When I first found these pretty blue flowers, a year or two ago, I thought they might be native. I put the photograph aside for identification, and got too busy to search for the species name. With the wet spring weather, it is plentiful again this year. Unfortunately, it isn’t a native Australian species, but … Continue reading Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
Tag: outdoors
Another Puzzle: What Is This?
I had the opportunity to go walking up the back in the bush yesterday. The sun reflected off an object laying on the ground which seemed vivid green. Seeking this, I found a leaf covered with a cluster of large spherical attachments – too large for eggs, so presume they must be some kind of … Continue reading Another Puzzle: What Is This?
Tiny Fungi
We had so little rain in Autumn I thought we wouldn’t have a lot of fungi this year. Two weeks into Winter, we’ve had sufficient rain to green the landscape, but not enough to run off into the dam. However, it seems to be sufficient for the fungi to begin emerging. I found these beautifully … Continue reading Tiny Fungi
Red Fungi
It’s winter in Australia, and when taking a shortcut between two bush paths, I came across a group of beautiful red fungi. This is only one of a number of species growing now, most of which I have documented previously. The vibrancy and intensity of the colour marks it as different from some orangey-yellow fungi … Continue reading Red Fungi
Huntsman Spiders
In the comments beneath the Leaf Curling Spider post, macmsue and I have been comparing Huntsman Spider stories, so I thought this might be a good time to post a photos of one. It has been sitting there, waiting for an opportune time! I rescued this spider from the flue above the stove in the … Continue reading Huntsman Spiders
Leaf Curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffei)
About a month ago, it seemed there were Jewell Spiders everywhere, but this week the Leaf Curling Spiders have taken over. As the name suggests, each spider uses a curled leaf suspended in the centre of the web as a protected hiding spot. I’m actually thankful to see the leaves suspended as it has saved … Continue reading Leaf Curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffei)
Hot Bats
On Wednesday, we had a fairly warm day which must have heated the space behind the fascia board on the deck, where there is a small bat colony. All of the bats were clambering over each other to get out of their den and into a place where they could cool down. Some bats chose … Continue reading Hot Bats
Mind Shifting Moments 1: Ecosystem
As we approach the two-year mark, I want to document some of the ‘mind shifting’ moments that have occurred since we moved in. I think I am substantially a different woman from the one who lived in the centre of the city two years ago. The topic I have selected for this first post is Ecosystem … Continue reading Mind Shifting Moments 1: Ecosystem
Branch with Lichen
Over the past month or so, I’ve photographed mosses, lichens and other Bryophytes we have here. While there is information on Lichen and Moss to be found on the Internet, I’m discovering that I need to know the Latin name in order to search for images I can use for identification. A slow process. I … Continue reading Branch with Lichen
Touching the Earth
I feel as if my patience has been rewarded – at last the kangaroos came right up the house again. I was able to photograph the fast growing new joey, leaning out of the pouch and touching the earth. It won’t be long before it is hopping around with its mother and brother.
Unidentified Fungi Pt. 2
Here are a few more photographs of the fungi we have growing at the moment.
Swamp Isotome (Isotoma fluviatilis subsp. australis)
According to the field guides I consulted, the Swamp Isotome grows seasonally in moist depressions. I didn’t really think we had any moist depressions as the soil is very sandy and doesn’t hold water for long. When I think about it, the seepage from the dam probably flows beneath the spot they were … Continue reading Swamp Isotome (Isotoma fluviatilis subsp. australis)
Gum Leaf Katydid (Torbia viridissima)
Yesterday, as I stepped out to get the mail, I noticed a large green insect on the deck. It turned out to be a “leaf insect” or Katydid. Initially I took photos with my standard lens, but I soon realised it was an ideal subject for my new macro lens. The insect kept moving, so … Continue reading Gum Leaf Katydid (Torbia viridissima)
Bushy Parrot-Pea (Dillwynia ramosissima)
Identifying Australian Native pea flowers is very difficult. I have many photographs of flowers that look slightly different, and I have spent days trying to work out whether they are the same species or different species. In my search I have discovered that there are many different species of Bush-pea, Bitter-pea, Parrot-pea, Wedge-pea, Flat-pea and … Continue reading Bushy Parrot-Pea (Dillwynia ramosissima)
My Favourite Tree
This tree is central to the view we have when we look out the window from the main rooms in the house. Each day the light is different, and each day the fork I have photographed looks slightly different in colour. It never fails to interest me. I have lost count of the number of … Continue reading My Favourite Tree
The Rorschach Tree
What do you see in the fork of this tree? For me it could be the face of an old man or the head of a lion, but I am sure there are many more interpretations. Comment below to tell me what you see! Rorschach Rorschach Rorschach
A Privilege to Watch
I couldn’t believe my luck this morning, when our regular Eastern Grey Kangaroo allowed her joey to suckle right in front of the study window. She just stood there for twenty minutes or so while the joey (otherwise independent) put her mouth into the pouch for a feed. Unfortunately, a car noise disturbed them, and … Continue reading A Privilege to Watch
Fishing for Yabbies
These two White Faced Herons were fishing in the dam today. We often wonder what lives beneath the surface of the water. Not being fisher-person’s, we don’t really know the tell-tale signs, and we don’t own the right equipment to attempt to fish in it. A photograph of one White-Faced Heron holding a yabby proves … Continue reading Fishing for Yabbies
Independence!
The Eastern Grey Kangaroos were back again this week, after an absence of a month or two. On the weekend a male and female made a brief appearance en-route to the back of the property, and this morning we had a group of four: two males, a female, and the joey, which is now independent. … Continue reading Independence!
Duck-Orchid
Another intriguing Australian Terrestrial Orchid was among the many flowers we found on a sunny day last week. Richard initially saw a plant that seemed to have a differently shaped bud. We noted where it was growing and waited for our expert friend to visit. She identified that it would develop into a Duck-Orchid. Another … Continue reading Duck-Orchid
Tiger Orchid: Diuris sulphurea
We are lucky enough to have clumps of Tiger Orchids. These beautiful, often large, flowers really attract attention with their bright yellows, browns and blacks. A ‘cousin’ of the Donkey Orchid, the Tiger Orchid shares the two large upright lobes. We have Tiger Orchids in all of our main micro-climate zones. They are growing … Continue reading Tiger Orchid: Diuris sulphurea
Magpie Breeding Season – Hold Onto Your Hat!
For the past six weeks or so, I haven’t been able to step outside the house without a sturdy hat. Breeding magpies are very defensive, and they will dive-bomb anything they perceive to be a threat, including innocent humans. Unfortunately, their aggressive habits have driven off some of the other breeding birds, such as the … Continue reading Magpie Breeding Season – Hold Onto Your Hat!
Spotted Sun Orchids (Thelymitra ixioides)
Over the last few weeks I have taken a swag of photos of Australian native flowers, including more Australian Terrestrial Orchids. Rather than post a gallery of them here, I’ll post them one by one, and build these posts into a plant index. Today, I’m going to focus on the beautiful Spotted Sun Orchids. Many … Continue reading Spotted Sun Orchids (Thelymitra ixioides)
Hairy Caterpillar
I found this very hairy caterpillar a week or so ago. This morning, I thought I might identify the species, but I can’t find an exact match. My best guess is that it belongs to the ARCTIIDAE family, otherwise known as ‘Woolly Bears’. In Australia, there are quite a number of ‘Woolly Bears’ so I wasn’t able … Continue reading Hairy Caterpillar
Fifteen Acres 