Wednesday, October 21, 2009

SkyWatch and Nature Notes

Yesterday afternoon clouds came welling across the
farm yard



thickening and towering high into the sky....



it was all just teasing...they passed over head without
shedding a single tear.

With the spring rains we have had, we also have the
associated hip high weeds but to compensate, a
population explosion of poppies, Papaver somnifera,
as well.



Since at last we have some water in the dams,




the turtles are migrating up the hill from the tiny
puddle in the dry summer creek that sustained the
life of at least some of them last summer.
The frogs have changed their nightly deafening din
on all sides to an ominous drumming of the Pukel
men with the loud and persistent honks of the bullfrogs..



For the first time since it was planted in the park
some 10 years ago, the candles on the Aesculus
hippocastanum, are alight and , if the season
remains good, we may get our first conckers yet!



There are only five flower spikes...I would have been
extatic with just one!



Time to leave the park. Even the water darkens since
the sun has set.



All photos enlarge as always.


Click on either and/or both Logos and visit the skies
and changing nature elsewhere.


My thanks to the skywatch team as well as to
Michelle of Rambling Wood for hosting these memes.

52 comments:

  1. How wonderful to have the rains and with it the flowers!Thanks for sharing this joy .
    Blessings,Ruth

    ReplyDelete
  2. Absolutely awesome pictures Arija. I love those first 2 cloud shots, and the Poppy is so beautiful.
    The turtle seems happy.
    B.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is a gorgeous array of different types of nature's gifts. I love to watch as the storm approaches. I'm an avid cloud watcher (and photographer.)
    Those red poppies, so vibrant! The reflection of the sky in the water is an interesting shot.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The cloud fingers look like sea coral. Sorry they didn't bring more rain. But looks like you've gotten enought to put water in the pond. Plus the Poppies are brilliant in there profusion. Must be nice to hear the frogs once more and see the turtles return.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful spring. I am holding positive thoughts for more moisture to come your way.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely photos, especially the turtle!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've been kind of out of touch with the Blogosphere of late, and really missed your great nature & cultivated plant photos. Thanks for the fix!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great collection of pictures in one post... ha! you spoil us.
    If you get the time nip over and see if you can spot
    The Green Man

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a great combo post for skywatch and nature notes. All of the shots and the narrative are great and I love the way you ended with that beautiful reflection.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful!!!!
    I am so incredibly jealous of the amount of poppies.....my grandmother had them. I'm not even sure of the legality of them here now.
    A stand that large sends me swooning! I still have a few of the pink and the doubles in the same family. they grow as they please, and mostly they don't due to wind and winter.
    You are so fortunate!

    XXOO!!
    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  11. Loved the talking to.

    That was fantastic and seriously Arija, I don't know why I can never let myself go. Everyone around me does but I don't.

    Now let me rethink it, I have fun, but I always feel reserved too.

    Love you dear friend.

    Love Renee xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm enjoying the pictures of my opposite season! Poppies always seem to make cheerful landscapes - good shot.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Arija, your enlarged photo of the Poppies almost makes me cry for the yearning to touch them...


    and the dear turtle with outstretched neck... ditto...

    ReplyDelete
  14. The clouds look like a vortex of power centered on the tree; it's a wonderful composition. And you've included sky reflected in water, which is always a favorite. Lovely post and photos! Thanks, Arija.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Another interesting and beautiful post! Your sky watch photos are stunning! And poppies, they are lovely, indeed. Your photos are really beautiful as always.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello Arija...Amazing shots.

    http://graceolsson.se/mittliv/2009/10/22/skrapan-fyller-20-ar-at-skywatchfriday/

    ReplyDelete
  17. Of course I had to publish it. It is so fun and magical and full of life and spirit and heart.

    I love it.

    Love Renee xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  18. I bet you are coming just to make sure I let the ice cream drip all over me.

    xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful photos, Arija. I love the first shot with the stunning clouds and that stark tree commanding the attention. And The poppies are gorgeous...they really pop!

    ReplyDelete
  20. those pond reflections are so beautiful...all of your captures are lovely.
    have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  21. poppies are my favourite flower, so that shot is my favourite out of all of them.....

    Gill in Canada

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh, the dizzying beautiy of your skies. That composition with the dead snag is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  23. A lovely series of spring photos! It is so strange to think about you having spring, with summer to come - and where I am we have autumn and soon to be winter!
    Love the first shot with the old tree, and the lovely puppies!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Breathtaking shots as always, Arija! I love the ones with those perfect reflections! And of course, the lovely flowers and colors of spring -- quite a contrast to ours these days!

    Enjoy your weekend!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm glad you've had some rain and I hope you get lots more before the heat of summer.

    ReplyDelete
  26. lovely photo's Arija, love the third photo, the flowers just pop out against the blue sky :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I know what you mean about the weeds, we had lots of rain this spring too. But, we only got weeds out of it, no poppies!

    Love the sky shot and the reflection of it in the pond.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Happy to see some rains have arrived along with the spring flush of growth and colour.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Looks like a beautiful afternoon.

    ReplyDelete
  30. The area you live in is delightful, Arija. You always seem to have beautiful flowers and skies.

    ReplyDelete
  31. So lovely to see the springtime emerging across the way ...

    and I see a face in the water (last photo on the right)
    A lovely weekend to you, Arija
    ~Maria

    ReplyDelete
  32. Lovely shots Arija, thanks for sharing the beauty.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Arija such glorious photos of a time of rebirth in your world of Spring down under! The clouds are awesome! Those poppies so beautiful and that turtle simply warms my nature heart! The reflection in the water is so beautiful..you have such blessings
    and you see it all!
    love and light aNNa feeling so wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Simply beautiful post thank you so much for sharing.
    Smiles and blessing

    ReplyDelete
  35. Awesome wholesome Ma'am Arija!

    Beautiful photo sharing. And hey, we are going there next year in Victor Harbor.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Many different and very nice images, Arija! I've really enjoyed your Sky Watch post.

    ReplyDelete
  37. gorgeous skies
    poppies
    turtles
    reflections
    and flowers oh my!
    Spirithelpers

    ReplyDelete
  38. Wonderful sky photos. Your poppies are beautiful and I like the turtle too. ALl great nature photos, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Beautiful dramatic skies, Arija, and I love the poppies. So pleased to hear you have had rain.
    Janice.

    ReplyDelete
  40. What wonderful cloud patterns..well worth capturing .
    Just beautiful

    Eaglesbrother

    ReplyDelete
  41. gorgeous skies, wonderful poppies, beautiful reflections....

    ReplyDelete
  42. That's a very nice serie again, Arija.
    I like the red poppies, and the last photo of the reflection is simply stunning.
    Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  43. I was pleased to be able to see the turtle. I have not seen one in a long time. The rest of the photos and post are good to see also. I was just struck by the turtle.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Love those cloud photos! Wish my sky was looking that good. Wow...the poppies are wonderful. How nice to watch the turtle make his slow way.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Huh! Scary!!! - the reflection of the clouds on the water.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Gorgeous skies and oh so lovely reflections!

    ReplyDelete
  47. I can hear the excitement in your post and I too have excited for you. I love the angle on the sky photos, I have to try that. I know you will have many lovely post for Nature Notes Arija... Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  48. Great your blog.
    Beautiful text and shots.
    Luiz Ramos

    ReplyDelete
  49. What a lovely adventure you have taken us on. Great skies! Great reflections. Great poppies. Love the turtle. Your altocumulus skies look like mine yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Conckers? I'll have to look those up. I love the poppies, and the turtle is a great find too. It's fun to see spring in your part of the world while it's fall in ours.

    ReplyDelete

Blog Widget by LinkWithin