Wollongong Botanic Garden

I needed a break. So, when Fr. Emmanuel (a confere) called asking for help, I jumped at the chance. His parish is in Warrowong, right next to Wollongong, near Wollongdilly (I am not making this up). It is about 90 minute drive from where I'm stationed in Kellyville and right on the Pacific coast. The weather there is usually more temperate being right on the ocean. And it is so quiet in the house! I was able to catch up on rest, work out (after getting over my nasty cold) and soak in the great weather.

I really didn't make it to the beach. Instead I went to see the Wollongong Botanic Garden (1). It's funny the way we use words differently. They say "botanic" where we would say "botanical." They say "drink driving" where we say "drunk driving." They use the words "homey" and "homely" in the opposite ways we use those words. Isn't that funny?

Anyway, I don't have much botanic (or is it botanical) knowledge. I just know I like gardens and flowers. Unfortunately, it is just now the beginning of early Spring ( according to the Aussie calendar, Spring begins on 1 Sept.) And while flowers are in bloom, I suspect that the gardens will be prettier and more in bloom a few months from now. For example, their rose bushes are just now breaking out into shoots.

But there are flowers. Every now and then you come across some bloom that you think, "This is from Star Trek!" For example, look at these first couple of flower shots (2-3). These blooms were all over the entrance. But also you can find commoner plants, like azaleas (4-7). Then again, this bloom shot up 2-3 feet from one thick stalk and just sat at the top, soaking in sunshine energy (8). And then look at these pearl drops (9); so many tiny bead like flowers on one plant! And there were many of them clusttered together, all equally in bloom!

Here are some more stunning flowers (10-13). Photo 11 is of these tiny bell shaped flowers…but check out the dabs of green on the white petal tips. How beautiful! And I wonder how many people pass them by and never notice such masterpieces! How many of these flowers bloom and die without anyone stopping to see! (There's a homily here! God is so extravagant to us!)

I don't need to point out each of these flower photos (14-23), but here are some highlights of the ones that caught my eye: 14 was a lovely little space at the top of a hill. The water in the fountain in the center of the space flowed over the sides and offered a nice calming sound. (21) is a flower that appeared all over a large shrub. They remind me of Dr. Seuss. (22) is a strange looking, vibrant bloom that is appearing on leafless trees. I suspect the trees will sprout leaves soon!

Photos 24-30 are shots of this outdoor succulent garden. Really strange looking plants—and huge! Walking through this desert scene seemed surreal and otherworldly. Hard to believe that such plants have so many varieties of flowers.

A shot of the tree trunks in the sunset (31). Yellow blooms that are appearing all over the place here in Spring (32). Tiny little pompoms on big shrubs everywhere Kellyville. (33-34) are a palm tree with a detail of the "fruit." This thing was bigger than my head! (That's pretty big!) (35-36) are a sculpture that wasn't very good. However, I did like the way the artist thought about how it related to its environment. Coming from below, a plant's bloom stalk lined up perfectly with the artwork (35). And check out this massive sculpture (37); you can see a park bench in the shot to give you an idea of scale. (38-40) more flowering shrubs all over the grounds. And that is pretty much it for the Wollongong Botanic Garden. Not great, but not terrible. Lots of pretty flowers even if the grounds aren't too big. I saw this all in about an hour.

Finbally some shots around town: here is a selfie of me (41) by our Post Office Box (# 21); when you mail me letters, here is where they arrive…in Kellyville, of course. And here are photos of some of the trees and shrubs in our neighbourhood that have just now started to bloom. Very pretty (42-45).

First Communions went very very well. Better than I had hoped this past weekend. I was able to finish the one mass in under an hour! And folks were out well before the next mass people came in. There were no traffic jams and all was smooth. Hope we can keep up the good work int he coming couple of weeks! And then it's the parish festival! And then Advent and Christmas!