Located immediately outside the Wooloomooloo Gates to the Royal Botanic Gardens on Mrs Macquarie's Drive, is this simplest of fountains. The simplicity attracted, before the geometry magnetised.
The bird is a White Ibis, endemic to this city for the last decade of drought, and, I fear, never to be banish-ed. During the drought, the Trustees determined to re-orient some of their plantings to encourage domestic gardeners away from northern hemisphere yearnings, and to open their eyes to the beauty (and wisdom) of gardening with less moisture. During this period, this 1873 entry-way was relandscaped.
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Autumn of the Arts in our Gardens
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20 comments:
Julie, the three photos together give a full perspective of this beautiful scene. The last shot is priceless! I assume that there is something which has captured the ibis' attention.
Bises,
G
Lovely series, Julie. I guess the ibis is fishing in the pond, not trying to take a shower in this particular fountain.
I love the xeriscaping. Excellent idea in an area prone to drought. Now they have to get rid of all that lawn, a real water-hog, but people are always reluctant to remove lawns because they're so nice to sit on.
-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Simply beautiful! I love that last picture with the ibis.
I've walked past this gate many times - thanks for the lovely photos which give a fresh approach to it.
Your angles make the simple look quite brilliant. Can't say I've taken much notice of this one before. I'll have to make sure I do next time I walk past.
The angles and clean lines really "make" this fountain. Quite lovely!
Agree with Kate - the angles make this - cool & clear.
No tak u was lato to i ptaszek przyszedł pić.
Fantastic photo of the Ibis going for a quick dip and the water resisting gravity :-).
And Chwile, our Polish friend, says "Well, summer is with you and the bird came to drink'.
Thank you, Chwile.
Good choice. This is another one I didn't even think of. I've walked past it heaps of times and its never made much impression on me.
A very nice set of photos. The design is simple and geometric, but it is so well tended and peaceful.
Simple but just beautiful Julie. The cactus seems so out of place there but what wonderful planning!
V
I have been to the cactus gardens but have never noticed these fountains, very Moorish. The ibis is great.
Love the shot. No surprise from you that it's good. It works beautifully. And I adore that stunning entrance.
Beautifully, lovingly photographed and with your knack of storytelling, priceless indeed!
I know and love this fountain though I guess I think of it more as a pond. It's because it is as my favourite entrance to the gardens. I am not so keen on the one with orange tiles at the entrance on the city side.
As others have commented the angle and low shot make your interpretation quite special.
Always interesting to get a history lesson with the photos.
wonderfully wet geometry.
It's a handsome looking entrance to the Gardens. Interesting to know about the newer landscaping.
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