Monet’s Bridge
“Colour is my daylong obsession, joy, and torment”. – Claude Monet.
The theme for “Smile on Saturday” for the 15th of June is “bridge or viaduct”. My first thought was to photograph the bridge on one of my Blue Willow Pattern plates, but that would not be accepted, because the theme is about real bridges or viaducts, so drawings of bridges aren’t allowed, pictures of model bridges and viaducts, such as model railways, are not allowed either, and self-created bridges in a tabletop picture aren't allowed either. However, I do enjoy a good challenge, and even though I can’t use the bridge on the Blue Willow Pattern for my submission for this week’s theme, it did inspire me to choose the image that I have chosen to submit. I decided to look through my archives going back to a hot summer day a few years ago when I visited the Blue Lotus Water Gardens in Yarra Junction, where there were any number of beautiful red painted oriental bridges over ponds of water lilies and lotus blossoms, inspired by Monet’s garden in Giverny. I hope you like my choice for the theme, and that it makes you smile.
Spanning over 14 acres (50,000 square meters) in size, The Blue Lotus Water Gardens in Yarra Junction, east of Melbourne, features tropical-themed gardens containing more than forty different ponds, lakes and water features which produce the biggest display of lotus and waterlily flowers in the southern hemisphere. The grounds also contain an amazing array of exotic plants, garden exhibits, fountains, waterfalls, floral sculptures, walks and scenic vistas.
Monet’s Bridge
“Colour is my daylong obsession, joy, and torment”. – Claude Monet.
The theme for “Smile on Saturday” for the 15th of June is “bridge or viaduct”. My first thought was to photograph the bridge on one of my Blue Willow Pattern plates, but that would not be accepted, because the theme is about real bridges or viaducts, so drawings of bridges aren’t allowed, pictures of model bridges and viaducts, such as model railways, are not allowed either, and self-created bridges in a tabletop picture aren't allowed either. However, I do enjoy a good challenge, and even though I can’t use the bridge on the Blue Willow Pattern for my submission for this week’s theme, it did inspire me to choose the image that I have chosen to submit. I decided to look through my archives going back to a hot summer day a few years ago when I visited the Blue Lotus Water Gardens in Yarra Junction, where there were any number of beautiful red painted oriental bridges over ponds of water lilies and lotus blossoms, inspired by Monet’s garden in Giverny. I hope you like my choice for the theme, and that it makes you smile.
Spanning over 14 acres (50,000 square meters) in size, The Blue Lotus Water Gardens in Yarra Junction, east of Melbourne, features tropical-themed gardens containing more than forty different ponds, lakes and water features which produce the biggest display of lotus and waterlily flowers in the southern hemisphere. The grounds also contain an amazing array of exotic plants, garden exhibits, fountains, waterfalls, floral sculptures, walks and scenic vistas.