Flecker Botanical Gardens

You may remember last week I took my visiting parents to the Flecker Botanical Gardens in Cairns? If you're ever in this section of the world it is certainly worth a visit. The first time I visited with Monet it was not long after Cyclone Larry had visited the city so the gardens weren't looking too good. Last week was a different story though. The Gardens seemed to be flourishing.


I'm not one to know names of plants so I have no idea what most of these are called. All I know is that they all grow in tropical climates. A lot of the plants are species from Papua New Guinea and Asia but I do have to say, most of them are lovely...

Check out the flower on this plant...

My mum ohhed and ahhed over that flower, after all, it's not everyday you see something as magnificent!

(That's my dad taking photos and my mum probably pointing to some plant she's never seen before!)

One thing with tropical 'flowers' is the majority of them are fabulously bright, especially against the lush green leaves (bar the above 'dark flower')...

The next flower we thought was a tropical kind of 'Waratah'...

The Gardens looked so healthy, so green and best thing? So quiet! Except for the roar of airplanes taking off from the airport across the road every 10 minutes! *heehee* There weren't many people around so it was like having the tropical oasis to yourself. In fact, it was so quiet it was like you were in someone's personal tropical backgarden.

I need to visit there more often. Monet *loved* it. She loved reading the little description plaques beneath the plants and making up what they read.

"If you catch a Butterfly, catch it and let it go"
"If you see Dora say 'Swiper no swiping'" (you need to know Dora the Explorer to understand that one!)
"Tell Boots that Dora's catching butterflies"
"If you cross a bridge, find a butterfly"

Sure they didn't make sense but we all got good giggles out of them.

If you're ever in town make a special outing to visit these Botanical Gardens, you'll find them fascinating. Just take some Insect Repellent with you!