Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Gardens, St Ives
Wildflower in Ku-ring-gai gardens
A few days ago I shared some photos of wildflowers taken in the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Gardens. Today I am sharing a few more. These gardens are in St Ives just off the Mona Vale Road in the northern parts of the Sydney. On quite a few occasions in recent years my wife and I have visited this lovely spot because it is only about a half hour drive from my son’s home. My wife enjoys seeing what wildflowers are out and I enjoy doing a spot of photography and bird watching. It is also a great place to have a picnic, barbecue or just stroll in the bushland.
Natural bushland
While a small part of the gardens has been planted by the local council and other interest groups, the main part of the gardens consists of natural bushland. This is one of the things I find fascinating about the natural environment in many parts of Sydney. It is comparatively easy to find large sections of natural bushland right next to intensive housing or industrial areas. In many places the natural ruggedness of the bushland does not lend itself easily to building homes, and in other areas large portions have been preserved in national parks for everyone to enjoy.
Wildflowers in Ku-ring-gai gardens
Wildflower in Ku-ring-gai gardens
Mallee country near Mildura
Typical mallee country between Balranald and Mildura
Sydney Trip June 2011
On the second day of our trip home from Sydney earlier this year we stopped at the Malleefowl Rest Area. This is part way between Balranald in far western New South Wales and Mildura in north western Victoria. We were heading to Mildura where we had a cabin booked in one of the caravan parks for the night.
The rest area is set just off the highway in the midst of typical mallee country complete with saltbush, bluebush and spinifex. This open eucalypt scrubland is widespread in these parts of Australia, as well as large tracts of South Australia and Western Australia. I have a strong affinity with this type of bushland because the farm house I grew up on was set in the midst of some mallee scrub. And for the last twenty eight years I’ve had my own piece of mallee bush to live in.
Typical mallee country between Balranald and Mildura
Typical mallee country between Balranald and Mildura