I’ve recently visited both the National and Adelaide Botanic Gardens and, of course, due to Xingfumama’s challenge, I couldn’t help but notice some special seating options.
At the National Botanic Gardens:
At Adelaide Botanic Gardens
You have to be keen, as it’s pretty cold and wet and the moment.
Quieter this year, with few international visitors, the Adelaide Fringe Festival offers plenty of seating, and not just for entering in Xingfumamas pull-up-a-seat challenge.
For xingfumamas challenge, have a rock solid seat, contemplating the skywalk that juts out 25m and overlooks the Murchison Gorge, with see-through flooring.
In 1983, Australia’s infamous Ash Wednesday II saw more than 180 fires sweep across South Australia and Victoria, in winds of up to 110km/h. Seventy-five people lost their lives, with thousands becoming homeless. Other casualties were the extensive pine forests, the biggest industry in the South East, which affected people’s livelihood.
What to do with all the burnt timber? From what I can gather, the world’s biggest timber salvage began and, up to three years after the fire, trees were collected and kept submerged or wet in Lake Bonney, a freshwater lake near Mt Gambier, for use in the decade after.
The feature bench, or series of seats, for Becky’s squares, and Xingfumamas pull-up-a-seat, were salvaged trees that were removed from water storage in 1987, sawn, dried and preservative treated to act as a lasting reminder of the fire devastation and salvage operation.
They are outside the Umpherston Sinkhole in Mount Gambier, South Australia. I believe that the timber shows no signs of damage when salvaged in this way and can be used for building, furniture and all other usual purposes.
Have a seat in the South East and look at the gallery of pictures in Xingfumama’s challenge or gaze out at the wild sea beyond the lighthouse.
Far to the South East of South Australia is Mount Gambier, a region named after the volcano that erupted there about 5000 years ago. The geography of the area is dominated by volcanic activity and there are a number of impressive sinkholes, among which Umpherston is perhaps the most impressive.
James Umpherston created the garden in the sinkhole in 1886, leading to its other name, The Sunken Garden.
Originally a limestone cave, formed by the erosion of waves on rock, the top platform gave way to create the sinkhole and the topsoil is ideal for plants.
It’s depth and beauty are to be experienced, as capturing the dimensions is quite hard and the beautiful arrangement of the cascading ivy wall, rows of hydrangeas, palms and other foliage can best be appreciated from one of the many benches.
Perhaps the benches needed some upgrading before appearing in Xingfumama’s pullupaseat challenge.
For Xingfumama’s pull-up-a-seat challenge
It IS one of my favorite destinations, with plenty of places to park the proverbial.
And today, Tullulah Bright’s emporium caught my eye with these bright chair covers.
They’re set for Xingfumama’s pull-up-a-seat challenge.
In response to Xingfumama’s challenge this week, from Ballarat, Victoria, some stately and antiquated seats.
Underdown 