnels and galleries.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The tourist trail is of a high standard, sometimes having polished stairs and hand rails that wouldn't look out of place in a five star hotel and a lighting scheme designed to enhance the mine experience. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_u3QdL5dQqheMeiQ1lIt5f3LKWeO7f9Ad0J3GH0SyKV4RqNdrXaPQGLa1yUofmgRx_eKIVI7q-QkQGl-LrEYd3_jOwBN6j6leX6k9RoEbBsAHoaTrC3oFjGLyvI8qsjwYVPRXOA/s1600/_MG_1099Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_u3QdL5dQqheMeiQ1lIt5f3LKWeO7f9Ad0J3GH0SyKV4RqNdrXaPQGLa1yUofmgRx_eKIVI7q-QkQGl-LrEYd3_jOwBN6j6leX6k9RoEbBsAHoaTrC3oFjGLyvI8qsjwYVPRXOA/s320/_MG_1099Small.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
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Miners going to work in the 17th century</h4>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, the access for the early generations of miners is still visible. It is easy to visualise miners clambering over rough hewn stone steps and climbing down roughly constructed ladders with not much more than candle power lamps to light the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As the mines went deeper, the miners cut vertical shafts and constructed wooden machines. Man powered windlass that connect galleries and chambers by rope hoists. The rope lifts could lower miners and equipment in to the pit and bring blocks of salt up to the surface. Miners would dangle on the end of the rope in teams of about six and lower into the darkness with their primitive lamps, not for gold or silver, but for salt.</span><br />
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Timber roof support structures</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvjL3s03JgaSf4dGOL8K452osxbe9txWE2MvEJY0IGqTRXuIeMn_1ayiTTm5zs-vyLUlNnHJWNLMMrDieXxGG77BjoT2xs-ZyfXjAWvR9aOeT2oVICQhHcfGH5kbKkYkzNA3A8Q/s1600/_MG_1081Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOOW4aPqckJRD4suC-491HHN-PhDNPmmHqGLBhyphenhyphen_8kmOWL7YFjAS91xvcbvFf1eMwEF9TgbPfnOz9GgK7a4LSHN-qyQuBSpkPyhAl4rbkfLobeA9HjqOkRP5R3PCEzgoE0TWTiw/s1600/_MG_1086Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Not much for a gardener to do down there. No green plant life where there is no light. All that grows are the salt stalactites and salt "cauliflower" covering the walls and ceilings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Old tools left in the pit become the seed and are encrusted in large cube shaped salt crystals The brine lakes provide ideal conditions for growing the crystals.</span><br />
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One of the several salt filled (brine) lakes in the mines</h4>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Several caverns are decorated by sculptures and bas-reliefs carved into the salt walls. When visitors spilled out of one passageway onto a gallery overlooking the chapel of St Kinga, you could hear everyone in the group catch their breadth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A huge chamber decorated with religious sculptures and carved shrines, lit by chandeliers made from strings of salt crystals. Some of the sculptures are backlit and the light passes through the salt with a diffuse glow. Quite an effect when you would swear the carving is solid rock.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All sections of the mine are impressive. Massive wooden machines for lifting and lowering salt, miners, equipment and horses ever deeper underground.</span><br />
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Wooden machines powered by horses used to lift miners and equipment</h4>
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Timber supports for the roof. Compare the staircase to the support structure</h4>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There are primitive wooden pumps designed by the miners for moving salt saturated water through the mine. Some caverns have sound and light shows depicting the lives of miner in the 16th and 17th century</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0h4dP8IIEk0j4iaxvW6GJZsh95pC-ENaUsOGESlPSoe5UM6cMb7BRf_VcwTdF6eeoreSp4UcZ6gK2rKm2izAGviq42IglxsljNvN-LOTmwaNumZcBQPGVQb1evAWaAoxqoBMjEg/s1600/_MG_1068Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0h4dP8IIEk0j4iaxvW6GJZsh95pC-ENaUsOGESlPSoe5UM6cMb7BRf_VcwTdF6eeoreSp4UcZ6gK2rKm2izAGviq42IglxsljNvN-LOTmwaNumZcBQPGVQb1evAWaAoxqoBMjEg/s1600/_MG_1068Small.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
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Chapel of St Kinga with salt crystal chandeliers</h4>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now, you can dine in a restaurant, post a letter, access the internet with wifi, or shop for souvenirs over 100 metres underground</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So well done, the Wieliczka salt mine deserves its world heritage listing and I'm sure every one of the one million visitors per year are equally impressed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There are other salt mines in Poland and our guide describes one as having pure white walls and floor as the salt continues to flake off the walls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He also said that by the end of the tour of this mine his blood pressure had doubled. Salt will do this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Polish humor, I think</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But that's another story</span>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-4051151750218643592012-04-02T05:21:00.001+10:002012-04-25T19:43:04.661+10:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu2wIlDRZDvQ3kZ6y_eUK7FcilyStUhP9pDWMYl1TIYn5qvD-59zdEyPzZHae8LpSRbQuCdtGMhW8ue7sP2g3POpkMQxuOozP2UF7aSHwVJgJCIe4SVyshq29oM89VqzZB2mETA/s1600/P1050849.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726515331318353810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu2wIlDRZDvQ3kZ6y_eUK7FcilyStUhP9pDWMYl1TIYn5qvD-59zdEyPzZHae8LpSRbQuCdtGMhW8ue7sP2g3POpkMQxuOozP2UF7aSHwVJgJCIe4SVyshq29oM89VqzZB2mETA/s320/P1050849.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-57387546428174439532012-04-02T05:16:00.000+10:002012-04-02T05:20:30.853+10:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfsYFd3EM5-UudZtjQdqmnmVshxF35pCCyaZt1Z_YSHGWTxI-Lrh7fO6VdMBDFBqSeZp3zrzzqPS39jQNLN6gjOyyvI5nbefYGSH3GdbcT1Lle0taWoEmEnO1V3-uQ6XLoETw4g/s1600/P1050798.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726514211220672066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfsYFd3EM5-UudZtjQdqmnmVshxF35pCCyaZt1Z_YSHGWTxI-Lrh7fO6VdMBDFBqSeZp3zrzzqPS39jQNLN6gjOyyvI5nbefYGSH3GdbcT1Lle0taWoEmEnO1V3-uQ6XLoETw4g/s320/P1050798.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-14301701660884224962012-04-02T05:10:00.003+10:002012-04-02T05:16:17.234+10:00Floriade<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWpG2QKlrc7raE53fOJQAdYMZ6clhULGGwY-kR5SAm1HMLBLjbWJYgiw5MSrNoIvMNquU-vuSqx0rKIaVV-ATKY-t-JO5RHZYEnxdxmOWTuchHimDiRPwAtod66keUa6x68KhnQ/s1600/_MG_0862.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726512596501163986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWpG2QKlrc7raE53fOJQAdYMZ6clhULGGwY-kR5SAm1HMLBLjbWJYgiw5MSrNoIvMNquU-vuSqx0rKIaVV-ATKY-t-JO5RHZYEnxdxmOWTuchHimDiRPwAtod66keUa6x68KhnQ/s320/_MG_0862.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-80105295997166368482012-04-02T04:42:00.004+10:002012-04-20T16:04:37.292+10:00Touring Floriade , Venlo The Netherlands 2012I recently attended the International Press day for the Floriade in Venlo The Netherlands. The beginning of the trip started on a cable car that gave us a 360 degree view of the site that is about to open on the 5th April 2012.<br />
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The Expo only takes place every ten years and lasts for six months.<br />
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How lucky was I to see first hand the hard work being done to get the show ready for the grand openingKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-1097013232850490702004-10-06T07:53:00.000+10:002012-05-24T21:18:43.152+10:00Berlin<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Berlin Botanic Gardens - 12th April 2012</span></span></h2>
About a 15 minute journey from Friedrich Strasse S Banhoff to Botanischer Garten, coupled with a short walk brings you to the gates of the the Berlin Botanic Garden and Museum at Dahlem.<br />
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I enjoy the experience of botanic gardens because I can visit almost the whole world of horticulture just by walking and compare vastly different regions of the world under the same seasonal conditions.<br />
It would be a bit optimistic to expect the garden in Berlin to be in full leaf in April, but spring brings out those transient blossoms and flashes of colour in unexpected places.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNEdJ1m8rw1ZKNEwqsLNKIARMvFU2TpetIczT8-mCttG7gxYJHKzaz6pgw0PdQZymRU74OASFTwzaQd41wFIgcUN28zf6PfGxionMRQ_bv-nUMKfSOX2aEruFwPV5UGONRlGwZA/s1600/P1070289Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNEdJ1m8rw1ZKNEwqsLNKIARMvFU2TpetIczT8-mCttG7gxYJHKzaz6pgw0PdQZymRU74OASFTwzaQd41wFIgcUN28zf6PfGxionMRQ_bv-nUMKfSOX2aEruFwPV5UGONRlGwZA/s400/P1070289Small.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_B0xDYxMiTFK02JRE2IdteV_GDynXOCr5LLDmsbk_P_lHpxWZI7kwHlpGwn8u4JhMtekcsya04BfTsiJlMexUGzFq1Shd-3AbWr6NAQsJjCgiGYZpapI8eS1PYJvKR8tZmzOSBg/s1600/_MG_1249Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_B0xDYxMiTFK02JRE2IdteV_GDynXOCr5LLDmsbk_P_lHpxWZI7kwHlpGwn8u4JhMtekcsya04BfTsiJlMexUGzFq1Shd-3AbWr6NAQsJjCgiGYZpapI8eS1PYJvKR8tZmzOSBg/s320/_MG_1249Small.jpg" width="320" /></a>The seed for the modern Berlin Botanical Garden was planted in the late 1600's but had to be transplanted about 200 years later to it's present location in Dahlem when it outgrew the original location in Schoneberg.<br />
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The gardens now cover about 126 acres or about 50 hectares and houses about 22 000 plant species.<br />
If you use the S Bahn to get to the garden you will most likely enter from Unter den Eichen. And, of course, the first thing you will do is shout yourself a hot coffee or tea at the restaurant inside the gate. Even given that the weather wasn't as warm as it could have been, I found the courtyard of the restaurant, with a view over the large pond and varieties of Trumpet-creeper and Honeysuckle, very pleasant. It would be a great spot on a hot sunny day.<br />
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I like to not only look at the endless varieties of plants that populate our planet, I also like to touch........<br />
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You are invited to do just that in the Fragrance and Touch garden, a short stroll from the restaurant at the edge of the garden. April was just a little early to get really involved but the idea was there. These beds contain plantings of spice, herbs and perfume plants and you are encouraged to rub the leaves to liberate the various fragrances. A great idea to help involve the younger visitors.<br />
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The time I spent at the botanical gardens was marred by intermittent showers and cold conditions so the 6000 square metre display of tropical and sub-tropical plants in the 16 green houses provided welcome respite.<br />
The green house also houses a cafe that sells the most delicious soup and rolls. Much appreciated in the conditions at the time.<br />
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The layout of the green houses is very special. Fourteen of the sixteen green houses are linked and form a continuous walkway where you stroll through various climatic and geographic regions of the world of horticulture. I roamed around for almost three hours and I'm still not sure I saw everything on offer.<br />
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The glass houses are interconnected with automatic doors that invite you in when you approach. Oddly enough, the first "garden" I saw was under water and contained several species of tropical fish.<br />
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Pushing on, I entered the main tropical greenhouse and was amazed by the range of plants living together in this environment. The roof height is 23 metres and the length and width is 60 x 30 metres so you get some idea of the amount of foliage it takes to fill this volume.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttrtimHl15CaTTAeB7UWVkKOGKAIneL1Zzd2ggQL8GKruRDmbBVV9pvpjxOOt1FJh-Av3Hv0Y-g5KTVZT-3ciKwCEEz-x3U2noUrpeuIMnwzISdM0SY6Tke4v5qc6FpknQ9_NMA/s1600/P1070352Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttrtimHl15CaTTAeB7UWVkKOGKAIneL1Zzd2ggQL8GKruRDmbBVV9pvpjxOOt1FJh-Av3Hv0Y-g5KTVZT-3ciKwCEEz-x3U2noUrpeuIMnwzISdM0SY6Tke4v5qc6FpknQ9_NMA/s320/P1070352Small.jpg" width="320" /></a>Much of this area is taken up with palms, lianas and giant bamboo but the under-story completes the picture. Add in perfect examples of tropical plants such as <i>Amorphophallus titanum</i> (unfortunately not in flower) and you have a fairly convincing tropical jungle.<br />
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Elevated vantage points allow views across significant sections of the green house and add to the interest.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOAh1kvnL42azu-hOVSQXAU9_SToWpI1TeFCIr3QjY9ZwJi9JSbRT7qjqJV6_mwNLfWmS8_XiwsoVnMP7jvLluPs9F2Do_zBYBcxm4ZHsVU0lEhF_z8QXJA439mVP6hXsNoJ2CQ/s1600/P1070321Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOAh1kvnL42azu-hOVSQXAU9_SToWpI1TeFCIr3QjY9ZwJi9JSbRT7qjqJV6_mwNLfWmS8_XiwsoVnMP7jvLluPs9F2Do_zBYBcxm4ZHsVU0lEhF_z8QXJA439mVP6hXsNoJ2CQ/s640/P1070321Small.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Welwitshia mirabilis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Looking like a refugee from the "Little Shop of Horrors" is the <i>Welwitshia mirabilis </i>tucked into one of the annexes to the main tropical greenhouse. Just needs some lip balm and a little lipstick .......<br />
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Two of the adjoining connected sections are dominated by collections of <i>Euphorbia, Aloes</i> and succulents from the "New World".<br />
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The pathway through the succulent greenhouse is divided into a low road and a high road.<br />
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You can get a caterpillar eye view of what makes these plants so interesting for many people. It also gives you the opportunity to hug one if you are so inclined.<br />
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From the harsh desert environment of the cactus to the humid and temperate environment of ferns and similar plants<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NN9X2NolCWlOExJWLAg2U6J7WqXrDSBaqIqNnx0cOrts3cjnmwJEfsf-XKBdFMn0tJQcqeM6KKuSo-ZoReLuhzjMGIHTuNj08XOr43DrpH2NaiPPhjllp-FXYAyhpCTBWfy0PA/s1600/P1070579Smal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NN9X2NolCWlOExJWLAg2U6J7WqXrDSBaqIqNnx0cOrts3cjnmwJEfsf-XKBdFMn0tJQcqeM6KKuSo-ZoReLuhzjMGIHTuNj08XOr43DrpH2NaiPPhjllp-FXYAyhpCTBWfy0PA/s320/P1070579Smal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwSA8v1739Cnkt3Jct3C2pSyBrO3NBA3WRn2WeYj1g2Y2SPSjA8j08C57aIQtjidR46f51wQVk13befVxm1CNtK-DNCND_uFsJhOxIAX965ZyVYfos3DGCx05IOG1zDiDTo5uSw/s1600/P1070583Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwSA8v1739Cnkt3Jct3C2pSyBrO3NBA3WRn2WeYj1g2Y2SPSjA8j08C57aIQtjidR46f51wQVk13befVxm1CNtK-DNCND_uFsJhOxIAX965ZyVYfos3DGCx05IOG1zDiDTo5uSw/s320/P1070583Small.jpg" width="180" /></a> Many displays of bromeliads and orchids used rock walls as the bedding material. The rock looked like pumice, a porous volcanic rock. The texture of this material made it easy for the plant to get a foothold.<br />
Meandering paths trimmed with moss and ferns create a believable outdoor effect. The paths lead you over a footbridge across a running stream and after a while you forget you are in an entirely artificial environment<br />
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Obviously enjoying the tender loving care provided by the staff of the botanic gardens is the another Aussie expat, the <i>Wollemi pine</i>. Several of the botanic gardens I visited had specimens and all seemed to be doing well with cones hanging on several branches.<br />
As the <i>Wollemi </i> is bi-sexual it is likely that we may see little German <i>Wollemi's </i> in the future.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Nothing too small or insignificant</span></h4>
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Moss growing typically in between paving and rubble. Not very glamorous but typical.</div>
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There is a sunken viewing area in the middle of this display so you can get a close look at the mosses without bending over too much. They thought of everything. </div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Botanical Museum</span></h4>
The Botanical Museum really gets into the nitty gritty of plants. My day was fast running out by the time I got there. I should have allowed another hour at least for the museum.<br />
Apart from the usual suspects, botanists from times long past, there were many exhibits inviting interaction and detailed explanations of how plants work.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IF0IT9AdlaElHpfcTMskFnoDD80oRf3P892HFnItrH5HMLoNj1UyeYHHGrTNobwEGiueIqXGzGRXCdkkwOGfYMwc3fKjalhRHfUMSowdw6OH_bs0YrHLqc7NmCwhZOFPAkqtTQ/s1600/P1070731Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IF0IT9AdlaElHpfcTMskFnoDD80oRf3P892HFnItrH5HMLoNj1UyeYHHGrTNobwEGiueIqXGzGRXCdkkwOGfYMwc3fKjalhRHfUMSowdw6OH_bs0YrHLqc7NmCwhZOFPAkqtTQ/s400/P1070731Small.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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This large cross-section of a <i>Sequoia sempervirens</i> from California is resident in the museum entrance. The slab was cut from a 775 year old tree.<br />
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There were large scale models of algae, flowers and fruits highlighting the adaptions of plants to the environment and reproduction strategies that have made some plants successful.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large scale models of flower and nut</td></tr>
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These models float in glass cabinets but they are extraordinarily lifelike<br />
The room was adorned with these models and not just the few shown here<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QKG19Jd2SZ9VbIVvUN-5wIcrSngV0YgSuGUnZAXrzpqQ5VDqyUQ-SSwbGOmjlD8AuPbguev1wjphYkvzRjbAfrlZGQQI-SLgOspfUaLljQS_CTVS6rictUj-wG6egW8vfTlxQg/s1600/P1070767Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QKG19Jd2SZ9VbIVvUN-5wIcrSngV0YgSuGUnZAXrzpqQ5VDqyUQ-SSwbGOmjlD8AuPbguev1wjphYkvzRjbAfrlZGQQI-SLgOspfUaLljQS_CTVS6rictUj-wG6egW8vfTlxQg/s640/P1070767Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How you can be involved</td></tr>
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<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-1097012891627169802004-10-06T07:48:00.000+10:002004-10-06T07:48:11.626+10:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/118/1951/1024/squares.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/118/1951/400/squares.jpg'></a><br />Squares <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-1097012783368798132004-10-06T07:46:00.001+10:002004-10-06T07:46:23.370+10:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/118/1951/1024/white%20pot%20succulent.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/118/1951/400/white%20pot%20succulent.jpg'></a><br />Succulent in white pot <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-1097012762665216272004-10-06T07:46:00.000+10:002004-10-06T07:46:02.666+10:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/118/1951/1024/white%20glazed%20pot%20cacti.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/118/1951/400/white%20glazed%20pot%20cacti.jpg'></a><br />Cacti in white glazed pot <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600861.post-1097012669186078942004-10-06T07:44:00.000+10:002004-10-06T07:44:29.186+10:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/118/1951/1024/water%20feature%202.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/118/1951/400/water%20feature%202.jpg'></a><br />Water Feature 2 <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879478450107340589noreply@blogger.com0