Tag: nature photography

Plain-Lip Spider-orchid (Caladenia clacigera)

We primarily have Brown Clubbed Spider-orchids on our property, but in October 2017 I photographed this Plain-Lip Spider-orchid.  Among a few straggly bracken stems, there were two Plain-lip Spider-orchids, squat and dark compared to the brightly coloured Brown-Clubbed Spider-orchids with their green combs. I missed the orchid season last year, so I don’t know if … Continue reading Plain-Lip Spider-orchid (Caladenia clacigera)

Tawny Frogmouth

On a warm January night, we were sitting in the lounge room watching TV when a loud bang on the screen door  startled us.  Initially, we couldn’t see anything outside, so Richard grabbed a torch and shone it into a nearby tree.   We saw a bundle of grey feathers and thought it was a solitary … Continue reading Tawny Frogmouth

Hedge Wattle (Acacia paradoxa)

Over the years we have been here, I have photographed many plants which are waiting to be identified.  I first photographed Hedge Wattle in 2013 when I spotted a spindly branch dotted with yellow flowers in front of a tree I was trying to capture.  In October 2017 I found another specimen of Hedge Wattle … Continue reading Hedge Wattle (Acacia paradoxa)

Two Kookaburra Chicks

I thought I would start off 2018 with a happy story about Kookie, the kookaburra without tail feathers.   Looking back through my posts, I can see mentions of Kookie “the tailless Kookaburra” since late 2012, but we first really began to observe her in 2014.  Back then, we didn’t know if she was male or … Continue reading Two Kookaburra Chicks

Self-Seeding Cranberry Heath

When we first moved in, almost five years ago now, there were very few native plants around the dam.  We pulled out a heap of Agapanthus plants and a large cactus plant which, to us, were at odds with sclerophyll bushland surrounding it.  Since then, grass grew, kangaroos and wallabies grazed, and each year we … Continue reading Self-Seeding Cranberry Heath

Poison Lobelia (Lobelia pratioides)

Summer flowers are very welcome for the small dots of colour they provide among dry grass and bracken.  These Poison Lobelia flowers were growing right on the edge of the dam in sandy, moist soil.  While I have photographed Poison Lobelia in previous years, I have just realised they were not included in the species … Continue reading Poison Lobelia (Lobelia pratioides)

Duckling Story 1

In my last post, I added the Swamp Harrier to my list of birds sighted on the property, lamenting that I had not seen the seven wild ducklings since it appeared.  After going back through my photographs for December, I realise I actually have three stories about ducklings  – all of them ending in mystery. … Continue reading Duckling Story 1

Ivy Leaf Violets, Sundews, Rice Flowers and Goodenias

As I wrote about last week, and as requested by Nature on the Edge here are some photographs of the smaller plants, such as Ivy Leaf Violets, Rice Flowers, Pale Sundews and Goodenias which seem to be flourishing this year, with the wet weather and prolonged cooler temperatures. We’ve had carpets of colour in the grass … Continue reading Ivy Leaf Violets, Sundews, Rice Flowers and Goodenias

Ornate Pink Fingers (Caladenia ornata)

It’s always a good feeling to add a new plant to the species list, but it’s especially rewarding when it is a new orchid species for our property. I’ve been puzzling over the various types of Pink Fingers orchids for quite some time now, each year trying to take photos that lend themselves to identification. … Continue reading Ornate Pink Fingers (Caladenia ornata)

Tigers, Tigers, Tigers!

When I posted the photograph of the Early Nancy flowers, I lamented the lack of spring flowers – in particular, the Waxlips and Pink Fingers. Well, two days after I posted, the flowers began to appear. However, it has been so wet and windy, the opportunities to get out with a camera have been limited. … Continue reading Tigers, Tigers, Tigers!

Orchid Leaves

On my walk around the property this morning, I noticed many species of plants sending up new growth.  Among them were patches of orchid leaves.   The photograph above shows Small Mosquito Orchid leaves, Waxlip Orchid leaves and possibly a Helmet Orchid leaf.   In other places, many species of Greenhood are establishing colonies, the Gnat … Continue reading Orchid Leaves

The Latest Joey – 3 photos

At long last the newest Eastern Grey joey left the safety of its mother’s pouch in a spot close enough to photograph.  It was only momentary, and to our eyes, it looked like the joey might have fallen out while trying to hang too far out to eat grass.   This one is very active inside … Continue reading The Latest Joey – 3 photos

Intermittent Return of the Eastern Grey Kangaroos

While I would love to be able to show you photos of last year’s joey out of the pouch and being independent, I can’t.  After living on our place for just over two years, the female Eastern Grey Kangaroo and her joey disappeared in August 2015, and as far as I have been able to … Continue reading Intermittent Return of the Eastern Grey Kangaroos

Orchid Season Starts Again: Parsons Bands

Technically, the Parsons Bands Orchid emerge after the first heavy rains of Autumn.  Well, we had a slight shower and here they are.   At the moment the Orchids are only lightly scattered here and there, so I am hoping for a heavy downfall soon to encourage more. The photograph below was taken with my … Continue reading Orchid Season Starts Again: Parsons Bands

For Those Who Sew!

Many of my friends and family are keen quilters, or sew clothing or items such as throw pillows and tote bags.  At some point I noticed that most of the flowers on the floral fabrics were exotics, and I wondered if I could create fabric designs featuring our local wildflowers.   The result is my … Continue reading For Those Who Sew!

At Last – Autumn Has Arrived

It has been a long dry Summer this year.  I notice my last post was dated in October 2015, so I have missed telling you about the end of Spring and the entire Summer season. (Oops – sorry about that.) In Australia, the El Nino weather pattern meant a hot, dry Spring followed by an even … Continue reading At Last – Autumn Has Arrived

Golden Moth Orchid (Diuris chryseopsis)

It is always a pleasure to add a new orchid to my A-Z Native Species List.  I found this Golden Moth Orchid growing in grass in a transitional zone between the native bushland and the cultivated area around the dam.  As far as I could see, there was only one plant and it only lasted … Continue reading Golden Moth Orchid (Diuris chryseopsis)

Small Spider-orchid (Caladenia parva)

A group of visiting Field Naturalists discovered this Small Spider-orchid growing right next to some Sundew plants I had marked to show them.  It was a bit embarrassing to have walked past it multiple times without even noticing it was there.  Luckily I didn’t stand on it before the visitors arrived. In appearance, the Small … Continue reading Small Spider-orchid (Caladenia parva)

Common Hovea (Hovea heterophylla)

Last week  I glimpsed a flash of purple from the back of an animal track which disappeared beneath the wire boundary fence.   Looking beneath bracken growing right on the inside of the fence line, I found two Common Hovea plants in full bloom.   There were no visible Common Hovea plants on the outside … Continue reading Common Hovea (Hovea heterophylla)

Sorting Out the Sundews: Victorian Drosera Species

I’ve been in touch with Andrew from the Victorian Carnivorous Plant Society to try to get more information about Sundew (Drosera) plants.  Recently I found the VCPS website, which describes twelve different Victorian species of Sundew.  I thought we had quite a few of them and had attempted to identify the various species growing on the … Continue reading Sorting Out the Sundews: Victorian Drosera Species

Striped (Striated) Greenhood (Pterostylis alata)

I’ve been keeping an eye on a very small number of Striped Greenhoods (also known as Striated Greenhoods) for about a month now.  It has taken me a while but I am finally adding them to the A-Z Native Species list.  Today I could only find one, but there have been up to five in … Continue reading Striped (Striated) Greenhood (Pterostylis alata)