Sunday, 29 November 2009

Today's flowers - Hydrangea autumn style




Hydrangeas in autumn colours - but still charming!

Click on the icon above to enter the global flower shop!






Elegant candelabra above the Graben, Crystal lights in Kärntnerstraße, and big red balloons over Rotenturmstraße.
The City is prepared for the big Christmas sale!

Sunday, 22 November 2009

Autumn in the Vienna Woods - Peilstein

Schwarzensee am Peilstein

The small mountain Peilstein 716 m/2.350 feet high, with its breath-taking vertical cliffs, is a climber's paradise 40 km/22 miles southwest of Vienna, sourrounded by the soft rolling hills of the Vienna Woods.
In autumn, the bright colours of the beeches and the dark green pine trees make a nice contrast with the white limestone rocks.






Saturday, 21 November 2009

Posing for "Camera Critters"




My D'Ora and a new friend posing for Camera Critters...


... and getting back to business as usual ;-)


Sunday, 15 November 2009

Autumn stroll in Vienna's Stadtpark

***
After crossing busy Ringstraße, you enter Stadtpark,
a green oasis right in the center of the city Vienna.
















An Autumn stoll in Vienna's City Park -
the white architecture of the pavillons and the copper green balustrades and bridges make a nice contrast with the coloured leaves.
The river Wienfluss flows peacefully now, but the large river bed protects Vienna from floods in summer thunderstorms.
Here is a link to Wikipedia, if you are interested to know more about Vienna's Stadtpark!

Travel around the world!
http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

Saturday, 14 November 2009

Today's flowers


One of the last fragile flowers before the cold season sets in.

This is apparently a Gaura lindheimeri (Prachtkerze).
Vienna's Stadtgartenamt (MA12, a department of the city administration) planted them this year on all the public flower beds in town.

Thank you Digital Flower Pictures for your hint!

Weekend reflections


Well, I think there are some Viennese mallards missing in this week's "Weekend reflections"!



The little pond in Stadtpark serves as a nice mirror for the lovely couple!


James at Newtown Area Photo has a meme called Weekend Reflections. Post a reflection during the week-end, log on at his site - and you're on.

Friday, 13 November 2009

A Dog's Life


When I leave my bed on Saturday mornings and cook some coffee in the kitchen, my doggy quickly jumps up into my warm bed and dozes under the blanket.


After returning from a stroll in the park, the big pillow on our sofa is D'Ora's favourite place for her afternoon naps :)

Saturday, 7 November 2009

Today's flowers





Last week's snowflakes have not harmed all the flowers and leaves in the center of Vienna!
I took these pictures Saturday morning after a rainy night.

Sunday, 1 November 2009

In den Praterauen

I took a long walk with my dog this afternoon in Vienna's Prater, along the old arms of the Danube, close by the centre of the city.
Come with us and enjoy the Autumn colours, and imagine the smell of decaying leaves!


A heron rose when we entered this magical world.












Vienna, Prater, Heustadlwasser
(Please enlarge the pictures!)



Sunday, 18 October 2009

Today's flowers

Winter came very early this year,
and after the first snowfall, the last flowers look a little withered!
But their colours are still wonderful,
they seem to rival the changing colours of autumn leaves!






Look for flowers all around the globe!

Thursday, 15 October 2009

Autumn skies over Schloss Belvedere

The story behind:
Last Sunday morning we went to see an exhibition of one of Austria's most famous painters of the 19th century, Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, in Vienna's Schloss Belvedere.
As it was the last day of the exhibition, we came very early, to avoid the crowds!
We were one hour too early, in fact!
First we strolled through the gardens of Schloss Belvedere, and as there was still plenty of time left, we went over to the neighbouring Botanical Garden.


A red brick wall that separates the two gardens, and behind the wall you see the copper domes of Schloss Belvedere.


Between two rain showers, the Autums sky changed from pale to dark blue,
and made the scenery really thrilling!


It was great fun to take pictures when the Autumn light was so special!








By the way: in the meantime WINTER has come to Austria, we had the first snowflakes today! They did not last in Vienna, but the surrounding countryside is painted white!

Here is a link to the exhibition Waldmüller,
and here are two of his paintings.


Watch the sky ...


... all around the globe!

Sunday, 11 October 2009

Autumn Flowers in abundance

Today we visited Vienna's Botanical Garden.
There were plenty of flowers,
and I picked some of them for YOU!


















Visit our meme Today's Flowers worldwide!

Friday, 9 October 2009

Vienna Skywatchers

This year summer ended on 8 October!
That's what we call a mediterranean climate!
It is the hottest 8th October in Austria since 1959!

But today, Autumn has come overnight!
The bright sunny skies belong to the past!

And we really enjoy our first
COSY COOL AND BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN WEEKEND!
Happy Skywatch Friday, Happy Weekend!

Monday, 5 October 2009

Burg Greifenstein and another view over Vienna


Go by train to Kritzendorf, 10 miles northwest of Vienna,
follow a steep path through the wineyards up the hill.


Pause for breath and look back over the large floodplain of the Danube,
stretching between Bisamberg on the northern side (left)



and Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg on the other side of the river (right).


Walk on and soon you get a nice view of the towers of Klosterneuburg and of the skyline of Vienna behind!


Take a two hours walk through the Vienna Woods, then slowly descend towards the Danube,
and take a rest at the medieval castle of Burgruine Greifenstein!


Enjoy the beautiful view and, if the season permits, take a refreshing swim in the Danube's old arm!


I hope you enjoyed our walk!


For a more detailed view, please enlarge the pictures!

http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

Sunday, 27 September 2009

Autumn roses

The pink colours of the roses are slowly shading off.


But they are still beautiful!

And the Autumn colours and spider webs are taking over!


Visit the global flower shop:

Saturday, 26 September 2009

Autumn crocus and a nice view over Vienna

Last Sunday we took a walk in the outskirts of Vienna.
The meadows of Schwarzenberpark were full of autumn crocus!


We walked on towards the soft hills of the Vienna Woods.


From time to time the woods opened and we stepped out on the steep meadows.


People were squatting in the grass, enjoying the sun and flying their kites.

The autumn air was quite clear, we could see St. Stephen's Cathedral in the distance!


http://www.scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

Sunday, 20 September 2009

Today's flowers - Autumn Sunflower


Autumn has come to my part of the world,
and it paints the world golden.

Take a trip around the world in our virtual flower shop!
http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/


Thank you
LUIZ SANTILLI JR. - DENISE GULLICKSON - LAERTE PUPO - VALKYRIEN
for hosting this wonderful meme!

Saturday, 19 September 2009

A Sunday trip to the pine woods of Bad Vöslau

Dear friends, I caught the flu last week, but now I'm back!
This is a report from our last trip through the woods near Vienna!
Enjoy!


Bad Vöslau is a small town 25 miles south of Vienna.
It is situated on the slopes of the Vienna Woods and it is famous for its hot springs and its red wines.
And also for its lovely old architecture from around 1900.


But last Sunday we came to Bad Vöslau to take a stroll through the large pine wood forests around.


Before we entered the forest, we enjoyed the view over the wineyards.
Here the red wine was cultivated on a large scale as early as 1770.




The sun casted lovely shadows on the grey trees, and the leaves on the ground were sweet with autumn.


We followed a path called "E2".
E2? Later on we found out that "E2" means
Esoteric path no. 2
.
*lol*


Esoteric?
E2 turned out to be a truly romantic and solitary path
(which did NOT lead to Vöslauerhütte but near it)

but on its way we came across some old limestone pits,


and even some heaps of mighty granite rocks called "Hexenstein", Witchrocks.
E2 - Esoteric! *LOL*


I climed up on top of Witchrock,
and the dog was frustrated because it was too steep for her to follow.
:(


The wood was full of Cornelian Cherries,


and it was the first time in my life that I found them really sweet and overripe!


Cornelian Cherries, "Dirndln", are widespread in Lower Austria, they are used for making jam, and also for the delicious and rare Dirndlschnaps!


Autumn had also painted the fruits of the barberries red,
and made the flowers special.


A look up in the sky showed a different world:


the beautiful ornaments of the dark pine trees against the bright magic sky.


Our dog enjoyed the hike,


and when the forest suddenly changed from pines to beeches and oaks,
(which is not unusual in this region)
we were not surprised to find plenty of the wild growing Cyclamen persicum, Alpenveilchen.

Link to Google Maps Bad Vöslau.

Please find more contibutions to Scenic Sunday here:

Tuesday, 1 September 2009

More Vienna pictures coming soon...

The "Old" Danube
Schloss Belvedere
The photographer;)
Back at the Danube again...
More Vienna photos coming soon :9