Into the woods

We walked home through the local park tonight. Football training was underway under the lights. It cast a glow through the avenue of oaks.

Seated Woman II

A sculpture in Blackburn Gardens, Point Piper. Seated Woman II by Sam Harrison was unveiled 14 March 2013. It was commissioned by Woollahra Council as part of the Women in Woollahra project, which recognises and celebrates the contribution of women.

Blackburn Gardens, Point Piper

Between the road and Murray Rose Pool, behind the Woollahra Council building and public library is the beautifully restored heritage garden called Blackburn Gardens.

Sunset reflection, Bardwell Valley

Sundown, Silver Jubilee Park, Bardwell Valley

Newtown Community Garden

I have passed by within metres of this garden in inner-city Newtown countless times and never noticed this delightful community garden just one short block back from the main street.

The space is utilised by locals for growing vegetables and other plants.

There are rainwater tanks for watering, and bins of compost and mulch.

Cockatoos (and an ibis)

Arncliffe Park plays hose to a large flock of cockatoos, and ibis. The cockies fly over to the 100 year olf mandarin tree in our backyard, and create an incredible mess, as they dive into the fruit for the seeds, and then drop the fruit all over the back yard...and sometimes out on the street!

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 10: Palm Beach Bible Garden

The Bible Garden in Mitchell Road, Palm Beach, has spectaccular views  north over Palm Beach. It contains biblical plants. You can read more here. It was established in the 1960s as a "perfect example of the glory of God's creation."

Urban ship?

The swimming pool in Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills, Sydney is being re-developed. It was supposed to open for the summer season this year, which is now. I pass this site nearly every day and have been wondering when it will re-open (It is close enough to use for a lunchtime swim, and will be open year-round).

According to the Sydney City Council website  there have been delays caused by contaminated soil having to be removed from the site, underground services had to be completely replaced, and unprecedented rain last year caused delays. 
It's looking really good...the roof has been planted to create a meadow-effect. Here's a previous blog on this pool.

Morning

The sun was shining this morning over Arncliffe Park as I was on my way to work; so I had to stop and capture the oh so green green-ness, a result of all the rain we've had lately.

The sun is noticeably lower in the sky and the season is changing, but it's still warm, humid and summery. Beautiful!

SDP on tour...le jogging

One of my favourite movies recently is Potiche (Trophy Wife), a comedy starring Cahterine Deneuve as a 1960s "trophy wife" of an umbrella manufacturer (dhades of one of my other favourite movies, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg??)

In the opening sequence, Deneuve is jogging through the woods near her home. She manages to look ineffably French while doing this - a sort of straight-backed, swan-necked, languid gait!

I have read that Deneuve lives near the Luxembourg Gardens, and I think she has made a close study of the Ladies Who Jog in those gardens (below) .

There's a fair bit of jogging goes on in the Luxembourg, even the "hot and sweaty" kind. However, unlike Sydney (London? New York?) you will never be in danger of being mowed down on the pavements of Paris!

SDP on tour .... my favourite garden

One of the greatest pleasures in my life has been to spend hours strolling in various gardens in Paris. Le jardin du Luxembourg is my favourite, from the Statue of Liberty, wine grape plantation and apple orchard, to the flower beds around the pond (le bassin). I was too early for the little wooden boats to be out, but I've stuck in a pic below of Ben in his Jean-Claude guise in 2003.

Now, about those green chairs. Great place to sit and contemplate, read, check emails, snooze. Why can't we have amenity like this? Last time I was in new York, I noticed they also have them in Bryant park, behind the New York Public Library. Do the citizens of Paris, or New York, steal them, use them for anti-social purposes (I dunno - chair-raiding an ATM, for example?). Who provides them? The city? You don't have to hire them, no-one is making a profit (apart, I suppose from chair manufacturers). Why can't we have them?

What's that bloke behind glass doing? Well, he's the toilet attendant (very clean they are too - a steal at 40 centimes). The toilets are attached to the cafe in the garden, and to fill in time the attendant is multi-tasking by wrapping the cafe cutlery in napkins.....

Bexley Park

Under Construction - Theme Day

Sydney City Council has been renovating Prince Alfred Park in the southern city edge suburb of Surry Hills. It has included demolition of the old public swimming pool and construction of a brand new facility. It's due to open later this year, and I can't wait!

Click here to see images of the old pool.

Today is City Daily Photo bloggers' theme day: Under Construction. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Ducks on the pond, Sydney Park

The Human Sundial, Sydney Park

If you satnd on the day's date on the figure eight (analemma) , with the sun behind, and face your shadow, the time will be revealed.

I took the photo at 11:53 am.

Walking the dog, Sydney Park

Sydney Park is a popular dog-walking venue.

Nice to see this "built in dog bowl" for poochie refreshments.

The Rolling Stones may be impressed

Sydney Park AIDS Memorial Grove

Within Sydney Park are several groves of trees which have been planted as a living memorial to those who have died of HIV/AIDS.

From the SPAIDS website:

"Community groups were encouraged to plant Australian native species of trees, and SPAIDS was supported by Council in 1994 at its first planting on 15 May 1994.

"Individuals who were carers of people with HIV/AIDS felt the need for a living memorial to those who had died from the disease, so Council was approached to set aside a section of this new park project for this purpose. Council agreed. At the time the Council was organizing three plantings a year in order to accelerate growth of trees.

"SPAIDS persisted with Council and plantings, and by 2008, SPAIDS had had 33 plantings and planted over 8000 trees and commemorated over 1200 people."

Kite, Sydney Park

Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills

Sydney Council is doing a major upgrade of this park in inner suburb Surry Hills. I have blogged it before. This area was a bit of a wasteland with some degraded grass; now there's a kids' playground, and picnic and barbecue facilities.

I'm really looking forward to the re-opening of the pool in late 2011.