Botantical Garden/Vienna

When I go somewhere new I don't feel much  compulsion to see 'the sights', I mostly prefer to hang about and let whatever happens creep up on me. However, on my latest jaunt to Vienna I was accompanied by a more organized friend.  The Botanical Garden was the perfect outing for a June Saturday afternoon.

For one thing, the gardens are huge and not the least manicured unlike some of the public parks which are splendid but a bit heavy on the begonias. Here a magical cottage.

Here a little stream

and an old pond reflecting the trees.

I think this wheelbarrow was once part of some sort of lesson for children - with mint and chives - but now tree seedlings are part of the mix.

Can't remember the names of the leaves. (Julia Fogg, where are you?)

Water and clover and silver birch

and well-seasoned logs

a meadow run wild

then the Alpine garden much smaller and more tended - with astilbe and peony

and berengia too.