Mainly Cacti in Botanic Gardens

On the afternoon of Sunday 8 December we  decided to go for a walk to the nearest stretch of the Yarra.  For non-Australian readers this watercourse calls to mind a quote by Mark Twain  "too thick to drink, too thin to plough" (which I have seen pointed at many US rivers including the Missouri). As a result it is sometimes known as the river that flows upside-down, with the mud on top.

The route was to cross Fawkner Park to Park St and up to Domain Rd from where we would follow our noses to the River.  

A seasonal addition had been made to one of the old houses on Park St!
At the top of Park St we noticed this advert for an eatery for the first time.
It turned out the route went along Anderson St, beside the Botanic Gardens.  It seems they had a catus garden in that area.
An aloe was an interesting sight.
We entered the garden and found a close up of the flowers of the Aloe - actually Mescal (Agave parryi).
They seemed popular with the Rainbow Lorikeets.
This is the Torch Cactus (Echinopsis spachiana).

This mural was in front of the Tecoma Gate ....
... through which we entered the Gardens.
Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) had been planted in numbers and was flowering well.

I didn't get the name of this red jobbie.

The feature decorated by the cacti and aloes was a reservoir installed by William Guilfoyle, the second Director of the Gardens (following von Mueller).  It was intended to represent a volcanic cone and designated Guilfoyle's Volcano.  I have been unable to find any material on line about watering the garden, but from boards around the volcano it seems to have been a struggle until they were joined to the reticulated system.
A water plant in the volcano.
This seemed to be a form of yucca.
On leaving the Gardens we continued down Anderson St, passing Melbourne Girls Grammar School with an impressive Chapel and this very interesting modern building.  The motto of the school according to their coat of arms is Nisi Dominus Frustra which I thought meant "Don't frustrate God" but apparently means "Without God all is in vain".  It's a shortened version of a line from Psalm 127: "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain"
An interesting chimney a little further down the street.
From St Leonards Court we could see this art in a house being (extensively) renovated.  If it isn't by Dale Chihuly it's by someone who is a fan of his!
After looking at the Morell Bridge - a very significant bit of engineering heritage - we walked a bit along the River.  There were many picnic tables all occupied by punters having Christmassy gatherings
Then back into the standard Gardens to walk back home.



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