September 1, 2015 … allegedly, the beginning of spring

Today’s reality, spring or not, is an Easterly gale with lot’s of rain.

I didn’t obtain the technical details of any of the orchids but I did spend a lot of time focus stacking to ensure that the blooms were sharp front to back.

I had to go into town yesterday to buy a new external hard drive. I enjoyed a coffee with my younger daughter while I was there and then went up to the botanical gardens. In the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens, the roses had all been savagely pruned, and the reward will no doubt come in its due season. But black earth and sharp thorns were not an attractive proposition, so I went into the warmth and shelter of the Begonia House. Though begonias have always been a significant feature in the temperate wing, the orchids were putting on a magnificent display.

An orchid, or perhaps a triffid

These are tropical orchids, since the native ones are shy and retiring, mostly green, quite small and blend in with the bush where they live. Orchids always seem to present themselves in the form oaf a ravenous alien invader from space.

An orchid cluster

Individually or in clusters they brought beauty and colour to the drab day outside.

Water lilies. There are floating signs that prohibit touching the goldfish in the pond. I had to wait for it to drift out of view.

Along in the warm and steamy tropical wing, water lilies attracted me.

And the rain is heavy at my window.