When I go somewhere new I don't feel much compulsion to see 'the sights', I mostly prefer to hang about and let whatever happens creep up on me. However, on my latest jaunt to Vienna I was accompanied by a more organized friend. The Botanical Garden was the perfect outing for a June Saturday afternoon.
For one thing, the gardens are huge and not the least manicured unlike some of the public parks which are splendid but a bit heavy on the begonias. Here a magical cottage.
Here a little stream
and an old pond reflecting the trees.
I think this wheelbarrow was once part of some sort of lesson for children - with mint and chives - but now tree seedlings are part of the mix.
Can't remember the names of the leaves. (Julia Fogg, where are you?)
Water and clover and silver birch
and well-seasoned logs
a meadow run wild
then the Alpine garden much smaller and more tended - with astilbe and peony
and berengia too.