Happy Leap Day

29 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by RuthsArc in photography

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

animals, art, Australia

Today’s prompt for my Photo A Day challenge is “leap”. These fellas seemed ideal.

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These sculptures have such character. A wonderful surprise that we discovered on a walk around Perth the other week.

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Are you doing anything special with the extra day this year?

I’m using the hours to catch up on photo admin, photo editing tools, adding a watermark to my images and generally learning about Lightroom.

I’m interested to hear your comments about Lightroom, Flickr, Instagram or other photo tools and how you balance the necessary admin.

Changing Seasons – February – a long hot summer

28 Sunday Feb 2016

Posted by RuthsArc in one with nature, photography

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

beach, flowers, seasons

My head knows that the seasons here in Tasmania are back to front from my UK background. So I’m posting this monthly series to record the changing seasons and to encourage my mind to grasp this southern hemisphere reality.

Life here in February continues to revolve around the beach and barefoot walks.

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As schools are back for a new academic year, the beaches are busy in the evenings and weekends with families swimming, paddling, sailing, enjoying games and picnics.

Fresh local produce at the farmer’s market has changed. Cherries and raspberries are long gone, stoned fruit are coming to and end as we approach the beginning of the apple and pear harvest.

The countryside and paddocks are parched. Water reserves are low. Rain is desperately needed. Bush fires continue to burn.

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A mix of flowers are in bloom.

Flowering gum are one of my local favourites.

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Now at the end of February, there are hints of autumn.

At the end of January and the beginning of this month, the five planets of Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury aligned in the pre dawn sky, for the first time in a decade. The waxing moon moved danced amongst the planets, moving position each night. I didn’t get any photos but I was happy to get up on a few occasions to observe this rare event in the night sky.

The days are drawing in. I don’t have to get up so early to capture the sunrise. The recent full moon provided some lovely images rising over the Derwent River.

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Weekly photo challenge – State of Mind

27 Saturday Feb 2016

Posted by RuthsArc in weekly photo challenge

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

art, emotography

This week’s photo challenge links in with Claudette’s “emotion behind the photograph”.

This photo evoked admiration.

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Admiration of the art.

Admiration of the location, which enhanced the sculpture.

But also admiration of the early settlers that the art depicted. Ordinary people travelling to an unknown country, taking everything with them to start a new life.

State of Mind

Perth – Kings Park

26 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by RuthsArc in days out

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Australia, flowers, photos, trees

One of the gems of Perth in Western Australia is Kings Park and the Botanical Gardens.

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The area is a combination of parkland, natural bush land and cultivated gardens. On Mount Eliza, it overlooks the city and the river with stunning views. It is one of the largest inner city parks in the world.

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Many of the roads are arranged in impressive tree lined avenues. “Honour Avenues” planted almost a hundred years ago, to remember and commemorate the men and women who died in the First World War and subsequent wars. Individual plaques mark each tree.

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An imposing war memorial has a prominent position in the park. The ANZAC Day dawn service must be a extraordinary experience in this location.

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Nearby there is a memorial wall to the victims, survivors and helpers of the 2002 Bali bombings.

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There are paths thorough water gardens and this Federation Bridge walkway. Lots of benches to sit on and enjoy the scenery. A sculpture memorial to the Pioneer Women of the region stand amongst fountains.

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Boards provide information on the plants and the indigenous history of the land.

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There are various trees but this huge Morton Bay Fig tree stood out, along with this Dragon Tree which was recently moved to the park and the weird looking grass trees.

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As well as the expected Aussie birds, we saw lots of black cockatoos. I didn’t get photos of them so here’s a picture from one of the info boards.

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The DNA Tower is a double staircase, a popular spot for those exercising in the park. Views across the tree tops can be seen from the top platform.

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Within the grounds there are cafes with outdoor seating areas, an enticing gift shop and an Aboriginal Art Gallery. Kings Park was an ideal place to spend our last few hours in Western Australia.

My daughter S~E and I had a lovely holiday, leaving our husbands at home. The trip was an interesting mix of city, river, parks and open spaces, of beaches, island and dessert. The city was easy to get around, by train, free city loop bus service and in a hire car.

It ticked a “bucket list” item for us both, although UK born we have now been to every state and territory in Australia, more than our Aussie born husbands have achieved.

Summer doors

25 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by RuthsArc in one with nature, weekly photo challenge

≈ 25 Comments

Tags

Australia, beach, doors, photos

It’s summer in this great southern land. Colourful beach huts, views of the beach and clear blue skies reflect recent summer days.

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As a contrast, in a few months, Tasmania will be back in winter.

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One of the reasons we chose to move here was the fact that it has four seasons. I love the changes, the autumn colours as the days shorten, the joy of new life as winter fades.

I combining a couple of blog challenges with this post. Norm’s Thursday Door and this week’s photo challenge Seasons

Rottnest Island

24 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by RuthsArc in days out

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Australia, photos

Rottnest Island is 18km’s off shore from Freemantle. It is famous for it’s native quokka. These little marsupials are curious and used to the tourists.

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It is a popular holiday destination in a sub tropical climate. A resident population of just 100 swells to 15,000 in peak season with day trippers and holidaymakers.

With an area of just 19 square kilometres, everyone walks or rides bicycles to get around. Or uses a boat.

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The island has a chequered history as an aboriginal prison, boy’s reformatory, internment camp with several buildings remaining from these periods.

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Freemantle

24 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by RuthsArc in days out

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Australia, photos

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Freemantle is a delightful city just south of Perth, where the Swan River meets the Indian Ocean.

Although it is a busy modern day port, it has beaches, yacht harbours and the city retains a unique character with many heritage buildings. European colonists settled here before exploring up river and inland.

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19th century buildings line the main streets. Some remain as shops, hotels and offices.

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Others have new uses such as a museum in old military buildings or art gallery in the old kerosene store.

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A round look tower from 1831 still has prominence overlooking the city and coastline. Freemantle prison is World Heritage listed.

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It is an easy place to walk around, to explore. We took the train down from Perth before getting the ferry across to Rottnest Island.

The Pinnacles

23 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by RuthsArc in days out, one with nature

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

Australia, photos

The Pinnacles in Western Australia, are one of the country’s natural wonders.

Thousands of limestone pillars rise from golden sand dunes in the midst of heathland. The pillars rise up to four meters tall, some sharp edged and jagged, others more like tombstones.

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A four kilometre drive has been marked out in the sand, a one way track with parking bays, allowing visitors to meander amongst the pillars. A Discovery Centre provides information about the pinnacles, the landscape and inhabitants.

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This fascinating region of Nambung National Park is just two hundred kilometres north of Perth, well worth a day trip.

The small town of Lancelin on the coast is ideal for a lunch stop and a walk along the beach to watch kite surfers and where dune surfing occurs on the white sands .

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Perth

22 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by RuthsArc in days out

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

Australia, photos

The capital of Western Australia is a city of contrasts. New buildings amongst the old. High rise central business district surrounded by low level suburbs. Green sub tropical gardens and bush land, edged by the blue turquoise of the Indian Ocean.

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The first European colonists arrived in 1829 and settled a few miles inland on the Swan River. Perth does not have the convict origins of Sydney or Hobart although Western Australia opened to convicts in 1850 when farmers and businessmen required cheap labour. The city has been influenced by the gold rush of the 1890’s and the mining boom of recent decades.

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