Elderberries - anyone into wine making

I thought I might start sharing a few of my favourite views of 'my' city, Melbourne. Here's one I took this morning. It shows the city in the distance as you look down the Yarra River. Background left has a tower with a yellow flag flying - this indicates the (state) governor in his residence - Government House backs on to the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Yarra is brownish as it has rained a lot recently and our very fine-grained soils are easily washed into the river and remain suspended rather than sinking. (There's a joke that the Yarra is a river that flows upside down! All the sediment is at the top rather than the bottom)

So that is an elderberry!!! I know them from their french name of Sureau, and of course have often read of elderberries, heard of wine or jam or jelly made from, just hadn't made the connection. Thanks, Christinap!

MM, one day I'll have to check out that view in person! It looks so clear and peaceful.

You're welcome Santana.

I know this is probably going to have the Australians amongst you yelling at me, but I am always surpised at how green and how much water your major cities seem to have. Any time I see photos (and I'm looking forward to more of Melbourne MM) it strikes me how nice the cities look, clean, well laid out, lots of greenery, trees, rivers etc. I'd love to visit but probably won't now.

Here's the whole elderberry shrub just dripping with berries. The birds love them, but you don't want to park your car anywhere near when the birds have been eating a lot of the berries.

I love elderflower champagne... and yes, I know we're supposed to call it pressé these days but the sparkle just isn't the same.

So many great photos in the few days I've been away. Sat, your last two pics are great with beautiful views. And I love the red sky at night, Chavs.

Hubby and I went to tour the cemetery in Savannah, Georgia that was made famous in the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt. Bonaventure Cemetery (est. 1846) is a beautiful tour. This is Gracie, a lifesize statue of a little girl born in 1883 and died at 6 years of age. Eventually the cemetery had to put a fence around her because visitors would rub her nose and it started to wear away.

Oh what a beautiful monument to Gracie, Clara Sue!

Those are my sort of cars Toni, and the Rolls is one I haven't got in my collection (probably as I haven't seen one on my travels or I would have), but do have a Russian one very much like the one next to it. I've stopped the list now though as once they finally made a model Tatra the official requirements were complete. I have many imports including a Ford which was only officially ever sold in France for some odd reason.

I just noticed your garden Christina, if the bungalow had Crittall windows originally it's probably almost the same as mine.

This was a little garden area on the edge of a field near Chipping Norton I liked the look of. I'm still waiting for the new camera to arrive so will be interesting to see if there's any difference from the old one.

We're a bit older than that Satguru, our deeds go back to 1896. My husband's grandfather bought the land from a local farmer and had the pair of bungalows built, one for himself, rented out the one next door (some very interesting neighbours over the years, but not for this thread). It got pebbledashed sometime in the 50s unfortunately but would cost to much to get it off and replaster, doesn't look too bad painted though. It's always been in the family since it was built, never been sold at all.

How about some "pope-mobiles" now?

Just out of curiosity .. why would people rub the statue's nose?

Great photos everyone.

So we're back from the school camp ... so tired!
At the station where we went to they have crops as well as stock, they're the only ones on school with crops.

Jill, people rub the noses of the HSBC lions outside the HK Bank here That's for good luck. Maybe they rub Gracie's nose for good health.
Fantastic pictures all I am loving this thread!

I believe that was why people rubbed poor Gracie's nose, Sara.

People rub Winson Churchill's statue in Westminter for luck. Usually his shoe which has a shiny tip while the rest of it is bronze.

There's a Henry Moore sculpture of the Madonna and Child in one of the churches here - she has a shiny foot and the baby has a polished head. I suppose some people touch them for religious reasons but I'm not at all religious and I still had to stroke them, the sculpture is so good it draws you in to touch it.

The Graham Sutherland painting on the opposite wall is also wonderful but I don't think people stroke that, lol.

As usual, I am enjoying the variety of pictures posted here. It's almost like traveling the world without leaving the comfort of one's home.

I found this is a nearby city park. I'm going to say it is from a black walnut tree but no doubt I'm wrong and flippy will be quick to point that fact out. Nevertheless..



It appears to be 2 walnuts growing together. It puts me in mind of something else but I can't quite put my finger on what that is right now.

Maybe that's a good two week theme: "It reminds me of something". Hmmmm,

Does not look the best of water to drink but that was not stopping this nyala and at least there are no crocodiles in it.

Yes

That's brilliant, they really do look after you in Jersey don't they.

Yes they are very good to the elderly and decrepit I guess.

Jill that is a great photo. It would look fantastic, too, as a black and white.

Was out for a walk in West Virginia and came across this rail. I would have loved to have been able to get a shot of a train coming around the corner.

So is that why you want to come again next year?

Taken recently at Whipsnade Zoo (Bedfordshire)

Our electricity transformers are better designed than many houses, this is on the edge of Hampstead Heath.

Mole Hall has a resident deer herd, and this guy is definitely the boss.

He does look impressive, Christina! and I love your giraffe TW!

Your railway shot reminded me of this photo, ClaraSue. We pedalled along out-of-service train lines from Mauriac to Drugeac recently using the vélorail on mechanical, pedal-powered vehicles called draisines, hard work but great fun, and some splendid views to be had.

Copago, I love that grass picture, very sculptural.

Howie, wow, your drinking deer photo is sublime.

I can see why that rail photo looked familiar, Santana. There is no way I could ever pedal on one of those - I have a heck of enough time pedaling my bicycle these days. I bet that was fun, though.


A sunset photo taken from my driveway this past March. One of the reasons I just love living in the desert southwest is because we get some of the most dramatic sunsets I've ever seen. One day I will own a camera that will do them justice.