Old Man Banksia, Banksia Serrata

Check out Banksia Serrata at Wikipedia. I have not altered this spent flower in any way, the emerging seed 'follicles' are just perfectly placed to make this face. I love this tree, AND so do our backyard Little Wattle Birds, its the one they nest in.

Hey Man, scored some weed!

Well, road side weed actually. Looks like some sort of Verbena...Bonariensis? Maybe?

The only 'weed' we enjoy here on our patch is the catnip I grow for my furry friends - its actually very good as a tea for humans as well - very calming - quite the paradox!

And yet, as I make this wee little 'weed' joke, I am reminded of Steppenwolf's 1968 "Dont Step on the Grass, Sam". I was only five years old. But I distinctly remember feeling like I didnt understand this song, or the world...
(-deleted scenes were here-)

Sorry, waxed all retrospectively philosophical for about two hours there - thats another reason Im not blogging much of late, I veer off on morose tangents that would better suit a "real" piece of literature. That and I lose way too much time...at a time when I am required to spend less time sitting in one spot letting gravity work me over with her brass knuckles without so much as scratching back at that bitch.........

sheesh, well, you see what I mean, dont you?

One of these three things is for certain, either:

1)
I am finally loosing my mind - for real this time.

2)
I actually possess a brilliant mind thats been savagely repressed,
but has finally begun to fight back, and now, now is the time for me
to be clad in a raiment of splendour, and shine in the glorious sun
of my magnificent and awe inspiring intellect.

OR

3)
My parents did way too much weed.

Doryanthes Excelsa: Gymea or Spear Lily: Bigger than a breadbox

So here you go, BetteJo - and anyone else who was wondering - its bigger than a 2 litre bottle. The Most DH kindly held it for me to shoot, but being it was so early in the morning, the photo was pretty crap (both bottle and lily appeared entirely black). I had some fun messing with it in PSP6, now we can tell what we are looking at, and I like the alternate colours as well.

Doryanthes Excelsa: Gymea or Spear Lily: Luminous Wax

BetteJo has asked for some info on the size of this thing - and so we took a pic with an object for scale - but its a pretty crap pic LOL Let me mess with it and post it next time, Ta!

Doryanthes Excelsa: Gymea or Spear Lily: emerging bud

From the crepe-like outer layer, the smooth bud emerges. This photo looks like I might have compressed the file a tad too much - mea culpa.

Aechmea and Tanacetum

More, or less, specifically: an unknown Aechmea with Tanacetum parthenium. I wouldnt have a clue what the common name for the Aechmea is, but its a bromeliad, and the Tanacetum is just good old "Feverfew".
Strange (flower)bed fellows, eh?

Spring Thing - Calf

A little further along the road with the flowering crab, we encountered a herd of cows with many calves...this adorable one is obviously enjoying the glorious day.

Savouring Spring

This old flowering crab was magnificent - smothered in bloom by the side of a road. Spring is very quick here in Oz. Soon we will be sweltering in the heat; its best to make the most of these mild days while they last.

Something wicked this way comes!

Egads! Ive been waiting for Rainbow Lorikeets and misc. Honeyeaters like our Little Wattle Birds to come and enjoy the Gymea Lily - but this Sulphur Crested Cockatoo and I had a Mexican stand off over it yesterday....I prevailed....but for how long?

Doryanthes Excelsa: Gymea or Spear Lily: "The Bloom-ening"

Wandered out the back door to check on our bud last Wednesday - and whadda ya know? But of course the shy little moppet wants to bloom facing away from me. Very well then, you want to play hard to get - then I just get my 'long nose' lens and shoot you from below.

You cant hide from my powerful zoom! But you can surprise me with how pink the lily itself is. Wont it be a sight when they have all emerged?

Aviary Power Couple still going strong

Goliath and Uno are still going strong. Goliath had to work hard to tame the heart of Uno and fend off all rivals for her affection - but at last he has succeeded! She only has eyes and beak for him now...doesnt he look content?

Hippo Birdy Two-Ewe!