I went to the Botanical Gardens in Mount Coot-ha to see a Sculpture Festival and while the Sculptures were interesting it was nature that won the day with its most magnificent natural forms. I was blown away by some which are exceptionally beautiful. I like to identify plants but signs are not always there. Here is one inscrutable one where the symmetry is key.

From the driest stacks and stems bursts of beauty.

This is the Lepidozamia Peroffskyana aka the Scaly Zamia or Pineapple Cycad. A native of NSW and a tall cycad. Look at those flaming red seeds.

This Bixa Ovellana is a native to central America. The pods are hairy and bright and I am sure inviting to those wanting to be stroked.

This amazing blue plant is Pycnostachys Urticifollia aka known as the Hedgehog Sage. The intensity of that blue is unusual.

While this interesting bush is called Iresine Herbish or the Beefsteak plant of Brazil. Perhaps it has the colouring of a raw beefsteak.

The pattern of the leaves here radiating out – almost helping the small delicate flowers with a smell of jasmine spread their joy further.

The dark leathery leaves against the similar ground and then the explosion of that intense pink.

I could show you some of the mainly metal sculptures but I will confine myself to just one which I thought was so Oz.

Its title is “Having a Yarn” -By Pete Denison. What are you yarning about ?