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| Auditory geometry |
There's been a surfeit of Pink petals around these parts of late. Some of which is architectural. Behold the new acoustic petals in the Concert Hall at the Opera House, seen twice recently:
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| Viewed both this way ... |
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| ... and that. |
But it's been mostly confined to the abundant Azaleas and Magnolias, hereabouts. They're a little past their best right now, but it's a good sign that spring is here. Well, that, and a goodly dose of hayfever. Such a reliable Spring Herald.
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| Feast your eyes upon these Lilly Pillys |
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| They're the size of cherries! |
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| Not to mention the gigantic magnolias |
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| Practically the size of soup bowls |
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A mystery pink blossom at the park ...
Addendum: Now identified as the Judas Tree
Thank you, dear Rosemary!
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| Azaleas and Magnolias making companionable bedfellows |
Delightful, no, Dear Reader? And as I'm thoroughly enjoying a charming Anthology of Bad Verse in the form of D. B. Wyndham Lewis & Charles Lee's selection,
The Stuffed Owl, let me share with you a touching tribute to Spring by the alleged worst poet of England, Alfred Austin (1835-1913):
The Spring-time, O the Spring-time!
Who does not know it well?
When the little birds begin to build,
And the buds begin to swell.
When the sun with the clouds plays hide-and-seek.
And the lambs are bucking and bleating,
And the colour mounts to the maiden's cheek,
And the cuckoo* scatters greeting;
In the Spring-time, joyous Spring-time!
Image credits: Flying With Hands
Love your pink season - our season is currently turn golden. I can help you identify your mystery pink blossom in the park as I have one myself. It is a Cercis siliquastrum - Judas Tree.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, dear Rosemary, you're a botanical star!
DeleteAre your Lilly Pilly shrubs native to the Sydney area? I like ours very much but they tend to be larger and darker red. And they attract the birds :)
ReplyDeleteI think this hedge of Lilly Pilly might be the common variety, an east coast variant, dear Hels. The red fruit is more familiar to me, too, so this pale blush fruit was a real standout when I saw it.
DeleteLilly Pilly is BEAUTOUS!This is your CONTESSA SPEAKING AS I SEE I DIDNOT IDENTIFY MYSELF ABOVE!
ReplyDeleteI so dislike all this extra do I DARE say it?
Better not as that will identify me as an AMERICAN THAT I AM!
Concert Hall looks ravishing!
Happy to see you getting out and about!
Xx
Dearest Contessa, your keyboard flourishes mean you are never Anon to me! xx
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ReplyDeleteWith the greatest respect, England's lousiest poet is nothing compared to William Topaz McGonagall ...
ReplyDeleteSee for yourself "here and here.
I did enjoy your diversion, dear Sean! Poetry on the hop!
DeleteI guess it's a time-honoured tradition to pit England against Scotland, not least in the race to bottom in the poetry stakes, but it's not for me to judge the worth of such eminent contenders when I'm a mere purple proser who thinks that if it rhymes and amuses then it's good stuff!
But my learned anthologists, in seeking to focus on Good Bad Poetry rather than mine the bottomless depths of Bad Bad Poetry in The Stuffed Owl, failed to include Mr. McGonagall at all, so I must deduce that wiser heads than mine must deem him a Bad Bad Poet. Which is no help at all in our competition since his reputation lives on, for better or worse, to this day, whereas poor Mr. Austin, although appointed (apparently without due merit) to the lofty heights of Poet Laureate, has sunk like a stone from sight.
Sean (above) beat me to it. McGonagall is one of my favourite poets. I have his 'Complete Works'.
ReplyDeleteAs I said to Sean, dear Cro, what's not to like when it rhymes and amuses? Whether intentional or not!
DeleteDear Pip, thank you for reminding me that there is an even more difficult way to make one's life complicated: till now I only tear around between Berlin and Bavaria, breathing city-air and deep-breathe pastorale (no hay fever) - but you offer the possibility to live in spring and autumn - by just moving between Germany and Australia!
ReplyDeleteWhy not - such a very refreshing prospect, had never thought of it!
And all that pink is the ultra-perfect way to allure me - so beautiful photos, thank you!
As to bad and worse poets I might add a poem (and translate it) from our German county - the Saxon Nightingale might chirp soon on www.burstingwithhappiness.blogspot.com .
Though, with a very classical beautiful sigh of my favourite poet Andrew Marvel I say: "Had we but world enough and time"
Oh, yes, please, dear Britta! To both dividing your life between hemispheres and chasing the seasons that most charm you, (what fun to have you as a neighbour and to "gather the flowers" together), and to a bit of Bad Poetry on your blog!
DeleteHello Pipistrello, I had never heard of lilly-pillies (a rather whimsical name), but I find that a related species of Syzigium is the common lian-wu, or wax apple that grows in many warm places, including Taiwan. I sometimes see the trees in parks here. The fruits that you show should be edible, but the odd thing about the Taiwan ones is that the unattractive pale green-pink fruits are usually the sweetest, and the beautiful, perfect, dark red ones are always completely tasteless!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello dear Jim, yes, you're right, the Syzigium here are edible. The Aboriginal community put them in the general classification of "bush food", that is food found out in the "bush" (as opposed to the shoppe, hahah). I don't know if I'd fancy popping one of the above in my mouth as they grow on a rather busy road - a good wash would be needed first :) Funnily enough, despite Lilly Pilly jam being an old-fashioned offering around these parts, the sort of thing that might appear at a country fete, it's not something I've ever tasted. The sweetness scale is interesting, no? So counterintuitive!
DeleteAzaleas grow here very well. I always love seeing them in gardens and parks. Those cherry-sized pink delights would go right in my belly were I a bird.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well, Pip. Bea x
All is fine and dandy, thank you, dear Bea. I was glad to read you had a Merrie Jaunt to Germany :) x
DeleteI think I would have a hard time not staring at those ceiling lovelies and focus on the music.
ReplyDeleteOh, they are delightful, dear Urspo, and a sight much prettier than the clear perspex-y donuts they replaced.
DeleteI have never been a lover of pink Pip but I exclude flowers .... they are beautiful and, I don't think thats the worst poem I've heard ! I don't think that I've seen the inside of the Concert Hall of the Opera House ..... it is amazingly beautiful. XXXX
ReplyDeleteHello dear Jackie, how nice to see you!
DeleteSo glad to show you a scene not seen before. Our Opera House does have some rather lovely bits and we are pretty lucky to live nearby for regular jaunts within and without.
I'm no connoisseur of Bad Poetry but I don't think it's the worst, either. xx