A Touch Of Paris

Geraniums Make The World Go Round

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

One of the many things I remember about Paris was the beautiful window boxes in the many apartment buildings. The summer we were there, most of the window boxes were awash with red geraniums and the white variety as well.

It wasn't until we bought out first home that I realised how easy it is to grow geraniums. The other bonus, of course, is that they require little of no maintenance. In our present home, we have flowers of many varieties, but I have never planted geraniums although I have this inescapable thought that there are some large ceramic pots out the front which could do with some bright colour.


I reckon there's a fair chance there'll be some geraniums there in the next few days, to bolster the petunias that have been a blaze of colour since the first week of October.

These shots were taken on the huge main staircase at Southbank, here in Melbourne. I guess there's not many countries in the world where you see Christmas baubles and geraniums in the same place. But yes, it is summer here .... and now if you'll excuse me, I need to get my gardening gloves, my potting mix and put something out the front of the house.

Yeah, okay, so I've been inspired by these pictures. Gotta run.


Visit Luiz Santilli Jr for the home of Today's Flowers.

A New Bloom Sweeps Clean

There Are No Boxes Like Window Boxes

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Shortly after the near-embarrassing situation described in the post The Charge Of The Flight Brigade, Bill Holmes of the Dawson City Visitors' Association advised me to buy a set of long-life lithium batteries (for extra backup) and a Canadian-voltage battery charger.

We had a great lunch together at Klondike Kate's and then, on Bill's advice, I headed to Peabody's Photo Parlor. I explained to the lady there how I had not one but two Pentax DSLRs with me and how both sets of batteries had died shortly after takeoff that morning - because I had been using an Australian-voltage charger.

She was very helpful, and we shared a chuckle about how lucky I was (or how well prepared I was for any eventuality) to carry spare batteries. Then she advised me on the relative merits of two different chargers and nodded when I opted for the Sony unit. I paid for my purchases and carefully kept the paper packet so that I would remember the name of the store.

Just before I sat down to write this post, I could not find the paper packet anywhere. (It's somewhere safe and logical and it will turn up eventually!) So I had to email Bill to ask him the name of the camera store - and he replied immediately.

So then next time you visit Peabody's, say a big Australian "G'day" to the lady behind the counter. And don't forget to photograph the flower boxes outside the store, on the boardwalk.

And if anyone can tell me the name of the lilac bloom in the first shot, I would be extremely grateful.

Visit Luiz Santilli Jr for the home of Today's Flowers.