Variegated rose-scented geranium
My variegated rose-scented geranium which won a ribbon at the 2015 geranium and pelargonium show in the Hills District of Sydney. This geranium dates back to the 1940s and 1950s when my grandmother would propagate and grow geraniums from cuttings she "acquired" from all over Melbourne, including the Treasury Gardens in the city, as well as the historic garden of 'Ripponlea' at Elsternwick. She would propagate, grow and then show her geraniums and pelargoniums at the Royal Melbourne Show. This particular geranium has won its prize because of the variegation of colour on the petals, but also because it has the fragrance of a rose - or, at least, a delicate version of this. It now lives in the garden here at Cherrybrook, in Sydney. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8. L 100mm macro lens.
Tears of a firefighter
My 'Firefighter' hybrid tea-rose has arrived! 'Firefighter' is so very special. It was named 'Firefighter' to honour the Firefighters who lost their lives on 11th September, 2001. I was waiting for it to bloom more than any other flower, or rose, here at Cherrybrook, in Sydney, in 2020. When I look at this rose, with its fire-engine red colour, I will reflect upon the vision that I have in my mind, even after so many years, of seeing those brave firefighters going into those twin towers - to their doom. Just devastating. ‘Firefighter’ was bred by Joseph Orard, in France, in 1998 and was introduced into the United States by Edmund’s Roses in 2005 as “Firefighter” and into Australia by Swane’s Nurseries in 2009. My 'Firefighter' unfurled today, Thursday 15th October, 2020. I photographed 'Firefighter' in the late afternoon after a thunderstorm swept across the Hills District of Sydney. Quite symbolic I thought. This is a brand new rose for me - it is very similar in colour, texture and fragrance to 'Mister Lincoln' (my favourite all time rose). This is the first 'Firefighter' for Spring, 2020. It is especially fragrant and is a rich dark red rose, although it is tagged as 'fire-engine red" by the growers. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8. L 100mm lens
Crimson Princess
'Crimson Princess' hybrid tea-rose at the Swanes Garden Nursery, in their rose garden, today - Wednesday 10th June, 2020. Light rain was falling over the Hills District of Sydney but nevertheless I ventured out to Swanes on Galston Road, Dural, to purchase a new standard rose, but also to view the rose gardens at the front of the nursery.
Faded treasure
My pink 'Queen Elizabeth' hybrid tea rose, at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, Baulkham Hills, north-western Sydney. This variety of hybrid tea rose is very highly awarded, having won the AARS (All American Rose Selection Award) in 1955, ARS (American Rose Society) Gold Medal in 1957 and the prestigious Golden Rose of The Hague in 1968. It was inducted into the World Rose Hall of Fame in 1979. And, of-course, it now grows in the Hills District of Sydney!! My Canon EOS 60D and a Canon 100mm macro lens, together with some editing voodoo magic in the room of light!!
'Vivien Leigh' pink variegated geranium
My 'Vivien Leigh' pink variegated zonal geranium, acquired from the Hills District geranium show and exhibition, held at Ellerman Park, in Round Corner (Dural), north-western Sydney, during pre-Covid times. This variegated geranium has been grown since 1951 when Vivien Leigh starred in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and was an acclaimed British actress. In the 1950s this geranium won awards for its beauty, not unlike Vivien Leigh who was lauded for her beauty. The original grower of this geranium was a mega Vivien Leigh fan, besotted by her beauty and yet also aware of the bipolar that she suffered from, which made her notoriously difficult to work with. He argued that the noted, but uniform, variegation of the petals represented the ironic beauty of a person who suffered sporadically from an illness that was, at that time, misunderstood. She was nevertheless the ultimate star of the iconic film: 'Gone With The Wind'. Tragically she died in 1967, aged only 53, due to tuberculosis. But this variegated pink zonal geranium continues on and is still grown today in many parts of the world. One little part of Vivien's memory thus rests here in Cherrybrook, in Sydney. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8. L 100mm macro lens.
Heavenly Gold
'Heavenly Gold' hybrid tea rose at Swanes Garden Nursery, in the rose garden, Galston Road, Dural, northwestern Sydney. Photographed as light rain fell across the Hills District of Sydney on Wednesday 10th June, 2020. Samsung Galaxy S20+ mobile phone camera.
Historic Central railway station (1855), Sydney, Australia
Central railway station (1855) is a heritage-listed Australian railway station located at the southern end of the Sydney central business district in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales. The station is the largest and busiest railway station in New South Wales and serves as a major transport interchange for NSW TrainLink inter-city rail services, Sydney Trains commuter rail services, Sydney light rail services, State Transit bus services and private coach transport services. Often abbreviated as Central or Central station, the station is also known as Sydney Terminal (especially the older, intercity section). The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. It recorded 85.4 million passenger movements in 2018. Central station occupies a large city block separating Haymarket, Surry Hills and the central business district, bounded by Railway Square and Pitt Street in the west, Eddy Avenue in the north, Elizabeth Street in the east and the Devonshire Street Tunnel in the south. Parts of the station and marshalling yards extend as far south as Cleveland Street, and are located on the site of the former Devonshire Street Cemetery. z2 576
Zonal Pink Geranium
My new zonal pink geranium from the Geranium Cottage, Old Northern Road, Middle Dural (northern Sydney). Photographed with my new Canon 5D Mk IV and its Canon 100mm macro lens, on a ridiculously warm and sunny winter's day here in the Hills District of Sydney.
Voodoo
'Voodoo' hybrid tea rose at Swanes Garden Nursery, Galston Road, Dural (Hills District of Sydney), in the rose garden at the front of the nursery. Photographed in the rain yesterday, Wednesday 10th June 2020, with my Samsung Galaxy S20+ mobile phone camera. Voodoo is a peachy-orange hybrid tea-rose. It will cast a spell over you. Listen to "Voodoo" by the Neville Brothers. www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-qFlwBTYUU
Geranium Cottage
The Geranium Cottage! 828 Old Northern Road, Middle Dural, on the rural northwestern outskirts of Sydney. My favourite destination in the Hills District of Sydney!! The nursery attached to this old farmhouse has one of the widest selections of geraniums in Australia. It is one of the best places in Sydney to see and buy geraniums of all types!! Evidence of their prowess is the fact that they have the contract to supply all of the Bunnings stores around Australia with geraniums - and that is super big. Bunnings, of-course, is such a massive hardware and nursery chain. It will soon be taking over the world along with Google, Microsoft, Apple and Samsung - lol But getting back to the cottage - it is very quaint and, alongside the cottage, is a magical cafe - the Geranium Cafe - which is a treat to visit for scones, tea or coffee, lemon tarts, the works!! And then there is the huge atrium with delicious geraniums for sale. Just try to leave the Geranium Cottage without taking at least one home!! My Samsung Galaxy S20+ mobile phone camera
Dream Pop
A dark pink poppy in the late afternoon sun at the Chanticleer Gardens, located at 4 Henstock Road, Arcadia, in the Hills District of northern Sydney. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV with the Canon 24-105mm lens
Jurassic Park
Our very own Jurassic Park here today at the Bebeah Gardens, Mount Wilson, in the Blue Mountains. These gardens have armies of flowering azaleas, as well as giant, prehistoric tree ferns and ancient pink and purple rhododendrons. These gardens are located at No. 60 'The Avenue' at Mount Wilson. Today, Saturday 10th October, 2020, they held an 'Open Garden'. I made the trek up from Sydney - about 100 minutes in the car from the Hills District - through the Hawkesbury Valley, and then along the Bell's Line of Road. Mount Wilson had six different gardens open today!! I managed to see two of them, Bebeah and Windyridge. So I will go back tomorrow to see Nooroo, Yengo, Breenhold and Wilderstein Gardens. My Samsung Galaxy S20+ mobile phone camera. And when I escape from the dinosaurs I will process the two zillion photographs I took with the Canon 5D Mk IV, and post a few of them!!
Castle Hill metro station
Historical Arthur Whitling Park, an attractive green entrance to the Sydney Metro Northwest Castle Hill Station, features a brand new children’s playground, skylight 'lanterns' and interpretive signage that pays tribute to the original railway line and the Australia Armed Services. Castle Hill Station (opened 2019) is an underground metro station, about 25 metres below ground level, located beneath Arthur Whitling Park, and opposite the Castle Towers Shopping Centre
View from Observatory Hill
Observatory Hill is a quiet park right in the middle of the Rocks/Miller Point in Sydney. f/22 to help have stars from the light point sources. With the bridge to the right, then Luna Park on the water and the North Sydney business district (where I work) on the hill. The foreground is the counterpoint being the historic Rocks district. The Garrison Church (lower right), also known as Holy Trinity in Millers Point, Sydney was the first military church built in colonial Australia. It continues as an active Anglican church, now in a joint parish with St Philip's Church, part of the Diocese of Sydney. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrison_Church_(Sydney) Some history of the park at www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/sydneys-history/people-...
Observatory Hill pano || Sydney
Observatory Hill is a quiet park right in the middle of the Rocks/Miller Point in Sydney. There was a conjunction of Mars/Jupiter and Venus just after sunset. The conjunction was't visible as you can see the weather didn't cooperate. This pano looking north with the bridge to the right, then Luna Park on the water and the North Sydney business district (where I work) on the hill. The foreground is the counterpoint being the historic Rocks district. The Garrison Church (lower right), also known as Holy Trinity in Millers Point, Sydney was the first military church built in colonial Australia. It continues as an active Anglican church, now in a joint parish with St Philip's Church, part of the Diocese of Sydney. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrison_Church_(Sydney) To the left is the Sydney Harbour Control Tower. Not a lot of information online but with the creation of the Barangaroo district, it will be pulled down. Some suggestions were to make it a restaurant or bungee jumping site but to no avail. Some call it "The Pill" as it controls all the shipping berths in Sydney Harbour. The tower has been an 87-metre high landmark at Barangaroo since 1974, when it was installed to control berths in the harbour. It was closed in 2011 when vessel control services were moved to Port Botany. The tower will be replaced with a "interpretive historical display" focusing on maritime history and Millers Point www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-harbour-control-tower-at-barang... Some history of the park at www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/sydneys-history/people-...
Splash of colour across the sky
The Northern Districts includes Macquarie Park, a business suburb home to many international corporations, the northern side of the western reaches of Sydney Harbour, and the largely residential area of the Hills District in the north-west of the city
Dream Pop's girlfriend
In a garden bed at Chanticleer Gardens, Arcadia, and also bathed in the late afternoon sun, I discovered another poppy. She was red. I thought she might make a superb and senuous girlfriend for my dark pink poppy 'Dream Pop'. Together they can go to seed as their time wanes in this amazing garden in the Hills District of Sydney. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8. L 100mm macro lens
The garden beside the tea-room
The garden to the south of the tea-room at Chanticleer Gardens, at Arcadia, in north-western Sydney. These gardens were open to the public last weekend and I went along on Saturday afternoon, 3rd October, 2020. They are located at 4 Henstock Road, Arcadia, in the Hills District of Sydney. The tea-room served English breakfast tea, together with home-made scones (fresh out of the oven) with strawberry jam and cream from the farm. The vast outdoor courtyard is situated underneath wisteria vines, and, on this hot Spring Saturday, was therefore very sheltered from the Sydney sun. It was like being in a scene from Jane Austen's 'Emma' or 'Pride and Prejudice'. The gardens are something like I imagine grand English gardens to look like, with manicured hedges, polished lawns, as well as avenues, archways and walkways through the gardens, statues and formal rose beds, etc. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon 24-105mm lens.
Pastel sunset over Sydney
Epping in located in the Hills District, 18 kilometres to the north-west of the Sydney central business district and harbour. Epping railway station is a junction station on the Northern and Western Line of the Sydney Trains Network, and Sydney Metro Northwest (2019)
Unexpected Opening
Seattle's skyline continues to evolve year after year...after year. This image was captured by means of sheer serendipity. I was on my way home from a photo assignment in the suburbs this same evening, and happened to drive through the Mount Baker neighborhood while en route. The violet clouds above and the silhouetted outline of the Olympic Mountains along the horizon created a pocket of open sky with a predominantly orange hue. The contrast was mesmerizing, so I had to stop Sydney (that's my car's name) and capture the moment before it was gone. Probably the most eye-catching item in the image is the brightly illuminated construction of the city's next skyscraper, The Mark, which will serve as both an office tower and luxury hotel. The Mark will be the 5th tallest building in Seattle upon completion later this year. TIA OFFICIAL WEBSITE / VUE ATYPIQUE / TIA TWITTER / TIA OFFICIAL BLOG / TIA INSTAGRAM
The valley
View of the Jamison Valley, Blue Mountains. Photographed on Monday afternoon, 5th October, 2020, from the Everglades Historic House and Garden, at Leura, in the Blue Mountains. About 90 minutes drive from here in the Hills District of Sydney, via the M2, M7, M4 and then The Great Western Highway from Glenbrook. My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, with the Canon 24-105mm lens
The way
Late afternoon at 'The Way'. Chanticleer Gardens, Arcadia, in the Hills District of Sydney. My Canon 5D Mk IV, with the Canon 24-105mm lens
Chanticleer , Arcadia
The main house at Chanticleer Gardens, Arcadia, in the Hills District of Sydney. Located at 4 Henstock Road, Arcadia, these gardens are sometimes open to the public. Last weekend, on Saturday 3rd October, 2020, I took myself and the Canon 5D along to capture some of the beauty of these amazing gardens. A wonderful bonus was the Devonshire afternoon tea in the courtyard of 'The Tea House'. My Canon 5D Mk IV, with the Canon f 2.8. L 100mm macro lens.
My pastel pink hybrid tea-rose
Hybrid tea-rose at the Roxborough Park Rose Gardens, Baulkham Hills, north-western Sydney (Hills District). Photographed some time ago now with my Canon 60D and a Canon 100mm macro lens. Re-edited today, Wednesday 24th June 2020, adding a little glamour.
Hills District Sunrise.
15666569810_9cf0a3716b_b
300+ 5 STAR REVIEWS
CALL NOW