Wittunga Botanic Gardens Part 2
On our recent visit to Wittunga Botanic Gardens in the Adelaide Hills I was on the lookout for both birds and flowers. The bird sightings I have dealt with on my birding blog. Since buying my digital camera last year I have had a renewed interest in photography and have recently added many photos on the family photo gallery. I attended a photography course at the Gluepot Bird Reserve soon after purchasing the camera.
Flowers in the Wittunga Botanic Gardens
The course I attended gave me many valuable hints about looking at subjects in a different light. The facilitator, professional photographer Craig Ingram, described photography as “painting with light”. Just this little snippet gave me a whole new way of looking at the subjects I try to photograph. I now see my subjects in an entirely new light – pun intended.
Photos of plants like the one above can be enhanced many times by shifting one’s perspective, angle of shooting and the angle of the sunlight falling on the flowers. The trunks of trees fascinate me, with their myriads of colours, textures, shapes and forms. Putting all these elements together can result in some pleasing shots.
Wittunga Botanic Gardens Part 1
Last week we had to travel to our capital city Adelaide, about an hour’s drive from home. On our way home we took a slight detour and visited the Wittunga Botanic Gardens near Blackwood in the Adelaide Hills. It had been quite a few yars since our last visit.
Wittunga Botanic Gardens
While this garden is set in the Adelaide Hills, it is now surrounded by suburbia, with houses on two sides, a transport corridor on another (complete with passenger trains every few minutes) and a large school on the other side. The main access is by means of a busy four lane highway. Despite being hemmed in on all sides, the park is surprisingly peaceful. The gardens have been established for many years and have been planted around existing old growth eucalypts. In the middle an artificial lake provides a beautiful water feature.
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Australia Day
January 26th is celebrated throughout Australia as our National Day. It was on this day in 1788 that this new country was founded by the first European settlers to arrive here. I thought I’d share a few images of things that are quintessentially Australian as my way of celebrating Australia day, and sharing something of our country with others.
Western Grey Kangaroo
Australia is known for its wonderful wildlife. The kangaroo would have to be one of the most recognisable members of our fauna. The cuddly look of the Koala would also be recognised world wide.
Koala and Magpie
Australia is also known for its amazing array of plants and wildflowers. Probably the most easily recognised tree would be the eucalypt (or gum) tree. There are hundreds of different species; I will show only one here. This scene, taken in the mid north farming area of South Australia, is typical of many parts of our land.
Balaklava Plains near Blyth South Australia
Of our stunning array of wildflowers, the banksia is easily recognised by many Australians. These magnificent plants give an amazing display when in full flower. The birds go crazy feeding on the nectar and seeds they produce. Photographers, artists and gardeners go equally crazy over them
Banksia flower
Now we turn to the birds. With about 800 species Australia is a plentiful land for the bird lover. Our vast range of parrots and honeyeaters, blue wrens and emus, waterfowl, waders, bush birds and sea birds attract birders from the world over. I’ve just chosen several to feature here.
Mallee Ringneck Parrot
Australia has so many beautiful birds it is hard just to show only two. Many more are featured in my photo gallery here.
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
Sydney Opera House
Parks and Gardens
1 Comment »10th July, 2006; Category:
My wife and I enjoy visiting parks and gardens. I enjoy this type of travel because parks and gardens usually seem to have a good number of birds for me to watch and photograph. My wife enjoys spending time in parks and gardens because she loves any kinds of plants but especially Australian Native Plants. She has a small nursery where she grows thousands of plants native to our wonderful land.
Both of us enjoy photography too, and parks and gardens are great places to hone one’s photographic skills. We both enjoy showing the world our photos and love of flowers through our respective blogs (see links section).
Below I have listed the posts on this blog where I have featured parks and gardens, both private and public.
Links to Articles on Parks and Gardens
To access these pages, just click on the title below:
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens part 2
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens
A beautiful part of the Adelaide Hills near the capital city of South Australia is the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens. On several recent visits I have taken quite a few photos which I am featuring here on my travel bog.
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens
This garden is a part of the very historic Adelaide Botanic Gardens which are within ten minutes easy walk from the Adelaide CBD. A third section of the gardens is at Wittunga in another section of the Adelaide Hills.
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens
To see more photos of this park and other places I have been visit my photo gallery here.