Giant Spear Lily and more, at Centennial Park

Making it to Centennial Park during the week, involved a hop, to the nearest rail station, skip through almost two hours on the x-press train to Central station/Sydney, and a jump onto the bus to final destination.

The morning had started out with a forecast 20 degrees, much lower than the previous two or three days, so that was going to be good for walking the park grounds. However, getting out at Central station, the skies were grey and a cold wind weaved it's way around everybody alighting the platform. I think a lot of people were unprepared for this, including three carriages of school-kids on an excursion. Fickle Spring.

Thank heavens I had a shower-jacket in my backpack. It was a last minute thought too, one moment I'd unpacked it thinking I won't need this - and then I decided it was light enough to squeeze in, just in case.

Officially opened in 1888, Centennial Park covers 189 hectares and yes, I do have to go back to see more.

This Giant Spear Lily is growing much further south than it's known environment on the far north coast of N.S.W.  The weighty flower heads hang downwards, on top of a flowering stalk which can grow to five metres tall (approx 16.5 ft), according to Australian National Herbarium.  That explains why I stood on top of a brick wall ledge to get the snapshot.

perhaps it's a caretakers cottage, a stately heritage home

Melaleuca (Paperbark)

feature gardens near to the cafeteria; bacon and egg roll, and coffee-stop.

Xanthorroea or Grass Trees, native to Australia, and note blue in the sky and there was sunshine too

Australian native, Banksia

and not to disappoint you (or me), this was the first bird photographed on the day, a Crested Pigeon.  

The interesting history of Centennial Parklands is here

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