Spring. Well that was a few months ago now here. Now approaching Autumn, I say approaching as Summer is still hanging around with day time temperatures in the mid to high 30C’s
So it’s into the folders and find a few Spring photos which I hope you enjoy
The first buds of a Hippeastrum
A Stingless Native Bee and a European Bee discussing the qualities of a peach blossom
Here comes Mum with some more snacks for three hungry mouths
The Frangipannis buds just starting to unfold
What can be cuter than a little fluff ball chicken
The Hibiscus had lots of buds as Spring was a wet one last year
“It was like a surreal dream” “Yeah, we were doing our normal patrol” “All I heard was Ernest give a yell”
We all rushed over to where Marchin’ Mark was lying. Everyone tried to help. Someone was taking his pulse, someone started CPR, we all thought how would we cope without Marchin’ Mark out there getting us along on important missions. The nest won’t be the same
We all wondered what could have happened. Later on the CSI unit will be on the scene to work out what may have happened. Sorry, I promised Lois I wouldn’t use acronyms. That is the Criminal Scientific Investigants
“Oh well we should take him back to the nest I guess” “It’ll be a lot easier if we all pitch in.” “Hey….did you hear that?” “It came from further along the trail”
“Hey you lot.” “Get over here.” “We found the bloke who did Marchin” Mark in” “We need a bit of help”
Not wanting to see anyone else get too hurt, a couple of the others came over. We should be able to hold him down if everyone grabs a piece.
We’ve got him now. He has to go you know. Once a killer always a killer and a poacher of gold. We were sure he had been hanging around this trail for a while now.
“I reckon he’s the bloke that took all of Josephs gold” “and left him in a ditch on the side of the trail” “The Queen will know what to do with him” “Might be easier to take him back in pieces”
“That sounds like a plan” “Grab a bit and lets go” “Yeah, I’m building up a thirst” “Let’s catch up at The Puddle On Step 3 bar”
At The Puddle On Step 3 bar what else would be on non-stop rotation. Anyone else want to have a dance?
Don’t talk with your mouth full My mother used to say. Put as much as you can fit in your mouth on your fork My mother used to say Sit up straight elbows in My mother used to say.
Share with your sister My mother used to say.
Always greet the morning with a smile My mother used to say.
This is number eleven in my series of following flowers from buds to wilt and beyond. I discovered that I had a different blue Agapanthus flower from all of the others I have in my garden. I also have white Agapanthus flowers and that may be the next life of….
I took this photo this afternoon, it was a bit hot. They are quite different aren’t they.
Let’s start with the buds. I have a number of bud photos. I should have really thought about presentation but oh well.
All the future flowers tightly wrapped waiting to burst forth.
A trio of the dark blue flower buds
Still snug in their safety wrap
Starting to push forward and into the sunlight
Finally casting the casing aside preparing for all the florets to open – photo in the shade
Finally casting the casing aside preparing for all the florets to open – photo in the afternoon sunshine
The paler blue flowers are falling out of the bud casing
Reaching to the sky to open into the sunlight
While other buds struggle to open and flower fully
What I like about Agapanthus is how their flower buds mature at different times so there always seems that there are Agapanthus flowers in the garden. Look how many are almost ready to open and how many are still uncoloured buds.
Almost fully open. The casing is still attached to a couple of florets.
Finally free to start to become the flowers that they are meant to be
The outside florets open first while the inner buds bathe in sunlight
Gradually the whole umbrel or flower head starts to become full of open florets becoming the flower everyone knows.
Soon the umbrel will be full of open florets
The ones I have (in this series) are so different to the ones I usually know. The petals are getting paler, I think, while the stripes are becoming stronger
I have a number of clumps of Agapanthus throughout the garden. Some are smaller than others. They never seem to flower all at once as I see around town. In one clump this year, probably the best flowering year I have seen in ages, not all of the plants flowered.
Getting in close
There are lots of insects who enjoy the shelter and food the Agapanthus can supply.
These next two photos come from my archives.
An Orchard Swallowtail Butterfly getting right into the flowers
A Blue-faced Honeyeater intently getting to the bottom of the flower
Like everything on this world, the demise is always on the horizon. The mingling of buds, open flowers and withered flowers
I love the various colours as the flowers slowly deteriorate
Some of the flowers just fall to the ground while others drop only their petals.
Some flower heads don’t have many seed pods developing
While others are laden with pods
The next stage is a brown dried spindly ball. I thought I may have had an old photo but can’t find it. So this is where you use your imagination
This is my warm up guitar playing song. The Stones with one of their county best
Thank you to everyone who contributes their good and not so good photos. This year is the third year of you being brave enough to show everyone your last photo for the month. It doesn’t have to be on the very last day of the month if you didn’t take any photos. Maybe it was Christmas Day the last photo was taken. I wonder if there will be any fireworks photos?
So let’s see what you have for December 2022
The rules are simple: 1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 31st December or whenever your last photo was taken. 2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate. 3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do 4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments 5. Tag “The Last Photo”
Here’s mine. I seem to have a floral theme going on.
The rose didn’t mind that insects came to visit. Some were quite welcome although petal munches weren’t encouraged.
One morning a little green hopper was enjoying the sun after seeing the end of a tiny spider drop to the end of the flower. Looking up after hearing this loud noise he exclaimed “What the hell is that!” knowing it wasn’t a bee. “It better know how to land without breaking anything!” he hoped.
As it grew closer the little green hopper started to think of finding a new flower to hang around in for a while. “Someone like that would lower the tone of this fine neighbourhood” he said, “this is a place where every ones knows every one else and we can swap flower scent stories.” No one wants to chat about big stinky folk next door
“Oh no” he sighed, here come the bees” “Once one drops in and heads off to do his waggle dance, the place just fills up with buzzing and flicking pollen” “Not good for my hay fever,” as he sniffled and could feel a huge sneeze coming on. “I’m heading out of here, see ya!”
See I told you didn’t I. Don’t blame me if you start to sneeze.
4TheRecord is dedicated primarily to Ausmusic from all eras and most genres, we will explore the dynamics of the creative process, and reveal the great drama, lyricism, musicality, and emotion behind each classic song.
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