Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday & Nature Notes - Zebra Finches


These Zebra Finches, Taeniopygia guttata, were from our 
trip to Wirrealpa station in the desert country east of 
the North Flinders Ranges.

The first shot is just to give you an idea of the size of these 
busy chattering little birds. 
The little female kept watch in the Acacia tree by a waterhole


while her mate cautiously went for a drink


her ladyship is on the alert


while himself is at the bar guzzling down a few beers as fast
as he can


she checks him out and thinks he has had quite enough and,
like the good fellow he is, he joins her and they merrily fly off.


Although these birds can be found almost Australia wide, they are
more prevalent in the arid inland of the continent.

Linking with Stewart's


and Michelle's


Thursday, July 25, 2013

SkyWatch - Just a Sky or Two


A beautiful day 


that fades into a beautiful evening


whatever sky you have, enjoy it in full measure.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday - Australian Ringneck Parrots & Bonus


The Australian Ringneck Parrot, Barnardius zonarius,
these were taken at Wilpena Pound but birds of the same 
coloration were also documented in the N.Flinders Ranges
As no two learned tomes agree on regional differences and names,
I am not prepared to hang my hat on any of the seven pegs 
I have checked.

Below, a bird in it's native habitat


and feeding on tiny berries on the planted native vegetation


parrots so often look like they are laughing at one with that 
cunning look in the eye and cheeky grin

these jokers invariably park themselves in the middle of 
vegetation or in dense shade.


Just because I can, a little, and I really mean tiny, treat for the eyes
a Variegated Fairy-Wren from the N. Flinders Ranges.

Do click to enlarge that flirty tail!


Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

Monday, July 22, 2013

OUR WORLD & Nature Notes - The Joys of Farm Life


Cute piggy at the gate


doing a great job of digging
unfortunately not where it is NOT wanted


it is cold, miserable and very wet
and guess why I got no apples from my espaliered 
and covered trees - possums :(


but when the sun pops out, there are compensations!


It hasn't been a great week for photography.

Linking with OUR WORLD

and 


Have a happy week everyone!

Friday, July 19, 2013

TODAY'S FLOWERS , I Heart Macro & Weekend Flowers - Flowers in a Mid-Winter Garden


Mid-winter and the garden has suddenly come alive!

This is nowhere near what my garden has to offer between rain, 
hail and windstorms.

Click on any photo to enjoy the slideshow.


First of the hyacinths, now I have a whole bunch up and flowering


Three pots of these Zygopetalum Orchids are going strong.


Cattleya Orchid still holding on


and the Wallflower I grew from a cutting a few months back
is already in bloom.


The Crabapple, Malus floribunda, has been flowering since the 
first autumn rains!


Violets are flowering everywhere as is this rather precious
double, beautifully scented one I keep in a pot.


First of the almond blossom


and roses galore. Due to the cold, the colours are much 
more intense
above and below is 'Apricot Nectar'


Below is 'Charles Austin', one of a number of
 David Austin roses I cherish.


Intense colour on this summertime pale pink rose


even my Passionfruit is flowering!


 plenty of drowned Jonquils


and even my Blueberry!!!


Linking with 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday & Nature Notes - A Wet Little Lady


It's been a wet, wet week
so here is all I could catch
a wet little Superb Fairy Wren hen


the little lady was foraging happily on what should be lawn


"oh, come on! Haven't you got enough shots of me yet?
A towel would have been welcome . . ."


Linking with Stewart's 


and Michelle's Nature Notes

Monday, July 15, 2013

OUR WORLD - Hired help


Planting time is here and my beds are not prepared
so I called in the hired help.


Oops, a slight misunderstanding as to where I needed some 
digging, hmm might be a good place for that rose-in-waiting


all installed
great to have such helpful grandchildren


now for some serious digging, those raspberries 
do need to go in pronto


Violet was also in on the act 
trimming around the trees


all heading home after a hard day's work.
Yes, the goat helped as well.


What a fun way to get my soil prepared!

Friday, July 12, 2013

TODAY'S FLOWERS - Flinders Ranges Wattle


Acacia iteaphilla, commonly called Flinders Ranges Wattle,
is one of those wonderful plants that bloom in winter
with a delicately sweet scent.


This one we planted along the road verge next to one of our 
dams some 18 years ago and it performs beautifully 
every year.


It is so nice to do just garden posts for a while,
after all, there is so much in a simple garden to give one joy

Winter Surprise


I won't be posting or visiting much for a while.

I have finally found someone to cut my lawns LOL on a 
regular basis.
This has given me courage to once more attack my neglected garden.
Since 2-3 hrs of gardening totally exhausts me to the point
of needing 12 hrs of sleep to recover, 
it does not leave much time for blogging since the exhaustion 
is not only physical.

Imagine putting your nose outside in mid-winter and instantly 
becoming the preferred perch of a Ladybug!


After sitting on my hand for some five minutes,


I coaxed it onto a stalk of grass .


What a joyful surprise, small wonder this blog is called garden delights.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday & Nature Notes - Arid Land Birds


These photos are from our last trip to the inland desert country

Click to enlarge to get a better view.

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater and young


White-plumed Honeyeater, Lichenostomus penicillarus


Inland Thornbill, Acanthiza pusilla
this is the teeniest weeniest tiniest little bird, seen 
mainly in family groups of 10 to 12 and constantly chattering


this is as much as I could crop it


I have narrowed this one down to the Southern Whiteface,
Aphelacephala, leucopsis

again, it is  a very small bird and if I have identified correctly,
a lifer for me.


another view.
These were taken well before the sun was up so clarity
is not the best.


Lastly, the terrain they make their home in.

This is one of the last shots my husband took before he no 
longer could remember how a camera works.


As you may have noticed, I just love the desert country!

Linking with Stewart's


and Michelle's


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