GOVERNMENT HOUSE and COSMOS

The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne take up about one third of the parklands immediately to the south-east of the city centre, and share a boundary with Government House * , the residence of the Queen's representative * in the State of Victoria.  



This is the view of the tower from within the Botanic Gardens. 

Last Thursday evening Laurie and I had the privilege of being invited to a reception at Government House celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Burnet Institute * , an international medical research organisation based in Melbourne. As we were permitted to take photos I thought I would share some with you.


This is the tower by night from the forecourt.




The State Entrance with some flowers, not quite ikebana, and a portrait of the Queen. Some of this blog's international readers may be surprised to learn that Elizabeth II is the Head of State for the State of Victoria, as well as the Commonwealth of Australia.  


The Ballroom. 


The throne in the Ballroom.


The State Dining Room.


On the morning before the reception I was amazed to see this huge bed of cosmos bipinnatus * in the gardens...



...which was also attractive to lots of bees.



I didn't know they could grow this high, nearly double my height.


This week's ikebana is an autumn arrangement of materials gathered by the roadside, in a vase by Alistair Whyte * .

Greetings from Christopher
10th April 2016

* Click on the blue text for further information.





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