Lunch at the gardens

 Yesterday dawned cool and crisp, just 5C when I climbed out of bed. A lovely sunny, autumn day but with a decided nip in the air. Just nice for a wander around the Botanic Gardens about lunch time.

If you zoom in you will see people sitting on benches enjoying the sun.

On Sunday my son usually takes me and a friend in to church but yesterday he and his wife were wanting to stay in town and do some shopping after the service. So my friend and I decided to take her car and go somewhere for lunch.

The rose gardens are getting a bit shabby.

We decided on the Gardens tea rooms as we were down that end of town anyway and parking wouldn't be such a problem as if we went into the CBD. After a nice relaxed lunch we decided to have a bit of a stroll around, it was such a nice day. 

Ducks on a small part of the pond.

We wandered through the tropical glasshouse, too hot in our winter coats and a relief to get back out into the cooler air :) Then through the rose gardens and past the duck pond. There were a lot of ducks around, maybe they knew it was the start of duck shooting season this weekend. Finally past the bandstand and the children's play area and it was up the hilly part to the car.

The children's play area.

I hope you've enjoyed this little stroll around a small part of the gardens with us. They really are rather lovely at any time of the year.

   We really enjoyed ourselves and have decided to have lunch out on a Sunday more often. 

Have a good week,

Diana

A wander around the garden

We'll take a wander shortly.

 First here is a pic of my GKB with young Theo. We were invited over while he was up so that Great grandad could meet him with his eyes open :) but Theo had other ideas. He did eventually open his eyes for a short time though so they have now officially eyed each other :)

We didn't stay too long as my GKB was the only male there and he gets a bit restless when it's all female company - and it can't be much fun when it is all baby talk to boot :) 

We decided to do some grocery shopping on the way home and then I wanted to have a look at the rose garden in the Memorial Gardens - which are just across the road from the supermarket.

The entry from the carpark. I love this entry at any time of the year.

Walk through a wee way and you can see the adjacent skate park through the trees on the right. There were a lot of birds flitting away from me here but too quick to get a picture - and they blended well into the trees.

Look in the opposite direction and there is a lovely big green, just right for picnics or taking the little ones for a play. Nice shaded seating as well, under the trees.

 

Entrance to the rose garden. The garden was fenced in this red brick as well, until a few years ago. I'm not sure why it was removed as I think the gardens themselves looked better - more formal if you like - which is how I think a rose garden should be. But that's just my opinion.

And finally the memorial rose garden itself. Looking a bit shabby at the end of summer and after the wind and rain of the past few days.

But more roses still in bloom than I thought there would be.

There is also a fenced children's playground out near the carpark. It's a lovely garden in the middle of town.

 I hope you've enjoyed a little look at a small part of our town.

Until next time, take care.

Diana

A Daybook post

I thought I might do a daybook post this week

 seeing as it's a long time since I have participated.



So without further ado, here we go.

Looking out my window is not much fun at the moment. It is dark and the street lights are reflecting off the wet tar seal. It is 8.2 C and I am happy to be sitting inside with my heatpump going and the temp. at a balmy 19.9 C.

earlier this week

I  am thinking I will be pleased when winter is over and we can get outside in the sun again. I am not a winter person, much prefer the warmth of the other seasons with the between ones being my favourites.

I am thankful for Sis who took me in hand when I was feeling overwhelmed with organising a family reunion. She helped me plan  the weekend and has left me with a timeline to get things done. I am so grateful. I am not an ideas person but I can get things done once I know what I am doing or aiming at.

I am reading 'Does this Church Make Me Look Fat?' by Rhoda Janzen. It is rather interesting, true story. The blurb on the cover reads - A Mennonite finds faith, meets Mr Right and solves her lady problems. Quite fun and very real. I've just finished reading 'A Journey to The Centre of The Earth.' by Jules Verne. Really fantastical and rather strange to my way of thinking. This was my July read for the book challenge I'm taking part in.

I am wearing really comfy grey pj's with pink trim, pink scuffs and a pink fluffy dressing gown. I like pink, can you tell?

I am hoping praying that my little mother's health will hold out for her to get to the reunion. She has been having the odd health problem lately so I would appreciate your prayers for her. She is the matriarch now with just one sister left out of six of them and the family are looking forward to seeing her again.

One of my favourite things is my daughters both calling in for a cuppa together, and they did today. We had a great old catchup. I drop whatever I'm doing and we put the kettle on and go for it until they have to go. Lots of fun.

In the kitchen I have a vase of what I thought were dead rosebuds. Today I was going to throw them out in the rubbish but guess what? There are new green shoots appearing so I think I'll keep them and see what happens.

In the garden most things are dormant apart from the jonquils which are pushing their way through the earth and some already showing us beautiful bursts of yellow. And my potted polys have needed watering because they grew so well the rain was running off the leaves and onto the outside of the pots. And they got quite badly frosted as well but have come away again now that I have shifted them back under the eaves.

And to finish, on a sign in an op shop today:

Our volunteers are not paid. 

Not because they are worthless

 but because they are priceless.

joining: The Simple Woman's Daybook

I hope you'll go over for a look as well.

Diana

Roses, roses, roses

Don't you just love roses? There are so many different types.

Some are dainty and refined and 

others are blousey and right in your face. 

I don't even pretend to know the names of these roses, 

they are just some from around my property 

I thought you might like to see.

Some are fragrant, most are not.

These two I can see when I'm standing at the kitchen sink.

Hanging over the fence from the neighbour's section, 

the top one looks like red velvet, in reality slightly darker

 than the photo, but not much scent.

This is another one hanging over the fence, I don't mind at all.

It is a little bedraggled and windblown but still pretty.

One my daughter gave me when she moved houses.

She only has a tiny garden and didn't want 

to leave her roses behind. Again no scent.

She gave my little mother a couple too.

Now this one I do know the name of, it's called 'Rock n Roll'.

The photo doesn't do it justice, it's very flirty.

Another one from my daughter. So pretty.

As is this beautiful yellow one, just gorgeous.

This is the same as one she gave her Gran.

Very true to colour. Isn't it brilliant?

And this one is very special although a bit windblown as well.

It is a cutting from my grandmother's bush. 

Mum also took a cutting. When let to grow it is rampant 

and we have had to keep it cut hard back 

so it doesn't take over the back section.

A white rambling rose, it is called Mrs something or other.

Maybe Mrs Simpson, the time frame is right. 

Once upon a time I knew.

I hope you enjoyed my roses as much as I do.

I'm sorry I can't tell you anything much about them.

I'm not much of a gardener but I like gardens. 

My daughter and her daughter are gardeners - 

that gene seems to have bypassed me and my little mother.

joining Stephanie at:

roses of inspiration

and Amy at :

Five on Friday

Have a great week, 
it's 30C here and we are melting.
Ice cream time I think.
Diana

Coming up roses

I have been really busy the past week

so tonight I am doing a lazy post.

Short but sweet :)

I want to join Martha's teacup party 

and here is a cup which used to belong to my little mother

but now belongs to my grandson.

He will treasure it.

It really is quite beautiful I think.

It is a Royal Albert, Old English Rose.

I have seen another  version of it 

but personally I like this one.

I think it was part of a wedding gift teaset

and this is all that is left. 

My little mother is doing well after her op 

and back to normal. Maybe just a little tired. 

Thanks for asking.

joining in with Martha at:
Martha's favoutites
roses of inspiration