Words of Wisdom – Y23 #5

Paula’s Words of Wisdom Y23 #5

“A profusion of pink roses bending ragged in the rain speaks to me of all gentleness and its enduring.”William Carlos Williams

This is February 2023

I did a bit of hibernating during the middle of the day in February. The mornings were quite pleasant, then the heat of the day arrived, in the low to high 30’sC, and the humidity usually crept up to around 60%. This went even higher if it had rained the day before which didn’t happen very much. This February there was 38mm in total for the month, whereas last year it was well in excess of 500mm. Actually as I write, a storm is brewing like yesterday. Unfortunately yesterdays .5mm was disappointing.

Most of these photos are from around my place. My trips to town I usually continued my quest for window shades for Ludwigs Monday Windows or it was too hot and I scampered home or sat in an air-conditioned cafe. The opening photo is from a cafe where I was having a coffee waiting for my car’s registration inspection to be done.

Some of the other February photos have been sprinkled through other posts so this post isn’t as long as some of my other monthly wrap-ups..

I guess I better give you your song to listen to as you scroll through while looking at the things I discovered in February.

A rainy morning in town. Water drops making patterns on the marble windowsill

I looked out of the door of my office when a Carpet Snake came past in the late afternoon. I know I should have warned you but aren’t patterns and colours just the wonderful on this two metre hard working snake. Unfortunately I had just set some traps on the verandah over the past few nights and caught three Black Rats. I guess their scent was still on the verandah boards.

The resident Laughing Kookaburra on his lookout tree in the front garden. I love watching them as they scan the garden and suddenly drop onto the ground to grab whatever unsuspecting creature happened to move at the wrong time.

A Blue-faced Honeyeater wonders if a better snack may be found over there.

Haven’t seen a Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike around my place for a while then this one turns up and hung about for a few days. Their colours and patterns are lovely. This one was sitting on the edge of the bush and I took the photo from my verandah.

It is always a delight when the Grey-crowned Babblers come into the garden trees to look for insects under the bark. They do quite a good job of bark peeling on their quest. There is a constant chatter while foraging so you always know when they are around. Have a listen – from greamechapman.com.au

The Grey-crowned Babblers live in family groups of between four and twelve so it’s common to see a couple of Babblers digging away together on the same tree. One will call another over and they systematically dig under the bark. Instead of withdrawing their beaks, they flick their heads upwards sending bark flying.

Yes I did try to get an action photo but failed miserably. These two were fun to watch. At one stage the one at the top decided that there was better food where the other one was and just sat on top of him. A bit of get off, no I’m holding on scuffle took place until one of them went elsewhere

The Rainbow Lorikeets are a bit cheeky peeping through the window to see what I am having for breakfast.

This is the first time I have seen a Red-browed Firetail Finch getting nectar or something from the Grevillea. Most times they are hopping along the grass eating seeds and any unfortunate insect who happens by.

I think the Yellow-faced Honeyeater caught me sneaking with my camera while he was enjoying the yummy Ornamental Ginger flowers.

It’s all hands on deck when the Cassia flowers in January. This year the full flowering didn’t happen until February and then the tree was full of bees. The Metallic Green Carpenter Bees are the big fellas among the flowers, while the tiny Stingless Native Bee flies in to get his share

I can’t resist Teddy Bear Bees when they come around to see if the Red Pentas flowers have anything to offer.

This poor old Tree Begonia has had a hard life. Always munched by possums mainly, then, as the Bangalow Palm died during the drought of 2017-19, large fronds dropped on it which broke it almost to ground level. Then I was doing a bit of a garden tidy when I managed to break the whole top off once again.

Here are the first flowers since it was planted probably over fifteen years ago. It is sort of protected by a surrounding of Calathea plants which have decided that that part of the garden is where they are going to really settle,

I have no idea what the Bottlebrush trees are doing. Some of the trees are having another flowering now. I love this soft pink Bottlebrush flower

While all the Flame Trees in town had a spectacular flowering, my poor tree managed to pop out a few bracts of flowers

The Chinamans Hat plant has flowered since it was planted three years ago. I actually thought it was a Butterfly Bush so now I’ll have to get a Butterfly Bush cutting or plant. I would like the pink one I posted for Cee a few days ago that was in the Art Gallery Garden.

I did a Cee’s FOTD post of the Cape Blue Water Lily in the Art Gallery Garden from another angle. This is the whole flower from a different angle.

The Art Gallery Garden also had a lot of the Feverfew flowers

Again, the light on the Art Gallery Garden made the White African Daisy stand out

The Gardenias in my garden also had another flowering in February when it looked like they had finished for the year.

Both of the Pavonia Hastata hibiscus bushes have flowered for the first time this year as well. Such a tiny flower with so much detail going on. the petals are 25mm or one inch

After a few rainy day hot days, there weren’t as many fungi appearing as I had hoped. I did find this one on a morning walk about the garden with another nearby.

I did manage to get away to Ballina for a couple of days. I was keen to get to the sand bar in the Richmond River to see if the Eastern Curlews were still about. They migrate, after breeding, from Russia and NE China to Australia in September and leave Australia in February/March.

“These amazing migrations are among the most awe-inspiring journeys of the natural world, with birds covering tens of thousands of kilometres each year,” he says. One bird, banded in Victoria, was next reported from Yakutyia in Siberia, 11,812 kms distant.” – Dr Fuller

Just strolling the sand bar looking for small crabs and molluscs.

I just love the layers looking across the sand bar towards the far bank of the North Arm of the Richmond River.

While in Ballina I was staying near Lighthouse Beach. I have seen the top of the lighthouse from a few places but have never gone up to the Richmond River Light, as it is officially known and I expected it would be like a regular lighthouse.

You may have seen the black and white version of the lighthouse earlier this month. It has to be the smallest. cutest lighthouses ever and yes it is still active.

While on a walk in the afternoon, suddenly there was a rustling in the undergrowth. A Brush Turkey wandered out from the dunes, then another, then another and another. As I walked along, they followed me. When I stopped, they looked nonchalant. I suspect someone is feeding them.

Anyway. here is a shadow selfie with my four new friends – until they found out I didn’t have any snacks.

I enjoyed sitting on the breakwall watching the various passers-by. There were the exercisers running or walking up to the end and down again, young mums pushing strollers, people on bicycles either fun or exercise, holiday makers and a bloke who gets around on a mobility scooter. Every time if I am there in the afternoons, I see him and say g’day and have a chat.

In the late evening, just as the sun is setting, the fishing trawlers head out for a nights fishing.

I just love how you can see all of the craters of Our Moon. Not a full Moon but it was quite bright.

As the Moon is up, it’s time for me to say goodbye to Changing Seasons for another month. I really do like to know if you have a favourite photo. Which one is yours?

About The Changing Seasons

The Changing Seasons is a monthly project where bloggers around the world share their thoughts and feelings about the month just gone. We all approach this slightly differently, though generally with an emphasis on the photos we’ve taken during the month.

For many of us, looking back over these photos provides the structure and narrative of our post, so each month is different. Some focus on documenting the changes in a particular project — such as a garden, an art or craft project, or a photographic diary of a familiar landscape.

But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.

There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement.

Tags and ping-backs

Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

Create a ping-back to Ju-Lyn at Touring My Backyard or this post, so that we can update it with links to all of yours.

Shine on

Marsha’s WQ #8: Below What? Where?

I suddenly thought of water drops when I read how does the word below inspire you. Well it did.

True joy of nature is when every drop of water shines like a pearl
Anamika Mishra

When you look at them, you can see that they both shine out of happiness
Mehmet Murat Ildan

This is October 2022

Another month of rainy days, at one point it rained every day for just over a week. I did manage to get out and grab a few photos but most are from home. There is quite a number as I just couldn’t whittle it down any more.

A it is Spring there are lots of flowers and of course the birds are coming into the warmth of the North Coast. There has been a few new sightings, some of which have been posted already like the Masked Bee. I had a bit of trouble finding the names of a lot of the new things I found but will name the ones I know.

I hope you enjoy your October song to listen to while you scroll through my October

As the month went on, clouds appeared. This one is a great one for those of us who see shapes and faces

Sometimes when the sky was clear and blue I walked about always looking around when the resident Square-tailed Kite was circling over my place

As the month went on the clouds increased making wonderful shapes against the blue sky

When the rain came there was always the opportunity for rain drop photos

Spider webs with tiny water drops is always a favourite

I love the perfectness of webs. This one had a rainbow effect which is only faintly seen in the photo. All of the following spiders are about 20mm in size so no need to be frightened of their beauty.

Sometimes the spiders just seemed to hang in space with no visible support

Just as I took this photo that small brown leaf, at the bottom of the photo, dropped onto the web. The speed in which the spider went to investigate was amazing

I found this weird little lump scuttling around the plants leaves in the garden, hence the blurriness of the photo. A spider with a unique defence mechanism to deter predators, he is called a Bird-dropping Spider. When I went to find the actual name I put in Bird Poo Spider which I think is more fun.

I think may be the first time I have photographed a butterfly from underneath with the sun behind. It is a Brown Ringlet which when view from above is a dark brown with two yellow spots on the edge of the wings

Another new insect in my garden. A Colourful Broad-headed Bug which are sort of related to Assassin Bugs

A Dingy Skipper Butterfly hanging around on a Hoya flower

Even though it had rained in the morning, when the rain stopped the bees came out for a quick flower investigation. This bee disappeared right up into the Salvia flower and I waited for ages for it to back out.

The Bottlebrush trees have been continuously flowering for a lot of this year. I actually found new flowers on another Bottlebrush this morning. The bees were a loud buzz around the garden when the sun was out

Of course the Honeyeaters love Bottlebrush nectare as well. The little Yellow-faced Honeyeaters have been around the garden for most of this year

Of course when I was wanting a photo of a bird on the Lilli Pilli flowers I couldn’t get one. Then the Brown Honeyeaters arrived in October and found the Lilli Pilli flowers

The Scarlet Honeyeaters have been here since September and this was their favourite Bottlebrush tree. This shows the size of the Scarlet Honeyeater compared to the size of the Bottlebrush flowers

Leaden Flycatchers are a common Springtime visitor to the garden

Laughing Kookaburras are always here with their waking up and end of day calls. I love how this one is just sitting on the post. Judging by the full looking crop, I would say he has had a good feed and it letting the food settle before going on the hunt again.

A pair of Spangled Drongos arrived for their Spring residence. I hope they found a good nesting spot this year

You can see why the are Spangled Drongos, such beautiful feathers

The number of Red-Necked Wallabies in the garden has declined over the years. This female seems to be one who stays around in the bush and visits often. I suspect the neighbours next door are feeding the Wallabies hence their lack of coming here.

I am sure this is her mother with the damaged ear who also hangs around

Enough of my place. We found this bull just resting in the front paddock of a house. At first we thought it was a big dog as we drove past. Isn’t he handsome

Spring time brings new leaves. These ones unfurl with a light pink and then turn bright red before becoming green

The Dendrobium Yukidaruma Orchid looked lovely cascading down the pot on the front verandah

The Daisies lit up the garden

As did the Gerberas

The scent of Jasmin filled the air

I bought a selection of miniature Geraniums for the garden. I have to be quick to see the flowers as either Wallabies or Possums like them as well. It looks like they will need little fences.

This year the tiny Drimiopsis maculata, a bulb from South Africa. I had a few in a pot and when I re-potted some of the small outer bulbs dropped off and now I have a few patches of plants in the garden. I can see why it is sometimes called Little White Soldiers

This has been the finest year for the Canna Lillies. Most of the plants are taller than me this year.

All of the Bromiliads flowers this Spring as well. This is probably a Neoregelia compacta Bromiliad

The Common Hovea have appeared for the first time in the garden although they are in the bush around the house.

The Tree Bauhinias flowers are quite spectacular this Spring. The plant has more flowers than before

There is a little pond at the Grafton Art Gallery and the Cape Water Lillies are starting to flower.
This is a phone photo

I love the White Dogwood flowers, sometimes called Rice Flower. The road to my place is lined with lots of white flowers. I have a few growing on my place

Another Dogwood, this time a Yellow Dogwood or Jacksonia scoparia. Another favourite tree which is covered in yellow flowers in Spring

I found this flower growing on the side of the road. I don’t know what it is called but it is quite pretty with its composite flowers. Must be small spiders in there as well with haphazard webs

I love Yellow Buttons as well. They are growing all over my place and I am yet to try and transplant some into my garden. I didn’t notice this one had some sort of insect on it. The yellow ball flowers are about 5mm in diametre so whatever that insect is, is rather tiny as well.

I did mention that it is Jacaranda time in Grafton, my nearest town. The streets are lined in purple and the grouns will be covered in a carpet of purple as well soon.

The red of Flame Tree flower look rather spectacular against the purple of Jacarandas

I love the purple against the blue sky

Did you know there are White Jacarandas as well. There are a few planted around town

While out spotting White Jacarandas, I saw a Magpie gathering nesting materials

Native Frangipani, Hymenosporum flavum, flowers have different stages. They are a greenish at first, then turn white and then yellow. They are small flowers and what the have in common with other Frangipanis is their scent.

The flowers also do water drops quite well

Another plant that has great water drop potential are Elkhorn Ferns. Their strap like leaves are perfect for holding water drops

One afternoon there was an orange glow shining into the house. I grabbed my camera and went to see what the sky was doing. I managed to get a bit of the sky and clouds and then had to turn around because

behind me the sky was purple and I could see a faint rainbow through the trees. Not long after the rain came pelting down again.

I see you are still with me. I hope you enjoyed a scroll through my October. As always, I like to know if you had a favourite photo

About The Changing Seasons

The Changing Seasons is a monthly project where bloggers around the world share their thoughts and feelings about the month just gone. We all approach this slightly differently, though generally with an emphasis on the photos we’ve taken during the month.

For many of us, looking back over these photos provides the structure and narrative of our post, so each month is different. Some focus on documenting the changes in a particular project — such as a garden, an art or craft project, or a photographic diary of a familiar landscape.

But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.

There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement.

Tags and ping-backs

Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

Create a ping-back to Ju-Lyn at Touring My Backyard or this post, so that we can update it with links to all of yours.

Life of a Lilli Pilli flower

This Lilli Pilli is called Powder Puff Lilli Pilli (Syzygium wilsonii) There are so many different way that Lilli Pilli is spelt – Lilli PIlly, Lilly Pilly but I have always known the bush to be called a Lilli Pilli. When I thought about doing a Life of a Lilli Pilli flower post, I didn’t count on it raining nearly every day, so photography was a bit difficult to really showcase these wonderful flowers.

A beautiful shrub that has a weeping habit and glossy large green leaves with very attractive red-bronze new growth. Lilli Pilli are native plants to the East Coast of Australia mainly in the rainforests.

In full flower it is absolutely joyous, with dozens of big pink-red pompom flowers, followed by pure white edible (when cooked) bushtucker fruit in autumn. I don’t seem to have any fruit photos from years gone by and I can’t wait until Autumn to show you the fruit. This one is a similar fruit just a different colour from an Acmena smithii.

Let’s have a look at how these wonderful red pom poms grow. At first, the buds just seem to appear overnight as long shaped almost small clubs.

They then push outwards from the floral tube with white ends on the bottom .

The tip turn white after a few days as well

Slowly the stigma reach out from the filaments and the on the stamen the anthers turn white as they burst forth from the buds

A view from the rear of the flower showing the floral tubes

The pom pom is starting to fill out

Every day there are more filaments appearing and the buds have almost disappeared

The full flower is finally here and nearly always hang down like this. This year there have been lots of flowers

They are like a burst of sunlight or even fireworks

As the weather hasn’t been favourable for the bees either I dug out an old photo with some Stingless Native Bees enjoying the sweetness of a Lilli Pilli flower

Once the flowers are finished, the filaments drop off onto the garden leaving a quite straggly looking flower

As it has been raining I have been trying to get a few water drop photos

I have also been waiting for the Scarlet Honeyeaters to seek out the flowers. They have been in the garden but this year the Bottlebrush have been also having a bumper flowering and they seem to prefer to snack on Bottlebrush flower.
I also have some Pied Currawongs who seemed to have decided to stay around. Most years, when it cold in the mountains, the Currawongs come to my place but leave once Summer arrives. Currawongs are predators on small birds so small birds aren’t as prevalent in my garden for awhile now.
Here is an old photo as I love seeing Scarlet Honeyeaters feeding on Lilli Pilli flowers

Also for Cee’s FOTD

Thursdays Special: Pick a Word September 2022

Lost in Translation’s Pick a Word September 2022

Another lot a great words from Paula to see what I have and test my imagination.

BOUNDED

FUNGHI

GEOMORPHOLOGIC

MUSICAL

SCATTERED

How did I go this month?