I paid a visit to the Birmingham Botanic Gardens a few weeks ago. It’s about a half-hour walk from the University. The weather had started off dry, but it began to drizzle after I arrived and had my lunch and a large cup of tea.
The Botanic Gardens, in addition to several fine glasshouses, features an aviary and a children’s garden. At this time of year and in that weather, the outdoor areas don’t attract many visitors. Humuhumu was in nursery, so my 100 mm macro lens and I had plenty of time and no crowds to contend with. This is my way of warning you that there are a lot of pictures in this post.
Birds Pheasant: Temminck’s tragopan.
Inquisitive parakeet.
Peacock.
This finch put up a horrendous fuss when we entered the aviary.
I finally got a peep at the nest beneath him and discovered why.
Sculptures Animal sculptures. I particularly like the tilty-head boar. “Nur?”
I like the way this bust looked in the rain.
And this couple.
Kissing bird sculpture.
Fountain.
Fruit and flowers The only succulent in bloom in the desert glasshouse. (Sturt peas, identified by ironed_orchid and rinkle)
Strange fruit. (Buddha's Hand fruit, identified by redsixwing)
Cyclamen.
Hellebore.
The Children’s Garden The paintings were pleasantly arranged.
It is! There's another, smaller botanic garden (Winterbourne) that's between Humuhumu's nursery and the university. I tend to visit that one more frequently. But when I have time, the big one is worth the extra hike.
It's very nice indeed! Although when we take Humuhumu in to nursery, we're lucky to get half an hour in total for lunch. Except for Fridays, we both tend to bring sandwiches and eat at our desks.
I've tried her on some of my broad-tipped pens and pastels. She's enjoyed them both. Everything she does is still pretty abstract though. :P
