Garden Theatre ( Autumn ) II

I died for beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted to the tomb,

When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied.

"And I for truth, - the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

 

And so, as kinsmen met a night,
We talked between the rooms,

 

Until the moss had reached our lips.
And covered up our names.

Emily Dickinson.
In memory of my father, whose birthday it was today, 14 May, 1926.

Garden Theatre ( Autumn ) I

 

 

Every morning you greet me...

I've been feeding the resident magpies ( Gymnorhina tibicen ) for three years. Throughout the day, but early morning especially, they come to a jacaranda tree near the back door, where I put their beef. The patriarch, seen here, is the most audacious, coming onto the back porch to be fed.

 

Here too, is a YouTube video, recording the song, if you haven't heard it... 

Visit to Heide Museum of Modern Art and Its Grounds

Today I went with family to Heide Museum of Modern Art ( www.heide.com.au ), in Melbourne, originally established by art patrons John and Sunday Reed in 1934.

There are many outdoor sculptures, including this, 'The Seed':

Outside Cafe Vue, where we ate ( I had a marvellous fish soup and delicious braised lamb ), the hardscape is finely planted with natives, including some espaliered Eucalyptus Caesia:

Here are some wide views of some of the 16 acres of garden:

 

A Rick Amor sculpture:                                                                                                                                

 

Another sculpture, by Andrew Rogers, 'Unfurling':                                                                                                  

 

There's a wonderful, heritage vegetable garden too:                                                                                        

 

                                                                                                                          

  Some Tansy:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

Some of the trees are stunning:                                                                                                            

                                                                     

 

Here is a view of 'Heide II', designed by David McGlashan in 1963:

And one of the new gallery buildings:

A piece of the original garden:

My mother and me:

          

Playing in the Garden

For as long as I can remember, I've been making tableaux and collecting objects...

 

 

 

Eggs and nests fascinate me, as do the skill of birds and their aliveness.

 

 

Butterflies, branches, flowing things...

And sometimes I speak or write, not with words...

Kookaburras!

I've been thrilled today to hear a family of kookaburras chortling away in the front garden. I've heard them nearby only a couple of times in the last 3 years.

I'm sorry these pictures aren't close-ups, but it's the best I could do.

Along with butcher-birds, magpies and cockatoos, my favourite birds.

Jerusalem Artichoke Field Trip

Apart from some herbs, I haven't been a vegetable grower. But the benefits of home-grown food appeal. Along with leeks, shallots and mushrooms, Jerusalem artichokes ( Helianthus tuberosus ) are one of my favourite vegetables. I like them roasted.

 

This last season, two or three of my plants grew to 3-4 metres, from only a few fridge-battered tubers roughly buried. So for this coming season, I've built a circular bed, hoping to repeat the performance, but on a larger scale.

 They will screen the fence next door and yield wonderful yellow, daisy-like flowers too. Then I can eat them!