Seeing Green At The Australian National Botanic Gardens

One of the advantages of living in a capital city is the primo attractions, especially if the said city only has about 500k population. Always things to do, the city punching above its peeps' weight.

Canberra is a bit of a dry climate, kind of perfect for a botanic garden. Just add the right amount of water and one can create all the biodiversity of the country.

Stay to the path, bring your camera and enjoy the blooming flora.

Rocking and bursting with color. What the..? Life size sculpture of a cassowary. Kind of an ostrich dressed for a party. With a claw like a dino. Best to view at a distance or in metal form.

Add a lot of water and, presto!, a rain forest section, full of lush ferns.

Ahh, the iconic banksia flower, all cone shaped and colorful. So lovely, banksia as rusted panels by a fire pit look great.

Getting out there, to the outback. Visitors braving Mars, otherwise labeled the Red Center garden.

Open House With The Governor General

The Governor General of Australia opens their grand house once a year to the general public, the hoi polloi, maybe a few bogans. Anyone can wander the grounds, walk through the house, imagine what it's like to be hosted by the closest thing Australia has to royalty.

The big, lush, green lawn leads to the big house.

Before heading inside, the grounds are a good place to wander, lots of paths and sculptures. "Everybody into the pool!" One day a year means a bit of a land rush to go through the house. "Stay away from the stubbies in the liquor cabinet!"

Big dining room. Sarah, looking at the name tags and thinking to herself, "They forgot the H in my first name and butchered my last name. Again."

Domestic details. Guest book, signed by some UK bigwigs, Chuck and Cami. Art with a nod to Aussie heritage, wool.

Back outside, a lovely day for rubbing elbows and downing snags.