When cherry blossoms don't wait for festivals

Those cherry blossoms just didn't get the memo. They bloomed too early. So by the time the Hanami Festival Day arrived at the National Rhododendron Gardens, only a smattering of blossoms were left on the trees.

The day was exquisite regardless and as we walked along the path, following the trail of lanterns, it felt as though we were swept along by the happy chatting crowd.

It was a good way to celebrate Spring, filling our nostrils with fresh mountain air, knowing that warmer weather will reach us soon.

A sojourn in Lorne

Is there anything nicer than a short sojourn, a quick break away from the everyday?

 

Even though the skies were grey and it rained now and then, the wind was balmy and the air was fresh with ocean mist against our skin.

We walked along the sand, digging holes and making sandcastles which were then washed away by a cheeky wave or two. Carefully treading through rock pools, the fading light of the day sheered off the water at angles straight into our eyes.

Where the sand met the land, the grass was impossibly green and as we stood in the heart of the inlet, we felt embraced by the headland.

A few days by the beach to blow the cobwebs of winter away.

Everything will be OK

Sometimes my heart and body need to slow down a bit and so I go into nature. You can't rush nature. Trees and shrubs and birds and bugs go about their business quietly. Berries are going to sprout when they're good and ready. Spring will come in its own good time. In nature I'm reminded that everything has its place and purpose and that everything will be OK.

(Image taken at Healesville Sanctuary earlier in the year.)

Everything takes much longer than you think it will

A little sketch made a while ago during warmer weather at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. It took longer than I thought it would when I sat down to do it. I was in such a jovial mood, sun was shining, the grass was warm to sit on and then I realised how much foliage I had committed to sketching. I'll be honest, my hand started cramping up and then I was bored. But I was stubborn and drew what I saw. Sometimes I'm lazy and stubborn at the same time when it come to drawing, especially when lying in the sweet smelling grass is such an attractive option.

Also congratulations to Vaughan. You have a print coming your way! Thanks to those of you who  left a comment to celebrate the opening of my etsy shop.

What if we lived in a rock pool?

What if we lived in a rock pool?

What if we swam around all day?

You and me,

And the sky and the sea,

Eating cake made of seaweed.

We could invite our friends for a cup of salty tea,

And even though our skin might get a bit soggy,

If we lived in a rock pool,

I’d be happy,

Because you’re in the rock pool with me.

Catch a tree killer

I couldn’t believe it. They were tearing it down mercilessly. I had to look away as though I had seen a brutal car accident. The neighbour’s tree is now a pile of logs.

I’ve always felt a bit sick whenever I see a massive, old tree being chopped down. Inside my head I’m screaming, ‘But it took so long to grow. Don’t worry about the roots buckling up your footpath. Now you won’t have any shade. It was so beautiful. Won’t you miss it? Stop, you tree killer..!’

Another part of me knows that they had their reasons. Maybe the tree was diseased and dying, dropping heavy and dangerous limbs too close to the house at random moments? Maybe it was an environmental weed and its presence meant that native flora was struggling to find its place? Who knows?

Goodbye tree. Thanks for all of the oxygen, shade, beauty, wind protection and for being a lovely home for birds and insects. Now I have another good reason to plant more trees.

A job for the Queensland bottle tree

It happened. It really happened. It rained and rained. The wind was terrible. People were trapped, clasping onto whatever they could to stay afloat, above the water and safe. Awful, awful, awful. My thoughts go out to the families who have lost loved ones. If only this Queensland bottle tree could soak up and store some of that water and make it easier for everyone affected by the Queensland floods. I hope that sunny days reach you very soon.

Floating islands

Wouldn’t it be nice, to travel around the world on a whim so that you always had a different view? Sometimes being in the one place for too long can be a bit dull really. Whilst it’s good to put down roots, imagine being able to take your roots with you wherever you go. That’s exactly what these floating islands do. To satisfy their adventurous urges, floating islands are formed out of oxygen rich mud which vegetation can happily grow in. Often the plant roots grow right through the island and dangle underneath in the water. Sure, they may only travel around the pond, but when you’re an island and the pond is your world, the other side must seem pretty exciting.