E is for Eltham

I suppose Eltham shouldn't be in this series because I am not camping there...but I do visit often. Besides, it smells really good and I notice every time I get out of the car when I arrive...that very Australian eucalyptus aroma. And it is my home town. And this gorgeous picture is looking down the driveway of my childhood home. I won't bore you with the tale of how this is all gone now and how six two storey houses are being built there. *sigh*

This is the dead centre of Eltham.

Ok, I confess, it is the Eltham Cemetery, but so beautifully landscaped and maintained it is a lovely spot for a walk. 

Next to the cemetery is Monsalvaat, originally a bohemian artist colony. It had a 'bad' reputation among the mainstream Elthamites when it was in its infancy. It was viewed as a place of debauchery and (shock, horror) nudity. Now it is much more mainstream but still a hub for artists and exhibitions. 

If you drive through the main street, you will miss the newly re-vamped town square situated behind the shops. 

This mural features many of the animals indigenous to the area with the Yarra River flowing the full length.

An inhabitant of particular note is the Eltham Copper Butterfly which has a symbiotic relationship with a particular bush and species of ant. The adult butterfly lays its eggs on the roots of the sweet bursaria bush which grows at the base of eucalypt trees. The ants, have a nest among the roots of the bush.  The ants 'farm' the caterpillar, stimulating it so that it secretes a sugary syrup which the ants eat. During the day when the caterpillar is prey to birds, the ants herd it down into their nest for safety. It is herded back out at night to feed on the bursaria. The caterpillar pupates in the ant nest.

Okay, that's enough of Eltham....although I could go on and on and on.....

Horizon #4

I think it is the layers in this one that draw me in. From the top of the tree in the foreground, to the rows of tree covered hills and the baldy ones in the background to the layers in the sky and clouds. Wish I could tell you the name of those bald hills but there wasn't a little doohickey pointing out the landmarks and telling you how far away they were.

From the tower at Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens, Daylesford, Victoria.

Horizons #2 and # 3

I think I like horizons where the earth looks like it has been cut from cardboard. Maybe I should have been a set designer for the stage. Oh, but I do love a dramatic sky with clouds too.

Mount Baw Baw from near Rawson, Victoria.

Somewhere along the Princess Highway in South Gippsland, Victoria.

Horizons #1

I am fascinated by horizons, near and far. I don't know if it's about aesthetics or the wonderment of what might be over there. Whatever it is, I have decided to collect and document my favourites here. So without further ado:  Horizon # 1, an evening affair in the valley, Walhalla.

D is for Daylesford

Lovely Daylesford is a welcoming town, known for its artists and boutique shops. Jubilee Lake Camping Ground is very popular with (obviously) a lake, kiosk, canoe and paddle boat hire and helpful and friendly hosts. At Easter and other peak times, the 'overflow' areas are opened up and these boast generous sized sites with a toilet block and showers but not electricity. There is an easy walk around the lake and to the nearby mineral spring.

Jubilee Lake from the walk around the lake, looking back at the camp ground.

Unfortunately the lake surrounds are rampant with blackberries.  Did you know that these were brought from England to Australia by the founder of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, von Meuller? He thought they were worthy immigrants because of their fruit and jam making properties. Landowners were advised to plant them along waterways to stop erosion and, of course, it didn't take them long to become a menace in our much milder climate. A major problem, is that the berries are delicious and enjoyed by many species of bird who then transport them in their gut before pooping them out in other places...in a capsule of fertiliser!

Another place to visit in Daylesford is the Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens which are on the hill behind the Convent Gallery (which is also a must, not only because of the art but the lovely food in their cafe). The gardens boast a tower with a winding stairway of 100 steps.

When I was there, the hothouse was blooming with tuberous begonias.

Thanks to the foresight of our forebears, there are well established trees many of which are massive.

 ..but it is always the detail that catches my eye.

Many stems of a very old camellia

Bark of a monkey puzzle tree.

Fans of Daylesford, will tell you there is much more to see in this Victorian country town.  I didn't even scratch the surface with this post. It is well worth a visit, as is the adjacent spa town of Hepburn Springs where you can take the waters, and indulge in a spa and a massage.