The camellias are out at my local New Farm library. The library is set in a wonderful location on the edge of New Farm Park. However, the library itself has rather a nice garden which I couldn’t resist ‘snapping’ when I went in the other day to change my books. I was especially taken with the camellia bushes outside the front of the library, and surrounding the metal bench which you can see in one of the photos.
I have tried to thin out the photographs but could only manage to get down to eleven! I don’t think they need any additional narrative, the photos speak for themselves.
Bench outside the library surrounded by the camellia bush. A nice little sheltered spot to read your book.
A single camellia bloom but I’m not sure which variety
Camellia blooms
Camellia bush beside the metal bench
I love this tree at the front of the library, it throws wonderful dappled shade especially welcome in the summer. Must be some variety of Gum Tree I think. I just love the silver trunk. It could even be a ‘Ghost Gum’. I’d love to find out.
And here’s it’s neighbour.
This lovely palm tree grows near the steps as you walk into the library.
The birds love this bush. I waited for ages watching a bird with it’s tiny beak in the flowers and tried to capture it in the picture, but I was making it nervous so I left him (her?) to it.
This lovely bloom grows in the border outside the library window at the front. Looks like somebody has had the ‘Pledge’ out and given the leaves a good polish.
Not sure what this plant is but I find it interesting, and love the variegation.
No wonder it takes me ages to change my library books. I think the Council or the Parks Department got something right when they planned this library.
Allotment Adventures with Jean 
Jun 17, 2012 @ 09:30:36
Such lovely pictures! Life is so much nicer when we can find pleasure in these sorts of things isn’t it.
New Farm park is definitely one of brisbane’s treasures. Particularly when the trees are in bloom (forgotten the name of them I call them ‘purple carpet trees’ because their leaves fall and make a beautiful purple ground covering)…JACARANDA!
Jun 18, 2012 @ 08:58:10
As a Brisbane resident Melanie you would know New Farm park. When the jacaranda’s are out in October it’s absolutely beautiful in the park. I’ll make sure that I get the camera out and post on my blog when the jacaranda’s are at their best.
Jun 18, 2012 @ 14:12:30
That will be a spectacular blog post they are my favourite favourite trees. But not to have in my yard…lol
Jun 17, 2012 @ 09:38:15
Hi Jean..it does look very lush and tropical, lovely.
I just read your comment at the Simple, Green and Frugal Co-op regarding dishwasher powder and I know that my pal is having great success with the recipe at “Towards Sustainability” blog “http://www.towards-sustainability.com/2007/03/homemade-dishwasher-powder-and.html”
It might be worth looking into for you,
Have a wonderful week,
Sue in cold wet Perth!!!
xx
Jun 18, 2012 @ 09:03:31
Hello Sue. Thank you for stopping by. Sorry to hear about your wet week in Perth. I worked there some years ago and it’s a beautiful city. I remember taking lots of photographs at Queens Park.
Thanks for the link to the Towards Sustainability blog because I am absolutely into it at the moment.
Jun 18, 2012 @ 07:03:52
What lovely photos Jean. We have camellias out everywhere here at the moment as they love our acid soil and Tasmania should probably be called “Camellia and Rhododendronville” around about this time of year. As much as I love them, I would adore some more exotic species like those surrounding your library. I too love library books and just took out 12 of them knowing full well that I have a snowballs chance in heck of actually managing to read them all in my 3 week allotment ;). Our library only has a golden honey locust tree and a sad old diosma hedge around it and the council probably gives it a clip once a year (to stop the drunks from going missing on a regular basis) but its the teeny tiny little font of all physical information for this little black duck and aside from the internet, this is where my brain stays tapped into all of that delicious knowledge on a regular basis. I love reading your posts and seeing tropical gardening through your eyes. Thank you for starting and maintaining this blog. There aren’t enough people thanking bloggers for their efforts and I just wanted you to know that all of those “like” ticks there may not have the time to comment, but we all really REALLY appreciate you 🙂
Jun 18, 2012 @ 09:14:52
Thanks for stopping by, and for the info on your local library. I have to admit my library is one of my favourite places to visit, apart from the allotment of course. I spent the whole day at the allotment yesterday so I’ve only now got around to answering comments. Best wishes from Jean.
Jun 19, 2012 @ 06:37:27
We can only go to our tiny library on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s which somehow makes it all the more precious to me. I use TALIS our online book search and holding facility and its fantastic as I then have to wait till the book is in and just head in to pick it up. The problems start when I head in and see all of those delicious garden porn books on the shelf and forget myself and go wild with book lust and end up trying to read my way through 12 books in a sitting. I am off to house sit our house in town while my girls head over to Melbourne to stay at my son’s house who is heading off on an oversea’s trip so its my opportunity to try to salvage a bit of my precious town garden in the process. The girls could care less about garening (and it shows) but this was my very first garden that was all mine and I filled it with my (now overgrown) love so I am taking cuttings, paring it down, removing some of the plants that were good ideas at the time but are a pain in the rump now and transplanting a huge Daphne odora plant as the girls don’t like it along with some josterberries, red and black current bushes and a couple of grape vines that the neighbour wasn’t too keen on that will work here on Serendipity Farm. I am also going to run around the house with some cleaning products! Sigh… at least the dog and I will have a nice bit of time together and I am going to see if a few extra walks will take a few kilos off his rear end (and mine if I am being honest 😉 )
Jun 19, 2012 @ 06:48:02
I am a library ‘tragic’. I fare a bit better than you as our library is open Tuesday – Saturday. But I have to make sure that I have enough books to carry me over from Saturday lunch time until they open on Tuesday. To ensure this, you need a bag full of books just in case. Enjoy catching up with your ‘town garden’.
Jun 19, 2012 @ 19:24:59
I wish my library had such great scenery around it. It’s one of my favourite places to go to too.
Jun 19, 2012 @ 19:25:57
P.S. The last two plants are house plants over here!
Jun 20, 2012 @ 07:05:35
Thank you for visiting today. Since I emigrated to Australia I have noticed some plants growing huge out here where I would have it in a little pot over in the UK.