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This sabbatical travel made possible through the
generous support of the Rice Family Foundation.

Werribee Gardens - South Werribee, Australia
Because of overflow crowds in Melbourne proper,
we ended up staying our first days in Australia some
25 miles south of the city center.  However, much to
our delight, the hotel sat next to Werribee Gardens.
The first set of photos were taken at the gardens.

Aracuaria bidwilli

This is one of many Bunya Bunay found in Werribee Gardens southwest of Melbourne.

Brachychiton acerifolia

This specimen is said to bloom so heavily they rope off the area to keep the spectators back during the blooming period.

Eucalyptus citriodora

Three specimens, planted near one another, are outstanding specimens of one of our most common Eucalypts, and provide a citrus fragrance as you enter the area.

Pinus canariensis

One of several large specimens of the Canary Island Pine at Werribee Gardens - South Werribee Australia

Color Beds

A large circular color bed is a signature of the Werribee Gardens. Looking east at sunrise.

Tecomaria capensis

A good specimen of Cape Honeysuckle.

The Mansion at Werribee Gardens - South Werribee Australia

Sunrise with sculpture in foreground.

Sunrise At Werribee

Looking out from the Mansion to the garden.

Morning Sky

The Mansion overlooking the Gardens at Werribee

Unfurling Fibronacci

During our stay in Werribee they were holding a national sculpture competition. I have included photos of some of the more than two dozen entries.

Those wild Australians..aka Torso 2003

Another of the sculptures on display.

Dangerous Wildlife Down Under

"Psycho Killer" sculpture on display at Werribee Gardens - South Werribee Australia

Early Turf Aerator

Wire sculpture at Werribee Gardens

Royal Botanic Gardens - Melbourne, Australia
On our second day in Australia, we took up the challenge of driving
into downtown Melbourne, a city of over a million people with trolleys
traversing down the middle of nearly every street.  We did this while driving
on the opposite side of the road, but we, our rental car, and Melbourne,
survived intact.  Once in Melbourne we spent most of the day at the Melbourne
Royal Botanic Garden, one of the oldest in Australia.  Probably the most
surprising part was the number of plants from the US that were planted
in the 1800s.  Below are a few of the photos from the Royal Botanic Garden of
Melbourne.
 

Entering the Garden

Can you believe how white those legs are? It is the end of their summer here, so we definately stand out as tourists. Not only do we lack a tan but they all think WE have an accent.

Australian version of an English color border.

Oringinally planted with plants common to England, it was later replanted to plants better adapted to the hotter, dryer, Australian climate.

Castanospermum australe

The Black Bean Tree of Australia

Castanospermum australe

This Black Bean is a native of Australia and produces a large pod.

Castanospermum australe - Fruit & Leaf

A member of the Fabaceae, the pod is a hard and thick.

Cork from Quercus suber

This example is from bark taken from a Cork Oak from which the bark had been previously harvested. Note the smoother bark. While not native to Australia there were several large specimen in the garden.

Cupressus macrocarpa

This Monterey Cypress was over 60 feet in height and a beautiful specimen. The Monterey Cypress, along with the variegated cultivar, are common in the Melbourne area.

Erythrina balkei

This flower spike is about 2 feet long.

Erythrina blakei

This specimen was burried in with several other plants making a photo of the entire plant impractical. The flowers, however, show the potential.

Erythrina crista galli

This Cockspur Coral tree was a very old specimen. The next photo will show the deeply furrowed bark.

Erythrina crista galli

Bark of mature specimen.

Jubaea chilensis

This Chilean Wine Palm dwarfs the fine specimen at the Heritage of Americas Museum on campus. The age of this is unknown but probalbly dates to the late 1800s.

Melaleuca linariifolia

Called by locals here, Snow in Summer for its white blooms covering the upper sides of the branches during their summer months.

Pinus patula

This native of Mexico seems to be thriving in the Melbourne climate.

Pinus patula

This close-up of the needles shows their soft appearance and weeping habit.