Transitioning from the grey stone and solemn silence of the
Shrine of Remembrance, I crossed Birdwood Avenue and found myself stepping into the lush, calming embrace of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Spanning over 38 hectares, it's more than just a park. It's a living museum that offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.
---
AUS: Royal Botanic Gardens <YOU ARE HERE!>
AUS: Melbourne Downtown
AUS: Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Tour
... (more to come!)
Charles Joseph La Trobe was the first Lieutenant-Governor of the colony of Victoria, a key figure in the early development of Melbourne and the establishment of the garden.
 |
| You can grab some food and drinks in front of the visitor centre. |
 |
| The visitor centre is located at the western end of the garden. |
Established in 1846, the garden was originally a swampy marshland before being transformed into a picturesque landscape.
 |
| Animal topiary sculptures are seen near the entrance to the Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden. |
 |
| It's a tree species native to South America. |
The National Herbarium of Victoria is the oldest scientific institution in the region. It's generally not open to the public for casual walk-in visits, but it does arrange guided tours once in a while.
 |
| It houses over 1.5 million specimens. |
 |
| What's Australia without eucalyptus? |
The garden hosts over 8,500 species from across the globe.
 |
Dating back to 1888, that heritage building served as the administrative hub.
|
 |
| I definitely need more time to slow down and pause to smell the flowers in life. |
 |
| The fruits of slender palm lily are edible, but are pretty much unpalatable. |
There's one glasshouse that's accessible to the public.
 |
| The tropical warmth inside the glasshouse is a nice respite from the crisp chill of the winter wind outside. |
 |
| In Polynesian traditions, Ti plant is considered sacred and is believed to ward off evil spirits. |
Without reading about it beforehand, I was curious about Guilfoyle’s Volcano and so I was headed there to see it for myself.
 |
| Tanderrum is an aboriginal ceremony to welcome visitors. The term is seen on the pink signages around the garden. |
 |
| A young Canary Island date palm can eventually grow up to 20 m in height. |
Guilfoyle’s Volcano isn't actually a man-made volcano, but its design mimics a dormant volcano with sloping sides rising around a central crater-like basin.
 |
| A wooden boardwalk with a gentle slope spirals up to the top, making it wheelchair-friendly. |
 |
| The crater is a pond that recycles stormwater for irrigation. |
Here are more drought-resistant species.
 |
| It's called Medusa's Head because of the many serpent-like stems that radiate outward. |
 |
| It has an otherworldly look, hasn't it? |
My feet eventually led me to a pleasant open space where it was easy to clear my mind and simply zone out for a while.
 |
| Did you know that those are colloquially called lobster bush? |
The Terrace is a popular dining spot near Ornamental Lake.
 |
| Free for well-behaved dogs, but what about those that aren’t? |
Long before the Ornamental Lake was named, it was known as Tromgin Billabong, a place where local aboriginal people would gather eels.
 |
| Punting is a seasonal activity available from September to May. |
 |
| Before Europeans reached Australia, it was believed that all swans were white. |
Here's a fun fact: Sir Edmund Barton, the first Prime Minister of Australia, chose Royal Botanic Gardens as his wedding venue in 1877.
 |
| Seeing those instantly reminded me of some popsicle gummies I used to have as a child. |
 |
| There's a small section dedicated to collections from southern China. |
 |
| "Just dance, gonna be okay, da da doo-doo-mmm~" |
A structure called Temple of the Winds was built in 1901, serving as a memorial to Charles Joseph La Trobe.
I spent about two hours wandering without a pre-planned route, contented with getting myself lost in the massive garden.
Comments
Post a Comment