TODAY'S FLOWERS - Tonight's Flowers Really!

'Joiks', I though.

I have no flowers to post . . .

grab camera, rush out into the dark with torch

and violà!

A flower I had noticed on a seedling geranium a few days ago.

Dah, when you shine the torch on the flower, you can't see

what setting the camera in on, ups . . .

soft focus by torchlight.

Madly winding fading torch and clinging on to camera,

my piece de resistance, a flower engulfed by grass.

Yep, not only has my weeding not been done, 

it hasn't even been started

here is the little darling in all it's moth eaten glory

and, the only other thing apart from my white rose that is in 

flower, ONE shy but perfumed violet.

With Lille Abner's grandma I say "when you got 'em, flaunt 'em!"

When you don't have much, it's best to enjoy what you DO have.

SkyWatch - Just a Little Afterglow

After the sun has disappeared over the hill without a fanfare, 

often, the clouds in the East show a touch of what 

could have been, just the tiniest 

breath of pink and 

the rising moon

Zoom in and capture what the eye picks out immediately,

at least mine does,

it too zooms in on the gentle interplay of pink and grey

and high up, the moon performs her dance with the last 

glow of the sun's magnificence.

Do click on the first and enjoy the show.

To see more skies, click on the SkyWatch Logo

on my side bar.

Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes - Willie Wagtails

As soon as the first rain came, with it's accompanying drop of 

temperatures, the male birds went in for territorial posturing, 

chasing each other around in whole gangs and  making one 

heck of a ruckus.

They carried on as though it were spring not autumn.

Two of them in threatening poses in a cherry tree

quickly nipping down for a tasty insect snack

and back to the chase.

They were so intent on their purpose, they even darted around

in the grapevine next to the house.

It was really fun watching their antics.

Likning with Stewart's

Wild Bird Wednesday

and 

Michelle's Nature Notes

OUR WORLD - Autumn Past and Present

Driving to town today to visit my husband, I thought I would 

show you the main street through Verdun, a small settlement 

on my way.

Dense clouds and rain in the distance muted the autumn colours.

My 20 year old car is in the left hand corner of the shot.

The sun was doing it's best to break through

and finally did, to brighten the drenched colourful leaves

I am infinitely grateful for the rain.

Tips of trees over a hedge made a good contrast to the dark sky.

From our last trip together, this time last year,

Martindale Hall near Mintaro

which was the school for the film 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'.

Rather a grand pile in this sleepy rural district

it is sad no longer to have anyone to share trips, memories and old age with.

We never know what life will dish up,

we just hope we cope with whatever comes our way.

TODAY'S FLOWERS - Another Blooming Orchid

It is almost winter, only two weeks to go and still no 

autumn rains . . .

The garden yields nothing at all, just my orchids give me

a thrill now and again

although I have lost quite a few through our

long, hot summer.

The first photo was taken last week when it first opened and 

was more pinkish

the second, a few minutes ago when I noticed that the

colour had intensified and turned more magenta.

Flowers are there to enhance our lives, open your eyes and enjoy!

SkyWatch - Wind and Eye Candy

Just a few interesting visible wind phenomena,

a contrail twisted by an upper atmosphere wind stream

oops, this is a bit of a ring-in, I saw some crows flying overhead,

did a fast reaction body twist and snap . . . gotcha!

A layer of cloud sweeping in,

can you see the associated wind turbulence that is whipping up 

the clouds into a frothing surf?

When the wind does that at ground level where you cannot 

see it, it can toss and topple a plane on landing,

not pleasant for anyone. Airports at some locations are closed

and all traffic diverted under such conditions.

Enough of the lesson in meteorology, here is some gentle 

eye candy, just some cumulo-nimbus at sunset.

Don't you just love watching the sky?

I do.

Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes - Ducks, Ducks and more Ducks

Yesterday I had a long drive to Mt. Barker and on the way back

stopped at this little pond, really a sump for a hillside subdivision.

The run off from so many roofs, sealed driveways and roads

gathers here and because of the fountain aerating the water, 

many waterfowl tend to gather. It has taken some 20 years to 

come into it's own but is now a happy hunting ground for many.

There is a lot of activity of coming and going and changing places.

Pacific Black Duck, left forefront, Eurasian Coot with white 

beak, and my best shot yet of our Australian Wood Duck. 

This is the first time I have captured and indeed 

seen that green flash 

on it's wing.

These three ladies I need Stewart's help in identifying, are they a 

specific breed or a cross?

A couple of Northern Mallards with their iridescent green heads

and their little lady following

she obviously found following them around boring so 

decided to go bottoms up.

And a ring-in, probably my best shot to date of an Eurasian Coot

with it's prominently white beak, face and red eye.

From now on, I will stop at this little pond instead of just passing it by.

Who knows what it may offer next time.

Linking with Stewart's

Wild Bird Wednesday

and
Michelle's Nature Notes (Logo on side bar)