Astro turf, is it wrong? Our children love it, partly because they don't encounter it too often. This is at Fed Square, real grass would struggle to grow here due to the high level of pedestrian traffic, so its probably astro-turf, or concrete.
Took myself off on a tangent googling astro turf - check out
http://www.justlivegreener.com/greener-home/306-is-artificial-grass-eco-friendly.html
http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/artificial-turf-versus-real-grass-which-is-greener.html
After visiting these sites I think there are probably more astro turf negatives than positives. The advice to wash your hands after using it because of the chemical residues and bacteria sounds pretty ewww, but then washing your hands is pretty good advice in general. More plastic in the world is probably never a good thing. At our rental, we are gradually removing more and more lawn and replacing it with garden, we never water the lawn, and we mow with an electric mower.
Real turf, complete with duck poo splodges to dodge, definitely wash your hands after visiting here. I love this steep hill in Birrarung Marr, so many children gleefully tumbling down it, and then giddily returning to the top. Give them a hill and they will roll.
The little Bowerbird took a while to get the knack of it and then when she finally did she bumped her head.
Totally unrelated, but to end the 40th Birthday visit to the city, weekend story.
Drawing on art created by Vincent Fantauzzo in the Art Gallery. Some really cool textas were placed next to this huge pastiche of photos and visitors were invited to embellish them.
This little one had no qualms about drawing on walls.
Looks like he's doing something he shouldn't.
SO MUCH FUN.
NGV Kids Corner, playing with leaves.
One of my favourite Melbourne buildings viewed from inside the NGV Kids Corner.
Inspired by the circus, the middle Bowerbird attempts juggling.
Another Birthday Cake to celebrate the big four O.
I love all the art in the city, not so much to enjoy around us. We do good trees, but the Big Bowerbird even found a lovely one of these to climb amongst all the concrete and bustle.
The Big Bowerbird wore my Nannas old hat (a treasured possession) to keep warm, and to disguise the fact that we forgot the brush - she attempted using the apartment's fork with limited success.
Melbourne, mid winter, is really the bomb, especially when your'e spoiling yourselves for a birthday treat. Not quite the overseas adventure we like to talk about (hello Tattslotto quick pick), but a great substitute on a budget. Was one of those weekends that felt like a week had past in just two short days.