With us both being too busy today to celebrate the feast of Lupercalia, we decided to go on Sunday to The Blue Lotus Water Gardens instead.

Besides I couldn’t find a goat and a dog to sacrifice, and I am pretty sure that SWMBO would not allow me to whip her with their skinned hides either.

The mountains to the east of Melbourne were the place in Victorian times to holiday in summer to escape the heat, take the “waters” and breathe the “airs”.

Now very much on the fringe of the city rather than in the countryside the area still has many gems for day trips. The Blue Lotus Water Gardens is one of them.

Situated in Yarra Junction, so named for the junction of the Yarra River that flows through Melbourne to the sea, and the “Little Yarra” river, the gardens are fourteen acres of pure delight.

The cool mountain air means that the lakes are only a few feet deep so that the sun can keep the lotus flowers warm and able to bloom. The garden is closed during winter because of this.

Giant Amazonian lotus plants, some over three feet in diameter.

The rose and the lotus?

Queen of the Dragons (shhh – don’t tell her!). Emilia Clarke eat your heart out!

The Lotus fairies. I think the young ones have had enough of photos!

Monet has nothing on this!

We gorged ourselves on a sumptuous feast cooked lovingly by SWMBO, and despite the on and off rain we had a great day.

The only downside was missing Emilia in the dragon garden!