Brisbane, QLD


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

THE OLD GARDENS

After we left the Goodwill Bridge, we continued on our walk along the river edge into the old City Botanical Gardens. The gardens were first established in 1825 by convicts who grew food crops for the prison colony. Later, in 1855, it became a botanical garden where Charles Frazer experimented with adapting imported plants to this new environment. Due to the gardens being flooded nine times and plants washed away, a new Botanical Garden was established at Mt Coot-tha on the higher side of the city.
Riverside walk

There were lovely plants along the walkway to the gardens even though it was all flooded here in January.
ginger

We turned off the main path and continued along the boardwalk through the mangrove trees.

An ibis looking for a meal.
Mangrove trees provide fish with a breeding ground, birds with a feeding ground and the trees prevent erosion. The spikes are pneumatophores or aerating roots which are sent up from the main root. They collect oxygen for the plant which has its roots mostly covered by water.

We continued walking until we.....

...finally entered the botanical gardens. Soon we needed a rest and a snack. We were lucky to find an empty bench where we gobbled down some eggs, apples, cheese and Easter buns. It was beautiful sitting under the huge trees. The garden has very old trees, rainforest trees and exotic plants, but alas someone was a bit tired and didn't want to go on and see more plants. It did look like rain and we had a long walk back to the car.

So we headed back to the bridge and South Bank where our car was parked. This time we took the main path higher above the river.

What is this? I think it is an Autumn leaf, we don't have many deciduous trees in Brisbane but I think I found one here in the gardens.

26 comments:

  1. Such a lovely outing, Diane. I needed a good leg stretch :) How clever of you to have packed a picnic snack. I was just feeling like eating a boiled egg myself :)

    I don't know what that beautiful red leaf is. I did enjoy seeing the mangroves and other well-established old trees. Over all, the garden looked well tended and it was not apparent that it had been flooded!

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  2. Ah, what a lovely stroll through the gardens, Diane. It all looks so lush and well-kept. Have a great day. Jo

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  3. Must be a nice place to walk through !

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  4. I would love to stroll along that boardwalk.

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  5. I never think of Australia being so tropical - the mangrove looks a fascinating plant.

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  6. I love all those gigantic trees! The boardwalk through the mangrove trees would be amazing to walk I think. It's so good to see the pretty blooms and color breaking through despite the horrible flood.

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  7. I like this a lot, what a beautiful place to relax the mind and enjoy a nice long walk.

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  8. A lovely walk in the gardens, you have so different trees and plants than in our country. Love to see them.

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  9. Beautiful stroll - I love the boardwalk with it's dappled light.

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  10. I would love to go for such a stroll the photos are just wonderful.

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  11. Diane, the garden is lovely. I am so glad to see everything making a comeback after the terrible floods you had earlier in the year. I did not know that Mangrove trees had spikes.... so cool.

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  12. When looking at the beautiful flowers, it's hard to believe that the area along the river was flooded in January. Someone has done a marvelous job restoring the gardens. Thanks for taking us along with you on your walk.

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  13. So beautiful pictures, Dianne!
    They were enough to spread a good amount of sunshine in my day.

    Happy Thursday!

    Betty

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  14. it continues to amaze me that it feels like i am looking at Florida when i view your photos. that boardwalk and all the flowers are just what i see when i walk the boardwalk. so beautiful. interesting about the convicts.

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  15. You found some lovely places on your walk through the Botanical gardens Diane. I think the red leaves would make such a lovely print on a piece of fabric. You must be enjoying your new camera!

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  16. Interesting history and great photos. I never knew convicts were such good gardeners? :-)

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  17. Thanks for the lovely walk and views of those beautiful gardens.

    Loved the photos too - the dappled shade along the boardwalks especially.

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  18. I love the ginger plant. I tried growing one inside without success. The botanical gardens look so lush and beautiful!

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  19. HI Diane, I'm trying to catch up... Have had a rough week--with all of the storms here.

    I love that walk you all made --and it's hard to believe that that area was flooded in January. They did a great job of cleaning it up... GORGEOUS... Loved it. Thanks for taking us along.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  20. Nice spot. I like the last photo very much - what stunning colours.

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  21. A pleasant walk, I wonder what the plant is? I've been flat out craming a weeks work in to a short week so a bit behind with my favourite blogs.

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  22. Beautiful River walk! You plant photographs just get better and better. Thanks for sharing. Now I need to go out and move my legs for real (although the virtual walk was prettier than what I have time for today!)

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  23. Hi Diane! Finally some time to stop by...
    The last time I was in Bribane I remember walking by the Riverside and visiting the Garden! Beautiful spot...
    Have a superb weekend!!

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  24. Soory! My daughter came here and was using this computer. That's why my comment came out as Diana's... ;)

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  25. Wonderful pictures Diane. It's nice to see some green for a change;)

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  26. Diane, what a lovely place for a walk. the mangrove area would be one of my favorite parts. Wonderful photos.

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