Japanese Gardens at Cowra

G'Day,
Today was Peter and my 29th wedding anniversary. We had wanted to go down the coast but it was wet weather and as most of Canberra likes to disappear to the coast on long weekends we decided that we would avoid the traffic and rainy beaches and head inland to have a look see at the Japanese Gardens at Cowra. We haven't been there for several years and as it is spring time we might see some of the trees in blossom that the gardens are famous for. Most of the trees had finished flowering but it is still worth the visit. We had a lovely day out together.
Anyway the picture above is of a good sized huntsman spider that was above the kitchen window at our Macarthur house, the one we just moved out of last week. Big one isn't she. I think it is a she because the boy ones have a skinnier body.
This is some of the canola that was in full bloom between Cowra and Boorowa along the way. Very pretty. Spring has the earth in her fresh green clothes for a short while and she is showing the beauty of her best and brightest colours.
The above picture is taken at the gardens looking out of the display room at the international peace bell.
Look at this big urn, what a masterpiece. Being a potter I can see just how much expertise and time and work must have gone into a piece like this.
These are ornate helmets, sitting on little brocade cushioned stools.
Wow, the Japanese are really the master potters. This is a bronze covered pottery urn. Beautiful.
Ko-imari bowl about 14 inches across. Oh to be able to decorate like this.
Here is the story of the bowl pictured above.
Wet gardens.
Iris with rain drops perched round and perfect on its leaves.
The gardens were built to commemorate the Cowra Break out. During ww2 there was a prisoner of war camp nearby this spot which held 2000 Japanese, 2000 Italian and 1200 Indonesian prisoners of war. The Japanese were taught that to be p.o.w.s was not living and that they should try to escape. They rioted and over 240 of them were killed along with 4 of the Aussie guards.


Funny bloke, peeking in windows. Pete.
Every where you look is a scenic picture waiting to be captured.

I loved the way the plants which are ones we see commonly in gardens in our part of teh world were carefully sculptured to fit the theme and landscape.
Up the hill and down the same hill.



The Japanese theme fitted in with the big old eucalypts indigenous to the area.

Above. Me ringing the peace bell. Why does that man coming down the path not have a jumper on it was back to winter temps today?
The above pic is on our wedding day, were we that age once?
My DH is itching to have the puter back, he says I have been hogging so it I better go.
Poor old fella better humour him since it is our anniversary.
Goodnight.
Love Linda.