Tag: Gibraltar Range

Walking Square #3 – Rocks, flowers and butterflies

Published on by bushboy32 Comments

Becky’s #WalkingSquares

Todays walk was in the Gibraltar Ranges. My mine aim was to get some photos of Waratahs and not have to do housework.

Here at my place it was a bit chilly, so I knew that going into the mountains it was going to be cooler. I wore jeans, T-shirt and a light jumper and had a jacket in the car just in case. Yes I know it’s Summer but no one told the weather. It snowed a way down the range but I knew there was snow somewhere as last night was rather cold. Yeah I know. A big baby when I say cold at 9c

This is a long walk as when I got to the gates to Washpool National Park they were locked. The Parkies were getting trees off the track that had fallen from the huge windstorm we had a week ago. The bush is still recovering from the fires and it doesn’t take much for a burnt tree to come crashing down. This walk to Granite Rock Lookout was about 2km there and back.

Well lets get started walking in the great southern land

Heading down the track with lots of flowers in the bush everywhere

Sometimes the White Paper Daisys Tall Everlasting attracted butterflies. Just like yesterday another Caper White Butterfly.

They enjoyed purple flowers as well

Didn’t find the name for this purple Australian Native Flower

Another type of Butterfly I looked and maybe a Pearl White of some sort

A lot of insects likes these flowers

Almost there. You can see why it’s called Granite Rock Lookout. A great walk through the Aussie bush. Maybe the second favourite spot I go to.

We may as well have a look at the view. This is where square has limitations. Even using 4:3 it would take three or four shots. Even panorama is a two photo to get the almost 280 degree view.

But we are here for the Waratahs. They are a Proteaceae so relative is South African Proteas. The first one I saw was just starting to open its buds

As I looked around I saw around twenty just near where I was. One had three flower heads and the buds of another one.
Aren’t they fabulous flowers. They are the New South Wales State Flower Emblem

You know I couldn’t go all the way up there without dropping in on my favourite spot, Raspberry Lookout. So it was take in the view. Out with my thermos and a Teabag and I even took a biscuit from home for afternoon tea.

Over the past few months I have been getting the blues. But I get up here and the blues get me.

Cee’s FOTD

Let’s go for a drive

Published on by bushboy24 Comments

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #203: Local Vistas

Everyone ready. Get comfortable. Put some music on

OK, turn left out of the gate and down the road

Turn left and head down to Lilydale

Go past the Ospreys nest

Yes someone has to open the gate

and here we are at Lilydale. Want to go for a quick swim?

Back in the car we rattle over the old wooden bridge and are soon at Cangi

It is rather peaceful and a good place to grab a bit to eat

Back onto the highway and head up the Gibraltar Range

First stop is always at the Raspberry Lookout

Where we will find native wildflowers like these Paper Daisies

or other native flowers with Blue-banded Bees

and perhaps a Nobbi Lizard sun baking on the rocks

among the yellow Paper Daisies

Just a bit further up the road is Washpool National Park where the first stop is Granite Rocks

and then further into the valley and into the rainforest where the giants live

Time to head for home back down the highway

and down the road to home

Through the gate

and time for a cup of tea

Life of a Paper Daisy

Published on by bushboy22 Comments

This is a Xerochrysum viscosum variety, a Summer flowering daisy. It is also known as Sticky Everlasting, Yellow Paper Daisy, Shiny Everlasting or Golden Everlasting Daisy.

Waiting to greet the day.

Open and feeling good

Starting to feel its age

Closing to protect the seeds and changing colour

It is finally over

Cee’s FOTD

Double dipping at Raspberry Lookout

Published on by bushboy23 Comments

Debbie’s One Word Sunday: Weather

Today I went for a drive up the Gibraltar Range as there are wild flowers growing at the moment. Of course a drive into the mountains wouldn’t be the same without a stop off at my favourite place, Raspberry Lookout.

This is what you can usually see when you stop at Raspberry Lookout

Today it was like this

I did mention wildflowers didn’t I? There were daisies and other flowers just on the roadside.

As well as Christmas Bells, the ones I had come to see.

These are for Cee’s FOTD

I don’t know if this satisfies Marsha’s and Cee’s PPAC I found it in the very old tree in a notch they cut out to insert planks to get higher when felling a tree many many years ago

I bet you wondered where all this was going didn’t you? Well this is all part of the Lens-Artists Challenge #181: Double Dipping

But did you notice that some of the photos were square so get prepared for Becky’s Square Photo Challenge February: Odd

Misty squares quiet places

Published on by bushboy45 Comments

Becky’s Square Photo Challenge: Past Squares
The Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge: Quiet Places
The Ragtag Daily Prompt Wednesday: Mist

I love a
misty morning
everything’s still
a hush broken
Kookaburra
a hush broken
nothing’s still
misty morning
I love

A close up of the tree in the middle of the above photo

Heading up the Gibraltar Range from my place to the Raspberry Lookout

Getting to my quiet place to sit for a bit while…….

…….the mist sits in the valleys

Or just be at my place in my other quiet places

My last bit of gold

Published on by bushboy9 Comments

Life in Colour September: Gold

On my last gold photo I didn’t let you know that it was a golden sunrise. I live on the east coast of Australia so a lot of my sunrise photos are over the sea. My sunsets are mainly with a mountainous backdrop.

To balance my gold photos, this time here is a sunset taken yesterday afternoon on my way home

My last gold song which has been stuck in my head all day

Photo Challenge – Week 3

Published on by bushboy16 Comments

Aletta from nowathome nominated me for this weekly photo challenge

Ragtag Daily Prompt Saturday: Vista

Feel free to join in this photo challenge (everyone is welcome). Show your best photos, but let’s make this tricky to guess where the photos are taken.

If you participate in this photo challenge, this is what you need to do:

  • Post one of your favourite photos each week for four weeks. It is a monthly challenge but as I started in the middle of the month, four weeks is what I am doing.
  • The photo can be from any time and anywhere, so start sifting through those old memories and photo albums.
  • Post the photo without any explanation and ask your readers where they think the photo was taken for a little guessing fun.
  • Nominate someone each Sunday. You can post wherever you wish although please link to me, so that I know you have accepted the #photochallenge. Today I am nominating Helen from Adventuring into Retirement who will show you some great scenes from South Africa

My favourite vista

A look at some mountain tops

Published on by bushboy20 Comments

The Friendly Friday Blog Challenge: Mountain Top

I have a selection of mountain tops as well as a few views I hope you’ll enjoy. One of my favourite Australian mountain songs from a while ago to accompany your scroll among my mountain tops.

“You want me to be a mountain
I’d rather be a river
Water flow can wash a hill away
You wanted me to fly
I want to get high
How else am I gonna see what I want to see?”

Mt Vesuvius – Wollumbin (Mt Warning) distant view and closer – The Gibraltar Range near my place in the mist – The Dalmatians – view from the Raspberry Lookout on a stormy day – sunset over the mountain top