MY WORLD ~ Winter Wonders

At last the days are getting just a little bit longer and instantly

the almond blossoms awaken to give us hope of spring to come.

Their little stars light up my world.

Just because of the unusual moisture in the soil, the roses

have burst into bloom

and on a sunny day, the bees brave the temperature to

seek a drop of fresh nectar.

Our world is so divers, do join in with this meme and see what is

happening on the other side . . . just click on the Logo and The World

is your oyster!

Nature Notes ~ A Walk on the Beach

This is Second Valley in South Australia, a tiny horseshoe bay

with a short but, at high tide, a deep mooring place. There is a

white sand beach with interesting rocks and rounded green hills

around. The fishing is good and the play of light on sea and shore

quite spectacular. On top of all, the water is crystal clear right

to the deep depth at the end of the jetty.

A perfect place to sketch with charcoal from an old camp fire

on the beach

or go exploring along the rocky outcrops as the tide is going out.

Wildflowers inhabit any crevice they find and

limpets and other much smaller tidal sea creatures cling to

the rocks. These tiny invertebrates are less than one tenth

of an inch and smaller (click to enlarge), I could barely recognise

them and I was wearing glasses.

Flat, rounded stones that your hands just itch to fondle and

take pocket-fulls home. I resisted, but just barely. These days

my collecting is done by camera.

The striations on the rocks and the vegetation are enchanting,

as are the bees and butterflies.

and the view is a pure dream.

Thank you Michelle of Rambling Woods for this most gentle of memes.

Do click on the Logo and join in.

Watery Wednesday & Nature Notes ~ Miracles Still Happen!

Although it is autumn, our summer rain, three months late,
has finally come! My cup runneth over and so does the 500
gallon water tank in my shadehouse.






















Nature rejoices as a lovesick cicada serenading loudly in the
hope of yet attracting a mate so late in the season, drags me
out of slumber at three o'clock in the morning. Did you know
that they need rain for their chambers to really resonate?

A sodden bee struggles among the wet pollen ....


















'Heritage' delighting in the warm summer rain so unusual
this late in the season..

Nature's jewels lighting up the garden. We had one and a half

inches of rain in less than 24 hours, more rain than we have had

in the last six months in total.

'Just Joey' dripping with pleasure. The pleasure the plants and

the very earth feel at this wonder from heaven is palpable.

All of Nature rejoices!

Apologies for the quality of the first shot, it was raining cats, dogs,

and small elephants and I was more worried about my camera

than a perfect picture.

All photos enlarge as always.

With thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for hosting Watery Wednesday and

Michelle of Rambling woods for Nature Notes.

A click on the relevant Logo at right will find both sites.

TODAY'S FLOWERS ~ 23 * Winter Delights *

While walking across our paddocks yesterday,
these lovely blossoms stopped me on my way



their dainty petals tucked in caps of brightest red



unfurled before my eyes as there I stood and stared
quite unprepared to meet such loveliness of dancing
ballerinas clad in tutus upon a swaying Eucalyptus bow.



and homeward bound, returned to see
these pretty blossoms on my Almond tree!

The world is full of flowers, just click the Logo and you'll see.

Many thanks to Luiz Santilly Jr. and the lovely people on
his team for caring to provide this charming meme.