Flowers of the White Night

Last night until early this morning, Melbourne celebrated its first White Night festival. We went down to take it in, although we did not stay the whole night. We took the 96 to Bourke Street and then walked down to Flinders Street, nearly getting trampled in Desgraves Street which was unbelievably packed. The colourful light displays on the buildings along Flinders Street and of the station itself were a sight to behold.

The origins of this event are in the Northern Hemisphere. The first was in St Petersburg. The white nights is the name given in areas of high latitude to the weeks around the summer solstice in June during which sunsets are late, sunrises are early and darkness is never complete. In Saint Petersburg, the Sun does not set until after 10 p.m., and the twilight lasts almost all night.

Last night was another very warm night, and as we arrived back home, the cloying scent of the night flowers filled the air in the front yard, although Vince said he couldn't smell anything. The rather neglected garden has been colonised by a vigorous but unknown kind of flower that remains closed during the day and opens fully at night, their beautiful flowers rivalling the fantastical colours of White Night displays. What night creatures do these blooms hope to attract?