Not Perfect, But Valuable

“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.”
– Alice Walker


Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word; Watch … to visit their fabulous click on >> Here
My poem below was prompted by Watching the tree’s different shaped trunks and roots



Not Perfect, But Valuable



My roots are splayed and distorted
But I am not disabled
My trunk is grey and twisted
But I am alive and growing


My branches are soft and frail
But I am mentally and physically
Strong enough to reach for the sky
And propagate my life-giving leaves


“The true meaning of life
is to plant trees,
under whose shade
you do not expect to sit” … Nelson Henderson











All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm



Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)



Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)



Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books




OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) November 2024

The Final Phase

Today (Friday) was the sixth day of our visits to the Geelong Botanical Gardens Conservatory to view the “Corpse Plant’s Flower” bloom, then quickly deteriorate.

The images below represent the “Flowers” phenomenal six-day journey.


After leaving the conservatory, we had a picnic lunch in the shade of an American Sweet Gum and photographed some interesting and colourful plants.


We hope you have enjoyed being introduced to the incredible “Corpse Plant” and our walks around the magnificent “Geelong Botanical Gardens”








Ivor Steven (c) November 2024

Throwback Friday, Out of Breath (a Tanka)

Today’s Throwback Friday poem is from December 2022
All Featured Images: Were taken today at the magnificent “Geelong Botanical Gardens”








Out Of Breath (a Tanka)


Giant Grey-gum tree

Bears air for the atmosphere

Is life out of breath?

Nature continues to fight

Despite the disdainful crowd











All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm



Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)



Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)



Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books




OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) November 2024

The Collapse Begins

Today (Thursday), I observed that the “Flower’s” central spike (the Spadix) had begun to bend and lean over, and the “Corpse Plant’s Flower” was noticeably deteriorating.

After viewing the “Plant,” we went to the Botanical Gardens Cafe for Coffee and Cake, located, in a delightful open verandah area.

In the bottom right photo, Frankie is looking at a mosquito that has landed on his nose

Then we visited the Gardens’ renowned “Tree Fern” precinct …


Below Photos have their name tags inserted … click on the individual images to read the plants’ name …








Ivor Steven (c) November 2024

The “Flower’s” Curtain is Closing

Today (Wednesday), the “Corpse Plant’s” Flower had begun wilting and closing up. I think the next stage of the flower’s demise will be the collapse/folding over of the central spike (the Spadix). Yes! … I’m coming back tomorrow.

Because there were no queues today! we had time to explore and discovered some interesting displays in the Botanical Gardens.

Frankie in the dog house at the old Customs House





Wow … it’s nearly midnight … these pictorial articles/posts are taking me a long time to prepare and put together! … now, to find a suitable song …






Ivor Steven (c) November 2024

The “Corpse” Flower is One Day Old

The Corpse Plant flower will start deteriorating soon, so we enthusiastically (maybe Frankie was not so keen!) went to the “Gardens” for another close-up view today, and we’ll probably come back tomorrow. The phenomenal event has captured my imagination and I will not miss the next stage of the ‘flower’s short existence …

Yes Frankie! we’re in the queue again …

Yes Frankie! we’re nearly there

Yes Frankie! we’re inside and I can see the ‘flower’

Yes Frankie! we’re here, and the “Corpes Flower” is ours for few moments

Yes Frankie! the ‘Flower’ was big news in the newspaper today








Ivor Steven (c) October 2024

The “Corpse” is Blooming

This afternoon, we went to Geelong Botanical Gardens again, to view the now infamous “Corpse Plant” blooming.
The queue into the Conservatory stretched all the way back to the Gardens entry gate, and during my time at the Gardens, the queue was not diminishing. The rare and unique event had attracted thousands of visitors.
We lined up for 40 minutes until we in the viewing area, but our wait was rewarded with the flower’s extraordinary spectacle …

In the very long queue under the shade of a large ‘Bottle Tree’

Yes Frankie, we’re nearly there!

Left: My photo at 2.30 pm — then my ‘Screenshots’ from the ‘Live-stream’ YouTube show, at 5.00 pm and 8.00 pm
As you can see the ‘flower’ is in full bloom, and I am going back at noon tomorrow, hopefully, before the flower starts to deteriorate







Ivor Steven (c) 11th November 2024

Frankie Meets a Friendly Ferret





Frankie Meets a Friendly Ferret

I had Frankie on his lead
And he was enjoying his walk
Across the Garden’s lawn area

Then to our surprise
We were joined by a friendly ferret
And he was on a lead too!

While Frankie and the ferret
Curiously sniffed each other
The ferret’s owner and I
Had a convivial chat











All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm



Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)



Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)



Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books




OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) November 2024