Tag: nature

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

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)

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)

White-Eared Honeyeater Hunting

Some days, I’m fortunate to come across an unfazed honeyeater just going about its business of collecting food, like this White-Eared Honeyeater.  I stood and watched for several minutes before I took photographs.  These birds seem very shy, and I was certain if I moved, it would fly off.  Obviously searching for insects and other tasty … Continue reading White-Eared Honeyeater Hunting

Moss and Orchids: Five Photographs

While our rainfall is low this year, there have been enough showers to keep the moss green and the orchids emerging.  While I am out photographing Helmet Orchids, Nodding Greenhoods, Blunt Greenhoods  and other tiny plants, I am repeatedly struck by the beauty of some of the moss we have growing here.  It’s deep and … Continue reading Moss and Orchids: Five Photographs

A Second Pair of Eyes (or three, or four)

When I am showing a visitor around our property, I find the second pair of eyes (or three, or four) very helpful.  We all notice different things.  Last week, my visitors were very knowledgeable and I learned a lot from them. Over the next few weeks I will be adding a few plants to my A-Z Species List. … Continue reading A Second Pair of Eyes (or three, or four)

Trim Greenhood (Pterostylis concinna)?

Yesterday’s discovery of a potential hybrid species of Greenhood made me look into my ‘unidentified’ photographs to see what else was there – and I think I may have found a Trim Greenhood.  The photograph was taken a couple of years ago.  Among the identifying features of the Trim Greenhood are:  a dark brown ‘v’ … Continue reading Trim Greenhood (Pterostylis concinna)?

Sharp Greenhood (Pterostylis X ingens)

This week, I’ve had the pleasure of showing a few visitors the Greenhoods and Helmet orchids in flower, as well as some of the other interesting plants on our property.  After a few discussions about timing, seasons and conditions, I decided to go back through last year’s photographs for comparison.    In mid-August last year I … Continue reading Sharp Greenhood (Pterostylis X ingens)

Kangaroo Courtship

Over the last three years, I’ve been fortunate to observe some of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo courtship behaviour.   In Winter, a new tiny joey peeks out of its mother’s pouch and the dominant male returns to the mob for a while.   This year, the new tiny pink face appeared toward the end of June. … Continue reading Kangaroo Courtship

Inspired by the Ballarat Field Naturalists

A surprise invitation to accompany the Ballarat Field Naturalists on an orchid seeking  field trip arrived in my inbox on Saturday.  With a little rearranging, I was able to take up the offer, so on a beautifully sunny winter Sunday we set off to some local bushland.  Thanks to John for inviting me and to … Continue reading Inspired by the Ballarat Field Naturalists

Eastern Rosella: A closer look

At the unfinished end of the Honeyeater Garden, an Eremophila Maculata plant is about to burst into flower and this Eastern Rosella was very interested in the bush.   One of three Eastern’s, presumably a family group, the bird in my photographs happened to be right outside the window, giving me a chance to get … Continue reading Eastern Rosella: A closer look

Visitors in the Garden

The plants in our Honeyeater Garden are beginning to thicken up, and along with Crimson Rosella, Magpies and Kookaburras, it is now also attracting Red Wattlebirds,  the odd Robin and some fast moving tiny birds that I haven’t been able to photograph yet.   Also attracted to the garden is the young joey who spends a … Continue reading Visitors in the Garden

Tiny Sundew (Drosera pygmaea)

How exciting it is to find another species of Sundew – I love Sundews almost as much I love the Orchids.  The striking foliage and almost alien shapes and colours really grab my attention.  Add to that the contrasting purity of white (or pink in some species) flowers and I can’t stop looking at them. … Continue reading Tiny Sundew (Drosera pygmaea)

Parsons Bands Orchid – possibly a green form?

We have quite a few Parsons Bands Orchids in flower at the moment, but this one stands out through the lack of pink or red.  Potentially it is a green form, as referenced on the Retired Aussies  website.  I have not found reference to this colour anywhere else.  So, if you have knowledge of this … Continue reading Parsons Bands Orchid – possibly a green form?

Wings

With wings raised, it seemed to be a case of “I’m bigger than you!” and “Oh no, you’re not!” on the bird feeder this week.   We have seen more Cockatoos than usual.  They squabble among themselves for best position, squeezing out the regular feeders, such as this Common Bronzewing Pigeon.  The Pigeon decided to … Continue reading Wings

Tonight’s Colours

For a few fleeting moments, tonight’s sunset lit up a group of trees in glorious colours.  I always love the colour of the bark when it turns a deep terracotta. You can see where the birds and small mammals clutch the bark to climb up and down.  Also, the trees in the background look almost … Continue reading Tonight’s Colours

Orb Weaving Spider Wrapping Butterfly

In December I photographed a butterfly in a strange position and subsequently discovered the Orb Weaving Spider in the process of wrapping it.  At the time I was trying to document the various species of grass and butterflies we have here, so I wasn’t looking for spiders.  At first I thought the butterfly may be mating, as … Continue reading Orb Weaving Spider Wrapping Butterfly

Autumn Wild Flower Walks (8 photos)

It is finally beginning to feel like Autumn, even though technically, it has been for a few weeks.  Over the past few days I have been noticing many familiar wild flowers beginning to grow.  This post shows a few of the plants I have come across this week. Some are just setting leaves, and will flower later … Continue reading Autumn Wild Flower Walks (8 photos)

Abantiades hyalinatus

This blog began with the question “What is it?” and I still find myself asking this question most days.   The other night we came back from a meeting, and found this beautiful moth fluttering around on the path. It seemed to be in the act of dying, as it couldn’t get off the ground … Continue reading Abantiades hyalinatus