As I navigate through some major transitions in life, fortunately, none of them tragic - career shift, milestone birthday, transient accommodation etc, I’ve been having some big thoughts and feelings. I’ll probably chicken out from sharing them on here and save them for a safe journal that will never be read. I did take some photos today that I wanted to share so I’ll start with those and see where we end up.
I went to Maranoa Botanic Gardens in Balwyn, Victoria. I needed to get myself into some nature. My dear friend Bryce Dunkley introduced me to these gardens many years ago and we visited them a few times together. He would laugh at how excited I would get over a rain drop on a banksia. They’re my kind of diamonds, I would say.
I miss Bryce. I walked into the garden and started talking to him. I shed a few tears and remembered conversations we’d had. I’m not really very woo woo but I felt him when I looked at a large pine tree in the distance. Tall and strong.
The gardens are all Australian natives. And even in the middle of winter, there’s plenty of beauty to be found.
When the world gets overwhelming, and my tired brain starts to shut down, the marvel of nature makes me feel like a kid again. Full of awe and wonder.
Just a note that if you plan to head to this little pocket of wonder in the middle of suburbia, it doesn’t open until 10 on the weekend (7.30am on weekdays).
Maranoa Botanic Gardens Highly recommended.
I’ll be back soon once my head gets back in the game of metadata and website formatting and a tonne of other technical stuff.
Cheers
Deb