Yesterday I visited Edinburgh Botanic Gardens........ a seriously beautiful garden, filled with flowering rhododendron and cold-climate plants unsuitable for the temperate Sydney climate. I stumbled upon an exhibition in Inverleith House: Nature study- Louise Bourgeois and John Hutton Balfour (1808-1884). Their work is very different in style and purpose but both show a fascination for the natural world.
These botanical illustrations were visual aids for teaching medical students. Reminds me that I have a herbarium at home tucked away in a cupboard somewhere. Must get it out when I get home.
Tucked away in a corner, I found an Andy Goldsworthy sculpture.
Topiary, 2005
Louise Bourgeois
Stenocarpus sinuatus, mid-nineteenth century
(by various artists) for John Hutton Balfour.
This inflorescence is from the Fire-wheel tree. An Australian rainforest tree which I have growing in my garden at home.
A vitrine containing botanical teaching models.
This little piece of crocheted coral was made using yarn from Marks & Spencer chartreuse plastic bags. The yarn is very fine and I used a 1.75mm hook.
On the walk exploring the botanic gardens, I found a Monkey puzzle tree (Auracaria auracana) from South America. It reminded me of home and made me very homesick. We have Norfolk Island Pines (Auracaria heterophylla) growing on the beaches back in Sydney and Bunya-bunya Pines (Auracaria cunninghamiana) growing in SE Quensland. I have a Bunya pine in my garden too. The pine cone is the size of a football......lethal! All evidence that Australia was part of the giant super-continent Gondwana once.
I've been away from home for 8 weeks and I miss my loved ones so much. Next week is London for the exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, then home sweet home mid-June. Yeaaaaaaaah!
The Hayward Project Space and Royal Festival Hall Level 2 Foyer
Wednesday 11 June 2008 - Sunday 17 August 2008
Opening night Tuesday 10 June, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
