Saturday, March 31, 2012

TODAY'S FLOWERS - A Riot of Colour


Saturday mornings we often go the Angaston farmers' market
and stop in for a few things in the township as well.

I like to get in a quick walk so imagine my surprise to see mass
plantings of Zinnias making a wonderfully bright showing.
I have not seen these flowers used in parks and gardens in over
50 years and was thrilled to see them making a comeback!


I think many of us remember them from mother's or
grandmother's garden.


They certainly brightened the day for me.



Keep your eyes open for the wonder of flowers and keep posting!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

SkyWatch ~ From Darkness comes Light


Sorry about my absence but a holiday, or at least a change of
scene was most necessary.

A few scenes of Perry's Sandhills near Wentworth on the
Darling River in New South Wales.

The sun hid behind dark clouds, casting the land into shadow.




A little more light filtered through


and cracked the dark clouds asunder with it's mighty beams.



We'll be back for a few days before we head off again . . .
meanwhile, enjoy life, enjoy whatever it is you have to do and
enjoy blogging!

Monday, March 19, 2012

OUR WORLD - Moonta Bay


Our first day was cloudy


but the next morning was bright and perfect for trying out my
new 500mm lens from our balcony. This is the jetty at Port
Hughes, a good 5 miles away.


People walking happy dogs down to the beach for a swim


and the occasional cormorant sitting on the breakwater.


Then the light changed to a lurid yellowish green and


a massive storm blew up with torrential rain , flashing lightning
all across the sky and almost interminable rumble of thunder.
The rain was so thick, you could hardly see the sea.


It left the world newly washed with instant little lakes in every
man made depression to increase the uptake of water for the
support of the struggling coastal vegetation.


As soon as the storm had passes (a few marvellous hours),
the sun peeped out from the clouds and the sea was calm and
perfect for a good evening's fishing and crabbing.



Needless to say, under such circumstances and long walks
along the beach and jetty, I returned wonderfully refreshed.

On Wednesday we are off for our next adventure to the Riverland.
Again I will be out of reach of the internet but would so appreciate any
comments you care to leave.

Have you put up your OUR WORLD post yet? If not, get your skates on!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

TODAY'S FLOWERS - Orchids 2nd. Instalment


As I promised last Sunday, here are more of my friends' orchids.

Don't you just love this freckled one? Cattleya Lulu 'Pink Blush'.


Or this virginal white Cattleya HawaiianWedding Song 'Virgin'



Or the work worn hand lifting this milk chocolaty bloom?
Cattleya bicolor (a species)


A beautiful head on this red Cattleya Carol Bernice


and the lovely lip on this delicious pale lilac Cattleya leopoldii 'Brenda'?


. . . and this one, if I had had the naming of, would have been
called maiden's blush, as it is it is Epidendrum Salmon King



I hope you enjoy them as much as I did photographing them.

Monday, March 12, 2012

OUR WORLD - The Call of the Blue Yonder . . .


Ah . . . the irresistible call of the blue yonder . . .


We're off within a few hours to seek solace by the blue sea


where the jetty invites you to be 'gone fishin' . . .


the water is clear,


the sunrise casts shadows in the sand,


the sunsets are to die for


and freshly caught 'fruit de mere' mouthwateringly sweet.



I'll be back at the end of the week . . . maybe . . .

That is OUR WORLD, what is yours???

Saturday, March 10, 2012

TODAY'S FLOWERS - from John's Shade-house


On Friday we went out for lunch with our dear friends
John and Bev who, 26 years ago, established the Murray
Bridge and District Orchid Club. It was a great pleasure
to wander through their shade-houses and see that even now,
in the off season for orchids, they still have an array of
wonderful blooms.


The oddest plant I have ever seen is this Ceropegia ampliata,
that also has a somewhat rude common name which I leave to
your imagination.


Keeping to the same colour scheme, don't you just love the
little curls on this orchid?



God willing, I'll show you many more orchids next week.

If you haven't posted on TODAY'S FLOWERS yet, get on with it,
show us what you've got!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

SkyWatch ~ Cloud Gauge


The dark clouds


are slowly lightening


with a little light


and a patch of blue peeking through.



Join SkyWatch and show us what is happening where you are.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

World Bird Wednesday - Feeding Frenzy


When I feel desolate, I need the open ocean to blow the cobwebs
away. All the city beaches are on the Gulf so we headed to Goolwa
and the Southern Ocean.

I love going there although it is a longish drive as it is quite near
the mouth of the Murray river. At Goolwa there are barrages
across the river and because of the recent rains, the river level
was up and quite a few sluice gates were open and the birds were
in a feeding frenzy as the fish rich water gushed out.


Masses of Cormorants, a few Pelicans and a number of adult
and juvenile Terns were involved in fast moving duck dives
and sudden up periscopes.


Flying back a bit and grazing the churning water against the
current.
The one below had just hit the water after a flight jockeying
for position.


Constantly on the move, this one I managed to catch in flight.


Seldom staying in one position for a good shot.


This Pelican seemed pleased with himself as he was constantly
smiling.


A quick dive, crowned with success.


Small wonder that he was pleased with himself until . . .


he ducked as


a tern flew overhead, he probably thought it was the axe
murderer.



There were terns aplenty, both adult and juvenile. They are such swift flyers
that it is not easy to get a clear shot at them.

Monday, March 5, 2012

OUR WORLD - Somewhere along the way again . . .


On one of my many recent 8 hr. train trips to Melbourne
during my sister's last illness, there was a glimmer of false hope
in the sky viewed through double glass and my sunglasses.


Closer to the city, all the vital and not so pretty infrastructure
that keeps a large metropolis ticking over,


the somewhat seedy graffiti and torn up wooden sleepers


as well al the new concrete variety to replace them,


refineries,



as well as massive storage tanks.


The setting sun just prior to arrival lit up these man-made
giraffes


and added colour to the containers they shifted, that have
become such an integral part of our modern consumer society



and so to the electric suburban train system and imminent
arrival at the inter-state rail terminal.



Like most cities in the world, the outskirts often are somewhat
less than salubrious.

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