I commenced this photo challenge with a flower, then a leaf, so to continue with my theme for this Macro Monday. The bark of an Ironbark tree – with a spiders web thrown in.
Tag: Red Ironbark
Up in the Tree
The word prompt from the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge: Look up
Out for a walk I saw a sudden bright flash in the sky. Trying to find whatever it was, I Looked up high into the grand Ironbark tree at the entrance to my place. There do you see the little bird?
It is a Rainbow Bee-eater taking in the sights from high among the leaves.
The photos don’t show what a lovely little bird the Rainbow Bee-eater is so I put a better photo in the header
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Trees in black and white
Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge: Trees
I had a bit of a hard time deciding on trees for Cees photo challenge. I have just found a few that may be of interest.
This is one of the tallest Ironbark Trees in my street. I haven’t measured the tree but estimate it to be around 30meters tall. The front of my place has some big Ironbark trees like this one which was one of the attractions when I bought Durranbah.
Along the road a towards the river is some forest gums. When they shed their bark, the timber underneath is a bright orange colour. They really stand out in the forest.
Here is a close up of one of the trees.
This is looking down towards the back of my place from the house
In the gullies that run through my place are many Grass Trees. The one in front is about 100 years old. The one at the back is a youngster which was probably a small bunch on the ground when I bought Durranbah around 30 years ago.
Durranbah is the name I gave this place. It means small jumping ants in Aboriginal language.
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This is September: the other bits
Well here is the second installment of This is September. Here is an assortment of stuff but mainly nature.
First off I’d like to let you know my sad news. My elderly neighbour and good friend Geoff, the bloke who gave me this beautiful Iris, died earlier this week. I have so many plants from his wonderful garden, perhaps a future blog, that I will always have good memories especially when the plants flower and spread sunshine to my garden.
I might as well stay on the flowers that managed to bloom despite the lack of rain. Orange Trumpet flowers hang from the shed.
The Bromiliad flowers are most unusual
The Pansys battled on with a watering every now and then.
I like the lion face in this Pansy
The Rose Geraniums flowered looking so spectacular dotted through the garden
Most of the flowers also had other things happening too. Can you find the insect on the Westringia? Hint it’s a bee
The butterflies liked resting on the Westringia. Not sure if this is a Grass Dart or a Skipper
Stingless Native Bees were a buzz about the Orange Trumpet flowers.
Other bees likes to get among the Grevilleas
The Wisteria came out to bloom for a few weeks. Wanderer Butterflies were attracted to the flowers perfume.
Another sign of Spring is Orchard Swallowtails in the garden.
One of the biggest butterflies that come around the garden.
Some moths are hard to find when they sit on the ground
Other butterflies are rather small like this Barred Skipper who didn’t mind resting on a leaf
Do you remember the Assassin Bug photo? Here is the full photo
Come warmer weather, spider webs appear. The St Andrews Cross Spider didn’t quite get the “this is what a cross looks like” memo
I din’t think he cares very much
Insects are everywhere. Some like to see what you are doing on the computer
Just a fly sitting on a leaf
An ant scurried away when it saw the camera
A Common Yellow Butterfly shows the birds how to hide among the leaves
Some leaves look wonderful. The colours the White Fig leaves turn merge so well
The sunlight on the Bottlebrush leaf drew my attention. This is without the photo bombing bee
The Bloodwood Tree nuts litter the forest floor
On a walk we came across a Spotted Gum with interesting bark patterns and lumps. What can you see?
The Ironbark looked like it had a claw emerging down its trunk.
Can you see a cat?
We saw a bear…can you?
The Silk Tree pods are like orange velvet in the tree tops
Sometimes the pods drop with their seeds intact
The Agave looked lovely in the morning sun
The Skink hung on to the bricks as it surveyed the scene on the church in Grafton
The Joeys are now too big to fit in the pouch any more
The Spring sunsets have been amazing
The sun is almost gone so it’s time to say see ya later.
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This was June
It has taken me ages to sort through the photos that I took in June. Luckily I took out the photos of birds that I encountered and put them in this blog. I was surprised at some of the subjects that I managed to capture as it is Winter here which is normally a bit dry but we have had a rather wet Autumn. I am wondering where to start as I have quite a number of photos so maybe I will get going with some of the old bits and pieces I came across in June. The photos are at my place unless otherwise stated.
When I visited a neighbour, I had to stop and photograph the old farm stuff they have near their front gate. I think this is a horse drawn stick rake.
The old cart has seen better days. My Grandfather was a Wheel Wright and I reckon he would love to have a go at restoring this cart.
As you know, I love rust, the colours and the shapes that make the metal into an art work.
The chains and hook are a wonderful knot of rust.
This old pulley is hanging on the besties verandah. It may have been part of the old dairy that used to be on her place years ago.
I love the tiny water drops in the spiders webs from the misty rain.
The rain has put water drops on the flowers in pots on her verandah.
The Zygote Cactus water drops seem to be able to defy gravity
Even the spiders web caught a water drop or two.
The spiders web in the Red Ironbark had a golden glow. The Red Ironbarks are majestic trees on my place.
The rain drops on the spiders web in the grass looked like jewels.
Moss and lichen are other favourites of mine to photograph. A lovely green on the Bloodwood tree.
The wonderful coloured red sap from the Red Ironbark oozes from fissures in the bark.
The Tuckeroos are in flower and the trees are full of these tiny flowers.
The trees were abuzz with the sounds of bees and insects.
I am not sure if this is a bee or a wasp.
The bees certainly have to scrunch to get to the pollen and nectar.
I didn’t notice the red eye on this insect until I down loaded the photos.
The Blue-banded Bees were still hanging around the Pentas. I love their blue bums.
They hardly sit still and this bee looks like he hasn’t any wings.
Down on the forest floor, I was trying to get the right angle for a photo of the fungi when along came this fellow. I love the colours of the fungi. The reds are very striking to see. just little red dots on the ground.
I found this bunch of fungi during a Landcare visit to a site in Tucabia emerging from the mulch.
In the rainforest on my besties place I always come across fungi growing on the fallen trees. This is the first time I have seen this wood fungi which went the length of the log. Amazing colour isn’t it?
This wood fungi was on the end of a log nearby. Such a contrast in colour from the fungi above.
I found this little Stink Horn Fungus walking down the driveway at her place. I think I was stalking the Brush Turkey trying to get a photo of him on the mound he built.
Isn’t the yellow of this fungi just lovely? And it even curled its edge to show me its frill.
The Gold Top mushrooms are everywhere at the moment on my place.
I love looking under the fungi to see the frills which have a fascinating shape and texture.
Growing on a log in the forest, the mix of moss with its seed pods and the fungi looked like a tiny elfin garden.
The Bromiliads in my besties garden are flowering but mine haven’t as yet. The mix of colours on this flower is just right.
The Matchstick Bromiliad flower is different.
This is me being a bit artistic with the hanging Hibiscus flower.
I can’t remember what this vine flower is called but it certainly caught my eye in my besties garden. I love the curly tendril as well.
Looking deep inside the flower, it almost looks like it is exploding outwards.
The Banksia flower in the afternoon sun.
My neighbour has a wheelbarrow full of these Pancake cactus. They are becoming one of my favourite cacti.
When I was watering some pot plants on the front verandah, out popped the little Broad-palmed Frog.
Isn’t it one of the cutest frogs you have ever seen?
At the Landcare walk at Tucabia you know I couldn’t resist chasing a butterfly. The Large Grass Yellow was feeding on a Farmers Friend or Cobblers Peg plant.
The Orange Palm Dart butterfly just happened to sit on a leaf while I was stalking a bird in my besties garden. What wonderful colours
The Orange Palm Dart was very co-operative in getting its photo taken.
In Winter, you have to be careful when you go to the wood pile. You never know who is getting the warmth of the afternoon sun. Luckily I saw this small Red-bellied Black Snake
Well the sun is setting so I better get off and do stuff. Hope you enjoyed the things I found in June.
