I have admired and enjoyed years of friendship with well-known Australian artist Barbara McGuire. If you so desire, I’ll tell you more about how we met in another post. When it’s winter here, it’s the opposite down under, so I loved her recent email and photos. Enjoy!
(Daughter) ‘Paula is now teaching in Cairns, a 20-minute drive from her new home, a “Queenslander” built of wood on stilts with a ground and upper floor. The walls are louvred to allow air through as Cairns is very humid.
‘Cairns, in Northern Queensland, is surrounded by beaches and mountains. It’s well-known for its tropical rain forests, beautiful plants, waterfalls, bays, and bird life.
‘The city is at the beginning of the Great Barrier Reef and popular with tourists. The fish I saw in their aquarium are absolutely amazing. Despite visiting all this during my week there my favourite place was the Botanic Gardens.
‘The place is renowned for its beautiful gardens, walkways, creeks and jungle-like trees. One section contained water plants and creepers, and as we walked through these, butterflies of various colours flew around us with one landing on (granddaughter) Lottie’s arm. What a beautiful experience. I hope you enjoy these photos I took.
As an artist I love painting beautiful things. On entering the gardens I noticed signs saying “Art Gallery” and nearly hidden in the trees, flowers, bushes and cliffs were enormous oil tanks from WWII. Inside these were beautifully lit spaces and spacious rooms with sculptures and art. (Note: Art work above left.) It was air conditioned and relaxing to wander through. I was inspired.
‘My love to you as always,
Barbara’
View from Over the Hill 