Soon

Soon.

Bromeliad: Neoregelia Blushing Tiger, blooming

Orchids are a wonderful group of plants to grow, but you spend a large part of the year tending plants that appear happy to do stuff all for you. I thought it would be nice to have some colour going when the orchids were not in bloom...but what could be happy in the same environment?

Bromeliads!

And so it came to pass that I acquired some Bromeliad 'pups'. It was very difficult to choose which to try because the variety and colours are staggering! Quickly I realized that a new addiction could be in the making, and have learned not to even open the emails and catalogs that come along anymore - its just too much temptation.

This is my Neoregelia "Blushing Tiger". Ive only had it a few months and already its bloomed for me - what a charming envoy for its species - but I must not cave in! I must not order more plants...till at least next year.

Calm before the storm

Non-verbal goings on

Future Food: Macadamia nuts

Super sweetly scented, almost like honey.

Just enjoy the moment...

...after all, this moment is all we ever really have.

Swimming in deep, profoundly thick stuff lately. Heres hoping we find our way to shore soon. In the meantime, a butterfly from last April. Be good to yourself today.

Leaf Cutter Bee in Cosmos

Snagged a few minutes this week for photography, at last. It must have been my week for insects as I bagged a few goodies, the first of which to share is this Leaf Cutter Bee. Ive seen their handiwork about the garden, and Ive seen them muscle bits of leaf into cracks in the brickwork of my house. Too bad they are too busy to wait till Ive got the macro lens on.

Poppy season

Had the first visit with the new doctor friday. Guess what? He changed my meds. Have decided this: if these arent what I need, Im done trying to find pharmaceutical assistance. More words as they come.

Shadows of myself, and Little Wattle Birds

Yesterday I started a new med, and its so sedating that I am too confused to talk further today. Lets see if tomorrow I will be clearer...yeah, that sounds like a plan. Ciao for now!

Aechmea again

I still marvel at how I can have flowers in the garden through the winter. Also Im surprised at how 'tender' Ive become. I used to be able to withstand much more severe winters than we get here, but today its about 12c and I am completely frozen through. Which makes me curious - lets do some math! Hmmmmm, thats 53f! If in my country-of-origin you got a 53 degree day in mid-winter, it would seem positively tropical! Funny that.

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Beyond this, its all complaining. Ciao for now!

Look Ma, one hand!

The pain isnt too bad and Im feeling otherwise well. Most likely there will be more tommorrow - But I snagged this shot this morning! Awkward as, but how to resist trying? A Little wattle bird against my fave acacia (cultriformis). Ciao! Ciao for now!

Remember the Gymea Lily?

Last year I chronicled the blooming of our backyard Gymea Lily. Here she is in all her faded glory, covered in open seed pods. Still lovely to my eyes.

Roses and Rosehips

Regular readers will remember, that I am pruning my rose bushes a tad early this year. From that, Ive gleaned some lovely rosehips and even roses to bring inside. The micro-climate in my garden keeps them blooming, albeit on mostly bare branches, right untill winters bitter end.
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I seem to be sailing at a more even keel on this new med. Iam looking forward to seeing the actual psychiatrist in September - I want a qualified opinion on what flavour of impairment I am experiencing. Pity you have to be in such bad shape before they let you get that. (((diatribe deleted)))

So, tuesday the 18th is the big day for Carpal Tunnel surgery #1, knock on wood it isnt cancelled again. I have been practicing doing things left handed for a couple weeks now, and I hope I will be able to post through the week. However, if I should go missing, dont worry. Keep safe out there!

Cant seem to face up to the facts

"...tense and nervous, and I cant relax.
Cant sleep, beds on fire.
Dont touch me, Ive a real live wire."

Psycho Killer, Talking Heads

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Mexican Bush Sage, Salvia Leucantha. A furry flowered favourite.

Sticky Beak, by any name

The Eastern Spinebill, enjoying our ever popular Grevilliea Scarlet Sprite. Apparently this is THE nectar to get through the winter on. I have more shots which better illustrate this incredibly handsome fella, but I couldnt resist sharing these more candid shots with you.

More info: Eastern Spinebill at Birds in Backyards
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I frequently call the Spinebill a Nuthatch. This is a throwback to my days in my Country of Origin. Similarly, there are still times I find myself walking to the wrong side of the car. (Either to the drivers side when I am a passenger, or to the passengers side when I am driving).

I hab a code in my nose

A canna lilly from late summer. Id tell you which one, but I bought it on ebay, and its definately NOT the one I bargained for. Wont buy plants online again! Good thing its pretty.
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Ive come down with a head cold. Im hoping all the sitting and staring and not caring is at least partly due to that, and not all the new med. Iam still very flat.

For example, yesterday I went to feed the Budgies, and discovered that Freebird had died in the night. My only reaction was to get the shovel and bury him. Just seems a bit odd, cold even, to be so disconnected from one's emotions.

I cant live flatline and inert. The universe is not set up for me to sit and watch TV all day. The 30 day trial continues.

Little Wattle VS Noisy Minor

Who will win? Whoever gets the nectar first!

This knife wattle (Acacia Cultriformis) has proved very popular as a perch for birds resting between drinks at the spiny greville (Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite').

Not just a perch, but also a battlefield for possession of this valuable food resource.

The Little Wattle Birds have to work so hard defending the two of these I have. Since they are so popular, I have found room for a couple more around the back.

In addition to the Noisy Minors, the Common Indian Myna has learned how to partake of this shrubs nectar, and in the last month or so we have had other pirate types too. I will work on some shots for you of the Eastern Spinebill and the White Plumed Honeyeater. I could use some wings of my own to keep up with them.

Caught in a passing sunbeam

Short grey days. When the sun peeks out from behind the clouds,
run outside and soak it up.

Last Roses with First Narcissus

One day last week, it stopped raining long enough that I could tackle a couple of garden jobs. One was to cut back a couple long and unruly canes from a few roses. Not time to prune the roses yet, but I needed my path back before August. From the ends of these ruffian branches I collected a nice lot of rosebuds - some shown here. (Mr. Lincoln and Bettina.)

You might also notice that there are Narcissus blossoms on the left. Very early! It wasnt even winter yet. (I think today is the first day of winter.)

When I see things blooming out of order, I wonder how much is due to climate change, and how much to the micro-climate in our gardens.

Either way - flowers at the kitchen sink make doing dishes alot nicer.

LC Peter Dane 'Sunshine' x BLC Dream Trader

This one's tag is still intact, so we know its #17 in our collection, and thus LC Peter Dane 'Sunshine' x BLC Dream Trader.

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Blah blah blah, blah blah, blah blah blah...let me try again tommorrow!
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ATTENTION BLOGS I VISIT - Ive been getting wierd 'cannot open this webpage' errors on several of the blogs I regularly visit. I dont know if there is a Blogger issue or if its having recently been updated to IE8 - just FYI if you are wondering where I am. See you all as soon as I can get through - fingers crossed for tommorrow - Ciao!