Fifteen Acres

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting – Momentarily Glorious

Momentarily Glorious … I wonder at the promise of a parched sandy landscape and one tiny orchid leaf waiting for rain to unfurl sensuous silken blooms … the fleeting moments of a violet sky calling corella flocks to roost somewhere other than here trailing sounds of raucous joy from North …

One Magpie v. More than Twenty Ducks

This is a sight I have often seen, but never before with camera in hand! Finally, I have captured it to share with you. A pair of magpies lives in a tree near the house, spending much of the day on the lawn leading down to the dam. One of …

Playing around with Cockatoos

While I much prefer to photograph birds in their natural habitat, providing a little bit of bird seed does offer a fantastic chance to get some close-up shots of the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos. I wanted to convey the playful nature of Cockatoos, but also show their beauty. To other birds, …

Bushland Colours and Textures

Last weekend, we had a family gathering, including two guests from England. As we walked around the bushland at the back of our property, it began raining. The rich red colours of the bark were so striking when wet, it grabbed our attention. The artistic side of our brains began …

Arhodia lasiocamparia

I’m starting to look more closely at leaves, bark and buds in an attempt to work out the precise mix of tree species on our land. Often it is clear that something has been munching on the leaves and if so, I am beginning to look for caterpillars and larvae. …

Koala

Late in the afternoon, I decided cooking dinner could wait for half an hour while I went for a walk. As I walked, I practiced deep breathing and tried to clear my mind of all of the ‘mental clutter’ built up during the day. These walks are becoming my way …

Raindrops

After I photographed the Swamp Wallaby yesterday, it started to rain. It has been so dry here. Most of the hot days we’ve had over Summer were dry heat – no hint of moisture in the air. I’m not a fan of humid weather because it robs me of energy. …

Tonal Landscapes

If you are an artist, I’d value your opinion on the suitability photos in this post for a tonal landscape painted in oils. I have not painted since I was a teenager and my skills are very limited. A good friend of mine suggested I start by doing tonal landscapes …

Jetty Buddies: Pied Cormorant and White Faced Heron

I was fascinated to see two very different water birds sitting side by side on the jetty. A wader, the White Faced Heron has long yellow legs and a long sharp beak. It’s feathers are fluffy as they are not immersed in the water when the bird fishes. In contrast, …

Bark, Leaves, Buds and Fruit

There are very few native flowers in bloom at the moment, the grasses are drying out, and the trees – always prominent in our landscape – are capturing my attention more each day. This is partly because I’m learning about bushfire habits, and partly because I received a field guide …

Learning to love succulents

I could not understand why the garden beds were planted with so many succulent plants when we first moved in. To me, they were unattractive and at odds with the lush growth of a cottage garden, which I preferred, and also with the natural bushland, which abounds here. My initial …

Eastern Spinebill

A pair of Eastern Spinebills, also nectar feeders, can squeeze through the lattice fence into the fernery. Thankfully, this pair seems to have mastered the process of getting out of the cat enclosure as well as breaking into it. The cats don’t seem to have noticed their presence, which …

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