Memories in green shades
June 1, 2012
Since I did not take a lot of pictures during the past months, I thought I might as well dig into my archives and especially my travel shots. Today I would like to share with you a few moments spent some years ago in Bendigo’s Conservatory; a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia. Bendigo is notable for its Victorian architectural heritage and mining industry.
It was midday on a hot day at the end of austral Summer. There were not many visitors in Rosalind Park which surrounds the Conservatory but a few tourists like me attracted by its pleasant architecture and setting. As far as I was concerned, there was a definite hope for some freshness. The sun shone fiercely. I spotted an ancient bench leaning against the brick wall of the Conservatory; I sat there for a while enjoying the green and summerly landscape. Still, it was too hot for someone who had just left a snowy and cold month of March in the Northern hemisphere.
The door of the Conservatory was open and inviting. The contrast of light was visible through the windows and it immediately suggested coolness. Without hesitation I went in.
The large hall was not as cool as I imagined but somehow it brought a sense of freshness and humidity. I was struck by this strange green shade diffused in the whole glasshouse. Trees and plants seemed to reflect in the glass windows and roof. Shade, silence, peace, the perfect moment to make a pause and sit on another bench surrounded by exuberant vegetation.
I was mesmerized by the delicate sound of these few drops of water falling gently into a little pool, like a well. I had stepped into a green world, a vegetation of a great diversity and mystery, an environment not exactly familiar but cosy. It felt good.
A large and heavy urn, as round as a globe, was set in another pool. Ripples of water softly touched the stone shore. Through the glass roof, the blue austral sky reflected on the urn patterns that looked like tracks ? ocean ? bush? A kind of local geography. All new to me as I just landed in this vast and fascinating country and was more than happy to discover parts of it.
Time to leave and drive further. Back into the hot sun on a square surrounded by colourful Victorian houses. And another bench sitting under a huge tree, so generous with its welcoming shade. There was a lot more to see in Bendigo. Will we leave it for a next visit ?
Isathreadsoflife's Blog 
A nice relaxed atmosphere in the words and pictures in this post, just what I try to do when I travel too.
When I was in Victoria last year I travelled not far from Bendigo, when we went from Kosciuszko N. P. to Melbourne.
Thanks for your nice words, Truels. Isn’t this part of Victoria a very lovely one ? Mountains, hills, fields, bush and picturesque towns. I loved it.
Yes, this part of Australia was ALSO wonderful!!! I hope I will come back there once again….
I can almost hear those drops of water falling, so precisely, so beautifully. Thank you for this post. So glad you shared, Isa.
Yes, I imagine you would have enjoyed these moments of peace, Kathy. Precisely those one appreciate after a looong flight and busy trip. Thank you.
I love conservatories. There is a wonderful one in Toronto which I love visiting whenever I’m there.
Conservatories add an exotic touch in any city, I find. I like to visit them at any Season. The change of scenery is particularly enjoyable in Winter. Thanks a lot for your visit and words, Sybil
I love that big water ball. I’ve never been to Australia but love our botanical gardens.
Hello Tammy and thank you ! That big water ball was sculpted in a kind of stone that would catch any colour around. Its touch was smooth with small veins. A beautiful piece. I am sure your botanical gardens must look so different in your area. All this variety in our nature is really fascinating.
What a marvelous post. It seems that conservatories were much more a part of The Empire than what we developed here. A friend in England still calls her window-surrounded room a conservatory. Your post makes me think such places conserve peace and stillness as well as the beauty of the natural world.
Just south of me, in Galveston, is a related place that’s rather a marvel. It’s a large, glass pyramid at the Moody Gardens. It’s meant to be educational as well as a place of relaxation and beauty. Here’s a nice overview for you to see. The only thing missing from the video are the masses of birds and butterflies that seem determined to make friends when you visit!
Thank you so much for bringing me/us to this beautiful Moody Gardens. What a change of scenery ! Exotic greenness under the glass pyramid. I love it, Linda. If I ever go back to Texas, I will have to visit Galveston and area. You wrote several posts about places well worth seeing over there : the dike ? the unique prairie and a very special chapel South of Houston.
A great place & lovely pictures. Of courese, when you dig into the old archives and come across the pictures of the beautiful place you’ve visited, the pictures seem to have much more beauty than just whats seen in there, with loads of memories. Nice post! 🙂
Hello and thank you sonali. I like digging into my archives and am sometimes surprised at the shots I took in places I do not particularly remember. These pictures were a nice surprise and it brought back lots of good memories.
What a pretty place this is, Isa. The colourful square is beautiful, and the conservatory garden looks very restful. I’m not sure I would enter a conservatory expecting ‘coolness’… I assume it was air conditioned? Isn’t that urn gorgeous?!
You are right about coolness in a conservatory, or rather lack of coolness. You know, it was so hot outside that I imagined it could not be hotter inside the glasshouse. I do not remember the air conditioning but it did seem a little cooler. These towns in the mining area North of Melbourne were particularly attractive due to their well preserved Victorian architecture. All new to me.
Thank you for your comments, Janice.
Just thinking of you, and hoping all is well. We’re having quite some heat here just now – I just went out and freshened the birds’ water – and added some ice cubes! I think my mockingbirds like it – they’re singing. 😉
How nice to read you, Linda, thanks a lot for your thoughts. This past Spring has been busy, bringing good and less good. I will post again soon. I smiled as I read that you were adding ice cubes in the birds’ water. How thoughtful ! Lucky mockingbirds. I remember my first trip to Texas during July… I thought I had landed in Africa. Unbelievably hot !
I can feel the relative coolness of the conservatory … what glorious greenery. The sound of dripping water – so intoxicating…There in lies our “garden of Eden” …. Thanks for sharing … I want to travel to Australia some day.
Thank you for your visit and words, Pam. I have not been very present here lately but will post soon again. I have done some quilting lately. You would enjoy Australia, its wide sky, wild bush, pretty old country towns and mighty cities ! And the ocean, of course !Friendly people too that make you feel at home.