Luckily we were staying in a hotel just across the street from the park during our long weekend away recently, and we therefore had the opportunity to make almost daily visits. It's a massive park with meandering pathways leading to water features, a huge lake, rolling lawns, native gardens and lots of other themed garden spaces.
One of my favourite spots in the Parklands is the 'Spectacle Garden' and I'm going to share some of the shots I took during one of my meanderings when accompanied by my grandchildren, who absolutely love the place too.
There were huge sways of Gomphrena globosa 'Buddy Purple', which I grow myself in small containers out in my courtyard garden. It was fantastic to see these in mass plantings.
I love the texture and form of these lovely flowers.
Now I know I should know the name of this tropical beauty, but I've gone blank. I'm sure someone will help me out.
Thunbergia mysorensis or Lady Slipper Vine was draped over a pergola structure.
There was one that had white wings as well.
These Bat Plants were planted in amongst the stunning Blue Ginger Plant, Dichorisandra thrysiflora.
Further along in the Spectacle Garden, there were huge drifts of Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender', and the effect was just wonderful. This is a plant I adore as it grows so well in our climate and is virtually fuss-free.
Another of my all-time favourites was planted in several spots, including a plant tower.
I have to admit I took so many photos that I can't possibly post them all on this particular post, so I'll have to do Flower Flaunt Friday Parts Two and Three over the coming weeks. Do come back to see more of the fabulous flowers on show right now at this fabulous park.
I'm joining Tootsie for her Fertilizer Friday / Flaunt Your Flowers meme.
I'm also joining Nix's Floral Friday Fotos
Wow! Spectacular photos from this wonderful park, Bernie. Tropical plants have some amazing forms and colours! The massed displays are great.
ReplyDeleteThank you for participating in Floral Friday Fotos!
Thanks Nix. Tropical plants do indeed have beautiful colours and some amazing forms.
DeleteWow, what a fantastic garden. I love those bat flowers. I think, your unknown tropical plants are lantanas.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend ~ FlowerLady
It is such a beautiful park, FlowerLady. I keep going back as often as possible. Thanks for trying to help out with the plant I.D. I do know Lantana, and while the flowers have some similarities I'm pretty sure this unknown plant is not Lantana. Eventually I'm hoping I'll remember just what it is, lol!
DeleteOh Bernie, that's so lovely. How i wish i can come and follow the invitation of my friend in Brisbane, that is the first park i will visit. I haven't seen that much gomphrena before! It really is easier and better for both the gardener and the plants to be in subtropical climate, unlike with us here, as now we are only starting the dry season but feels we already have to stop it, already waiting for rain. OMG! And that batplants and blue ginger might not thrive with our temps. I know your NOID, i have it and posted it, but suddenly it also slipped my mind, haha.
ReplyDeleteAndrea, if you do make it to Brisbane you just must visit the Parklands. The recreational areas next to the lake are fabulous, just perfect for having a picnic lunch. Then you could spend all afternoon wandering around the rest of the park. It's quite large considering it's in the middle of the city. Another fabulous spot is the Botanic Gardens which are not far away.
DeleteI'm trying to grow the Blue Ginger, but it's a really slow grower here. I've never tried Bat Flowers so I'm not sure how they would go here during our wet seasons.
Wow...It's Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYes Sabri, I would recommend this park to anyone who is visiting our capital city.
DeleteBeautiful specimens.
ReplyDeleteJim, it's always worth a visit.
DeleteMany beautiful picture with some beautiful flowers / plants you show.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a good weekend.
Thanks for the comment on my blog.
Hugs Hanne Bente
hbt.finus.dk
Hanne Bente, I'm so glad you enjoyed a little peek at some of the blooms out now at the Parklands.
DeleteThe drifts of Gomphrena and Plectranthus are spectacular but oh the Torenia tower WOW! I just love those pretty little faces. I have ordered my Torenia seed should be here soon so I can get it going. The bat wings are great to.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, you'll never guess what I picked up at the nursery today! Yes I did get a couple of little Torenia seedlings. I need more containers of them out in the courtyard! Best of luck with your seeds.
DeleteBernie,
ReplyDeletethe plant is called Chrysothemis pulchella also known as Copper leaf or Sunset bells. I took pictures of this flowering plant on the Island of the Dominican Republic.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful flower pictures!
Thanks so much for the I.D., guild-rez. It's such a lovely thing. I've been thinking about trying some for myself.
DeleteSpectacular park!! The bat flowers are awesome looking!!
ReplyDeleteDarla, they really are the oddest looking things but certainly draw attention.
DeleteWhat a beautiful place to visit, filled with colors.
ReplyDeleteSuffia, it's certainly one of my favourite places to visit.
DeleteI don't even know where to begin to comment! Maybe I should just call a travel agent and fly to Australia instead. ;). The flowers with the whiskers are so exotic and unusual. The park design, itself is also wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLibby, the park is enormous. It's around 18 hectares, with rolling hills, a large lake, many water features and several different themed gardens. You could never be bored there that's for sure.
DeleteWonderful pictures!
ReplyDeleteSpiny Flowers
Thanks Modern Mom. It's easy to take great shots in such a place. Everywhere you look there's another great photo.
DeleteBernie: I enjoyed this post so much! That mona levender in mass planting is just spectacular! I love the plants floating in the water in the first picture very much. I don't blame you going there for a daily visit since I would do the same thing myself. Thanks for sharing, and I will come back to see the rest of this garden!
ReplyDeleteAmi, there's more to come so I'm glad you'll pop in again. It's an enormous place and I always take too many photos. Anyone who's with me gets a little annoyed because we have to stop all the time in order for me to get loads of shots.
DeleteHello Bernie, lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteI once bought some seeds for Bat Flowers and they germinated well and grew to small plants, but sadly died before having a chance to flower. They were of course meant to be indoor plants, and I was so excited when they started to grow. Not sure why they didn't do well, but have never tried again. They look spectacular in your photos!
Helene, I've never tried to grow them. I know they do well here as I have a friend with one and it seems to have survived our wet season well. These plants do look fantastic when blooming. It's a real shame yours didn't flower.
DeleteBeautiful garden.
ReplyDeleteRegards and best wishes
Thanks for dropping by, Tatjana. I'm glad you enjoyed a view of this wonderful Parkland.
DeleteLike a dramatic variety of characters lined up for a role in a play! Awesome photos! I'm especially fascinated by the bat-like flower with whiskers!
ReplyDeleteGemma, I found it hard to drag myself away from the Bat Flowers. They are such an amazing thing to see, and just so different from anything I know.
DeleteOh how beautiful. I love how it looks like the flowers are floating on the water Bernie. That is the first Bat flowers that I have saw pictures of.They are so fascinating to look at. All that Gomphrena looks so lovely. What a beautiful place to visit and walk in.I can see why you and the grandchildren enjoy it there.
ReplyDeleteLona, those floating tyres filled with Balsam just look fantastic don't they? It's a great idea. If only I had a little river!!! I just adored the huge drifts of Gomphrena. They looked spectacular.
Deletethanks for sharing your beautiful flowers with us! wonderful garden :)
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you stopping by and commenting, thanks Tina. I love joining in your 'Weekend Flowers' meme.
DeleteBeautiful photos of one of my favourite places to visit. I went with my daughter last week after an appointment in the city and was a little disappointed as many of the garden beds were empty but I did capture the Gomphrena & a gorgeous Cosmos "Candy Stripe" which I posted about on last weeks Weekend Flowers and my Project 366 Rewind.
ReplyDeleteHi Liz. When we visited just this weekend past, they had started filling in most of the garden beds in the Spectacle Garden with Zinnias and Torenias. I know they will look spectacular in a couple more weeks as these fill out more. The Gomphrenas were just fantastic weren't they? I loved the Cosmos too, but didn't take any shots of those.
Deletelove that last shot... so beautiful!! have a nice weekend... :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda. Those are the containers sitting on the table out in the courtyard. We're not eating out there much during summer, so I can cover the table with plants.
Deletewhat a fabulous garden! the bat flower is fascinating, love the torenias.
ReplyDeletethe orange and yellow flower, i think, is called Chrysothemis pulchella.
Thanks so much for the I.D., Luna Miranda. You're spot on! It's definitely a great looking plant, and those Bat Flowers sure are something special.
DeleteAmazing shots! Good Job! Super loved the lavender and orange flowers! Very refreshing to my eyes! I hope all of the parks here in our place in Melbourne are as beautiful like this one. So relaxing place..
ReplyDeleteSpectacular spectacle. Neat guest book app.
ReplyDeleteWould you believe I took a little sucker I saw that sprouted right next to the lady slipper vine photographed last time I was in that garden...and it went through a plane ride, being knocked over by a hose, eaten by the cat, chewed to the ground by insects only to come back and have it done all again. I nursed it through all this drama. It finally flowered this year for me and guess what - it is a different plant! The bleeding heart vine with white flowers!~ I guess it wasn't so much a sucker but more a mutant, or remnant of a previous planting. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame. I've never been tempted to try and grab anything from the Parklands ... until my last visit that is! Until then I always felt apprehensive about taking anything just in case one of the wandering part wardens caught me. But just a couple of weeks ago, I saw a creamy white and light pink variety of Gomphrena growing in abundance. I snatched a few of the flowerheads hoping to get some viable seed. Fingers crossed I have more luck!
Delete