Just when I thought I’d explored every inch of the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, I discovered the lush rainforest.
It is truly an enchanting place, especially first thing in the morning when there isn’t another soul on the trails, giving you an entire rainforest to yourself to explore.
Such solitude lends itself to observation, allowing you to notice treasures like this.
The trails lead up, up, up through fern grottoes, palm groves, and beautiful waterfalls.
I stood here a long time, lulled into reverie by the water and wind through the palm fronds.
At first glance the rainforest is a sea of greens – lime, Kelly, emerald – but if you move slowly, you discover stunning blossoms in colors and shapes straight out of Dr. Seuss stories.
The trees are like marvelous sculptures with their incredible above ground root systems and wondrously textured trunks covered in stripey layers and spiky knobs.
The rainforest is a wonderful place to amble through, quiet, utterly serene, and astonishing.
It is the colors that delight me the most with their strange shapes and dazzling hues.
And I love the rough stones steps that make the rainforest look like the setting for an Indian Jones movie.
Aren’t these blooms amazing? Looking at the simple green leaves you’d never imagine that such beauteous flowers would emerge.
My favorite trees were these ones, hung with oblong gourds that dangled like otherworldly Christmas ornaments.
It is the bobbing gourds and enormous pods resembling pine cones that turn simple bushland into something exotic.
I’d never seen anything like these luminous blue blossoms almost hidden in a profusion of glossy green leaves.
And I loved these ones that look like purple tipped flames. Wondrous.
What is the last place that awed you with its beauty? xo
Oh my gosh, those colors are just so brilliant!!
Aren’t they INCREDIBLE, @joanneeatswellwithothers:disqus ?! I was blown away. 🙂
Oh your photos are stunning and what a magnificent place to visit. You look like you fit right in. Beautiful. B
Thank you so much, @gracehush:disqus 🙂 I was in such happy awe. 🙂
I’ve never seen that at the gardens. We must go back! Your smile is beautiful to see.
I’ve been there several times and I’d never seen it either, @OrgasmicChef:disqus 🙂 Turns out I’d never gone deep enough into the park. 🙂 xo
It certainly looks very tranquil and I love how there are such stunning colours amongst these plants. Amazing! xx
It is so peaceful, @8934544a42c0a72de9bcba676bdae42b:disqus A whole hour flew by and I barely noticed because it was all so wonderful. 🙂
What a stunning place! Definitely like an Indiana Jones film set! And those peacock earrings of yours fit right in with the other exotic blooms!
Isn’t it magnificent, @katyabroad:disqus ?! 🙂 We will go there when you come to visit. 🙂 xo
Love the photos with the gorgeous colours and particularly you with the koala statue Krista 🙂
Thank you so much, @wanderingsheila:disqus 🙂 Hopefully one day soon I’ll get to see and touch a real koala. 🙂
Oh wow, Krista, what a serene and beautiful place!
Isn’t it wonderful, @lizposmyk:disqus ? I wish I could take you there. I just know it would make you feel better. 🙂 xo
lovely pics! (especially those “selfies” – we can tell just from them how happy you are there.)
oh dear. yes i always have to say first, last and always, hawaii. where i was born and which looks very much like this! glad to hear you’re taking it easy this holiday season. (it’s a dirty job but someone has to do it!) xoxo
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Somehow I never knew that you were born in Hawaii, @9d73767d10227efff04c7307e331304c:disqus 🙂 What a beautiful place to grow up in. 🙂 xo
Love, love it. Australia has so many diverse climates. These are beautiful photos.
Isn’t it amazing, @4051406338aaef5dd8bf9775f8ab662d:disqus It changes so much from place to place. 🙂
this is absolutely a fairy land! thank you for sharing it all~ the blue little flowers are my fav! with the pink… just like my sunset!
For me, it was tonight as I caught the sun setting over our snowy field. My head was down as I came out the door of our daughter’s home we are building and the snow shone pink ~ the sky was soft pink rays stretching through the soft blues and as I watched it was like a kaleidescope changing colours and shapes… 15 minutes and then it was back to winter greys and whites and blacks and night settling in…. I am always astounded at how we can lift up our countenance and catch a miracle.
Ohhh, I remember those magical snowy light moments, @thefisherlady:disqus 🙂 I can close my eyes and picture it perfectly. How wonderful to catch yourself unawares with such beauty. 🙂
An enchanting place, to be sure!
Enchanting is the right word, @tracyaltieri:disqus 🙂
one of my most memorable nights was spent in a rain forest just outside of Cairns. Your photos are amazing!
Ohhh, that would’ve been incredibly magical, @tandysinclair:disqus 🙂
We just love a good rainforest walk! Beautiful foliage!
Oh me too, @inspiringtravellers:disqus 🙂 It’s like disappearing into a new world. 🙂
Wonderful photos with such depth of colour – and it looks like a fantastic place to enjoy a hike.
I’m so glad you like the pictures, @hikebiketravel:disqus 🙂 Yes, it is a great place to hike. So serene and gorgeous. 🙂
Oh those bromeliads (the first and last photos) remind me so much of South Africa! Too gorgeous – I’d go there all the time if I lived in the area!