Last week we had almost perfect summer weather. After months of rain, everything was looking green and calm.
The sun shone softly in the early morning, and we decided to walk around Lake Burley Griffin, rather than our usual suburban pathways.
Only the keen cyclists, rowers, those with canoes, and joggers are out and about at this time in the morning.
Along the way we looked back at Canberra’s skyline and watched six ducks deciding which one would jump first.
It was very tricky taking a photo….. which one would jump first? .. and next …
Only one duck left, thank goodness she eventually jumped too!
We walked through the Canberra Nara Peace park, which features a small Japanese themed garden.
This park has an annual Canberra Nara Candle Festival, held in October….weather permitting…this year it was flooded out until early December.
We have missed this festival every year, including this one!
However, from photos I have seen, the lighted candles resting on cobbled stones in the Japanese garden look wonderful at night.
The remains of the beautiful Iris (I think) most of them damaged by the continual rain.
We went past the World Peace Bell, rung on World Peace Day on the third Tuesday in September each year.
As I looked through the news and information on the Peace Bell it was heartening to see so many people, from the very young to the very old attend this festival every year.
Canberra’s Peace bell is 350 kilograms and is the 23rd in the world and the second in Australia.
The wonderful part of living in a capital city, is that we see, first hand, some of the positive events happening between countries.
This amazing sapling, descendant of the Ginkgo tree in Hiroshima, only arrived in Canberra on the 6th May 2022.
It was gifted to the ACT government, by The Green Legacy Hiroshima, and it is a wonderful symbol of hope and peace.
We enjoyed our walk, even more so for seeing such symbols of hope on this very peaceful morning.
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog today, and I hope you are enjoying your day, regardless of winter or summer, in your part of the world.
Copyright Geraldine Mackey: All Rights Reserved
What a lovely walk. Hope to make it back to Canberra one day.
Canberra is looking good this summer, and a very nice time to visit!
Loved going with you on your walk and glad the rain has stopped at last. I didn’t know about peace bells so was very interested.
Thanks Susan, and yes, I had no idea about the peace bell before it was established in the park.
Your iris is our Dietes. My sister is growing a Gingko cutting for a Bonsai. And we so much enjoy the golden leaves in their season!
Yes the Gingko is really a beautiful tree, and it must be very resilient.
Beautiful walk! The peace bell is handsome, and I hope the new ginko tree likes its new place in the world and prospers. Spreading peace in this very challenging time is a wonderful thing. Enjoy your warm weather.
Thanks Judy, yes, I’m sure most people want peace.
What a beautiful place! And that peace bell is impressive. I wonder what sound it makes. High, low, or something in between? On another subject…I really liked the duck sequence.
It is such a solid bell, I think it’s sound will be low. I’ll certainly look out for the bell ringing time next year.
A delightful day for a walk. It made me feel very jealous. I hope that your Hiroshima tree thrives.
Canberra is a very popular city for cyclists and walkers, I’m sure you would enjoy cycling or walking here. Yes, I hope the Hiroshima tree thrives, it is well protected by surrounding mature trees.
Beautiful time of the day to do that walk. The lake looks absolutely serene. How perfect that the Gingko is descended from a Hiroshima Gingko. I hope it does really well.
Yes, I thought the lake looked serene that day, today the winds have whipped up! The original Gingko must have been incredibly resilient.
I love the candles. I have never heard of the Hiroshima tree descendants. What a lovely idea. We planted a little gingko in our yard and I nurture it with great hope that it will thrive. But, alas, it doesn’t have the pedigree of the Hiroshima tree!
What a pity your little gingko did not survive…I don’t know much about gingko trees, but the Hiroshima gingko must be very resilient!
Beautiful photos of such a delightful place. Nice seeing a blue sky, especially as it’s been freezing here. Shame about missing the festival but those candles are lovely. What a marvelous bell.xxx
Hi Dina, thanks for your comments, and sorry for the delay in replying. We are finally getting sunny weather, so we are out and about these days.
I checked on your blog a while ago, and but I couldn’t see if you had written anything new, I’ll have another look today.
Best wishes for Christmas!
Such a beautiful and peaceful place to walk, Gerrie.
Yes, thanks Sylvia, it is peaceful, and also nice and shady when it is hot!