The first of the Chocolate Lilies is in flower! We had them last year, but that was before I developed an interest in native flowers. So I really didn’t take much notice of them until we were cleaning up the land for the Summer period. In the process, a few were mown down. I took … Continue reading Chocolate Lily (Arthropodium strictum)
Tag: Photography
Frilly Fungi
We’ve just noticed a group of large fungi growing in a quiet spot. I don’t have a field guide to Fungi, and the online information sites seem to assume that I know what I am looking for – and I don’t. So, unfortunately, I can’t tell you anything about it. If you do know … Continue reading Frilly Fungi
Brown-clubbed Spider-orchid Caladenia phaeoclavia
My friend pointed out the leaves of the spider orchid before it flowered. We placed a loop of squared fence wire around the precious flower (so the Swamp Wallaby would not eat it) and waited. Eventually it bloomed. Luckily I took some photographs, because I went back a few days later to find only a … Continue reading Brown-clubbed Spider-orchid Caladenia phaeoclavia
And then there were nine…with apologies to Agatha Christie!
Last year, the pair of Australian Wood Ducks successfully raised eleven ducklings to maturity, and we were hoping they would be able to do the same for the twelve ducklings in this year’s brood. The ducks frequently walk from wherever they nest to the grass verge in front of the dam to forage, and this … Continue reading And then there were nine…with apologies to Agatha Christie!
Sparring Pacific Black Ducks
On Friday night we attended our first Field Naturalist meeting in Ballarat. By asking myself the simple question, ‘What do we have on our land?’ I have discovered the pleasure of finding a bird or a plant, and classifying it. The Field Naturalists seemed a logical progression, but for various reasons Friday was the first … Continue reading Sparring Pacific Black Ducks
Dianella – the Flax-lily
I’ve seen the Flax-lily featured in some of the field guides I have on my bookshelves, and as the photographs were so striking, I’ve been watching for them since we moved in. Finally, I have found one! In my imagination, they were large-flowered beauties, growing from a central stem, but nothing could be further from … Continue reading Dianella – the Flax-lily
Erect Guinea-flower (Hibbertia riparia)
We have Guinea-flower growing on our bush block. Some of the shrubs are Erect Guinea-flower, but I think we have other species too. Do you know what they are?
Tall Sundew Flowers
At the moment, Tall Sundew flowers abound. At least I am pretty sure they are Tall Sundews. Pale Sundews look very similar. My field guides tell me that the way to tell the two plants apart is to look at the leaves just above ground level – that the Tall Sundew leaves are circular, and … Continue reading Tall Sundew Flowers
Vanilla Orchid (Thelymitra antennifera)
In researching this orchid I have discovered that it is also called the Lemon Orchid, Rabbit-ears or Rabbit’s Ears Orchid. Looking at the photo on the guide, I can see that the dark marks in the centre do look like some flopsy ears. These aren’t shown in my photos, so I will go back out … Continue reading Vanilla Orchid (Thelymitra antennifera)
Grey Shrike-Thrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
The Story: I’m amazed at how many new bird species we find inside the cat enclosure, which was designed to keep the cats in and the birds out. Hmmm, it is obviously not working as well as it should. Yesterday, a pleasant lunch was interrupted by loud bird calls, and excited cat noises. I went … Continue reading Grey Shrike-Thrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
A Taste of Honey – the Eastern Spinebill is back
Our new, larger, laundry window has proved useful in observing this honeyeater feed. Last year, I photographed the Red Wattle Bird feeding on this cactus in flower, but the cat netting prevents the larger birds from coming into our back yard now. Small birds, such as this Eastern Spinebill, sneak through the openings on the … Continue reading A Taste of Honey – the Eastern Spinebill is back
Native Pea Flowers
In one vibrant corner of our bush we have Waxlip Orchids, Pink Eyes (coming soon!) and this glorious shrub covered in gold and red flowers. So many of our native shrubs have flowers of this colour and shape, and my head is spinning from trying to identify this one correctly. I believe it is probably … Continue reading Native Pea Flowers
Pink Fingers: Australian Native Orchid (Caladenia carnea)
Today I was finally able to go out looking for native flowers again. I’ve had a busy few days, and when I was ready to take a break, it was raining. Over the three days, many more Waxlip Orchids have opened. I found these distributed throughout the bushland, with some patches and some solitary plants. … Continue reading Pink Fingers: Australian Native Orchid (Caladenia carnea)
Gnat Orchid
On the same day I photographed the Waxlip Orchid, I also managed to get some clearer photographs of the Gnat Orchid. This Orchid is so hard to see. It is so tiny, the stems are slimmer than a blade of grass, and brownish purple. i was so lucky to be with people who knew what … Continue reading Gnat Orchid
Tree Angles
Over the past month we’ve had some days of very high wind. This took a toll on some of our trees, but mainly with branches falling. These old Wattles were already dead, and some of them had already snapped off, but we had a few more snap recently. I like the effect of all of … Continue reading Tree Angles
New Brood: Twelve Little Australian Wood Ducks
Spring truly is here. Our pair of Australian Wood Ducks brought their twelve young ducklings down to the dam for a swim. This was our first glimpse of the new brood. I’m sure in the months to come, we’ll get many more photo opportunities, so I’ll just start with this one photo.
The First Waxlip Orchid this Spring
Yesterday I spent an enjoyable morning searching for orchids with friends. We found many Greenhoods of varying types, and many more leaves or buds indicating that a number of species were about to burst into flower – Spider Orchid, Sun Orchid and Waxlip Orchid among them. Try as we might, we didn’t find one of … Continue reading The First Waxlip Orchid this Spring
More orchids in flower
It is amazing how much more I can see when I have a knowledgeable guide to point out the tiny Australian Native Orchids in flower. I must have walked past some of the tiny mosquito orchids hundreds of times without noticing they were in flower. My friend B.J., who is an orchid enthusiast visited today, … Continue reading More orchids in flower
Our Spring Garden
Spring is almost here, and the garden is blooming! In this post, I just wanted to capture the form and colour of some of the flowers in our garden.
Guess who’s been eating the wildflowers!
Often when I’m walking around, I see flowering bushland plants bitten off low to the ground. This is often frustrating when I have been waiting for a flower bud to open. I check daily, and just when the bud is about to burst, I head back the next day full of anticipation of what the … Continue reading Guess who’s been eating the wildflowers!
How Gorgeous! Joey Antics Outside My Window.
About twelve hours after I posted the photos of our kangaroo mob, lamenting that they had not visited for days, they all showed up. This included the mature female with the older joey. For some reason they showed up at noon – almost on the dot. As a habit, the kangaroos are gone before 9am … Continue reading How Gorgeous! Joey Antics Outside My Window.
Scented Sundew Part 2
A week ago I would have walked past hundreds of Scented Sundew plants, and not even noticed that they were there. Having found the first Scented Sundew on Saturday, I’ve had a heightened awareness of tiny leaves, looking for the telltale sticky hairs. It turns out we have patches of Scented Sundews all over our … Continue reading Scented Sundew Part 2
Climbing Sundew Drosera macrantha Endl.
On Saturday, I posted two photos of the Scented Sundew an insectivorous plant. I took these photos late in the afternoon, when the light was not good. They were quick photos, for identification of the flower. Heading back out on Sunday, in better light and with the aim of taking better photos, I discovered they were … Continue reading Climbing Sundew Drosera macrantha Endl.
Surprising a Drying Darter
On this day, I was walking, deep in thought, when a harsh call snapped me back to reality. I had come face to face with a bird that I thought was a cormorant. I’m not sure which of us was most surprised. I’m so glad I had my camera with me, so I could photograph the … Continue reading Surprising a Drying Darter
Fifteen Acres 