tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44815715337909052942012-02-14T07:54:19.061+10:00Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.comBlogger2381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-46101990456428895302012-02-14T01:00:00.000+10:002012-02-14T01:00:05.053+10:00

Wishing you all a very Happy Valentine's Day.  Unfortunately I don't have Roses in my garden to share on this very special day, but there are a few lovely splashes of red in the garden to help celebrate this occasion. Have a great day!

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-45148809276230333122012-02-12T12:31:00.002+10:002012-02-12T12:31:30.592+10:00

Well, that was a very interesting 36 hours!!!! Google shut down my account while I was sleeping and I awoke to find I could no longer access my email, my blogs, my Google+ stream or my Picasa albums ... all of which were associated with my google account.  Apparently somebody out there was messing with my account ... what is wrong with these people who seem to love hacking into others

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-46636047840331973342012-02-10T21:20:00.001+10:002012-02-10T21:20:22.834+10:00

Whoa!  Old Man Summer has ramped it up a notch or two in the last couple of weeks.  We've had very steamy sticky days where the mercury has climbed up to the mid-30 deg C mark (around 91-92 deg F).  It feels like you could wring the air around you like a damp rag and watch the waterdrops fall.  We've had some magnificent tropical thunderstorms in the evenings ... complete with resplendent

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-49412373259054761592012-02-06T00:30:00.000+10:002012-02-06T05:59:30.394+10:00

Only a few more official Summer sunrises to go now.  The end of Summer is drawing near ... February is our last Summer month ... but the hot, sticky and muggy conditions will carry on until at least mid-March.  It's not much fun getting out into the garden right now and I'm avoiding it as much as possible. I can wander around in the early morning and in the evening when the sun goes down

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-15115988890680295332012-02-03T09:01:00.000+10:002012-02-05T10:15:58.518+10:00

Yes, February is our last month of Summer.  The heavens continue to open either in the late afternoon, overnight or early in the morning, but during the day it continues to be bright, sunny and excruciatingly hot.  I feel like I'm walking around all day with a sticky wet blanket draped over me.  The humidity levels are extremely high.  As a matter of fact they reached 99% again during the late

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-82491425001569123242012-01-27T16:28:00.001+10:002012-02-05T10:16:33.895+10:00

I haven't posted a Friday Flower Flaunt for a couple of weeks as I've been very caught up with the beginning of the new school year.  It's always a very hectic time and there never seems to be enough hours in the day!  Thankfully I've got some time to myself today, so I get to share some of the blooms out in the garden right now. January is a mid-Summer month for us and we've finally had

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-86193412257688570262012-01-26T11:40:00.000+10:002012-01-26T15:42:53.832+10:00

January 26th is Australia Day here in Oz and it's a national holiday.  It's our official national day when we celebrate everything that is great and good about living in this lucky country of ours. In our nation's capital city of Canberra, Australia's Federation Guard raise the Australian National Flag in the presence of the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and other distinguished

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-7080209909270173612012-01-13T06:20:00.000+10:002012-01-28T16:28:31.302+10:00

Well here it's mid-Summer and 'wet' season, although it's been a dry ole 'wet' season so far.  We've had no rain for weeks now, so the garden has been sizzling and frying in the fierce sunshine and drying out in the high humidity.  Apart from the trusty common year-round bloomers, there are only a few other flowers around at the moment. The Fiddlewood Tree at the end of the hill driveway is

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-53661863956885185822012-01-11T12:17:00.003+10:002012-01-11T12:30:49.301+10:00

I'm back to posting my 'Wildlife On Wednesday' entries.  I haven't posted one in ages, and it seemed it was most definitely time for one. One of the things I've noticed about this Summer is the absence of the usual throngs of insects. Take the Cicadas for instance.  During our Summers, they are usually so deafening that I get driven inside into the air-con just to give my ears a break!

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-32135311383076157752012-01-09T12:00:00.000+10:002012-01-09T12:21:55.937+10:00

I had the privilege recently of visiting our Australian National Botanic Gardens way down south in Canberra.  This particular botanic garden showcases all Australian natives ... there's not an introduced species to be found.  So many of the native trees and shrubs were blooming while I was there and I just had to share some of these beauties again. Banksias ... Grevilleas and Callistemons

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-10289266792020548022012-01-05T10:34:00.000+10:002012-01-07T10:57:03.760+10:00

Something a little different for my flaunt this Friday... I've just returned from a little jaunt away from home and have been enjoying the sights of our nation's capital city, Canberra.  One of the highlights of the week I spent down there was my visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens. It's a place I've longed to visit for quite some time now, knowing that it's a showcase for some

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-61188974118173345662012-01-04T17:05:00.000+10:002012-01-07T18:58:02.819+10:00

Happy New Year everyone.  I can't believe it's already the middle of the first week of 2012.  I've had a little break over the past couple of weeks and really enjoyed the Christmas / New Year holidays.  I welcomed the New Year in way down south in the A.C.T. which is where our nation's capital is located.  We were visiting Canberra to attend a friend's wedding and had organised to stay a

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-43319709905547560822011-12-24T01:00:00.000+10:002011-12-24T01:00:11.885+10:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Now for the last post in my photo series 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' showing some of the sights I've seen throughout this year. On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me ...   ... twelve Kookaburras perching. I do so hope you've enjoyed this series.  I certainly have enjoyed taking the opportunity to share images of some of the wildlife

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-78437450044240261062011-12-23T06:05:00.001+10:002011-12-23T06:05:43.450+10:00

Continuing the photo series 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' showing some of the sights around my place this year. On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me ... ... eleven bees a-humming. To catch up with the previous posts, just scroll down and find 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' in the 'Labels' sidebar.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-21607579563225101962011-12-22T08:37:00.000+10:002011-12-22T09:01:02.662+10:00

Continuing my 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' photo series showing sights from around my place throughout this year. On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me ... ... ten Lorikeets feasting.  (Scaly-breasted Lorikeet at the top, and the Rainbow Lorikeet on the bottom). To catch up with the previous posts, just scroll down and find 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' in the 'Labels'

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-28268317616245065472011-12-21T08:44:00.000+10:002011-12-21T08:44:37.671+10:00

Continuing the 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' photo series showing sights from around my place this year. On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me ... ... nine Sunbirds perching. To catch up with the previous posts, just scroll down and find 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' in the 'Labels' sidebar.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-53125587055804347862011-12-20T15:49:00.000+10:002011-12-20T22:51:57.976+10:00

Continuing my 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' photo series showing some of the sights around my place this year. On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me .... .... eight moths a-resting. To catch up with the previous posts, just scroll down and find 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' in the 'Labels' sidebar.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-37581755715815185612011-12-19T11:03:00.002+10:002011-12-20T22:51:26.356+10:00

More of my 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' photo series showing some of the sights around my place this year. On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me ...   ... seven black Cockatoos. (male and female Red-tailed Black Cockatoos) To catch up with the previous posts, just scroll down and find 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' in the 'Labels' sidebar. I'm joining Mosaic Monday

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-52245071543903751142011-12-18T10:05:00.002+10:002011-12-19T10:58:53.771+10:00

Continuing my 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' series showing sights you would see around my place ... On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me ... six small Kingfishers.  I'm joining Highlight Sunday today. (For previous 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' photos, just click on 'Older post' at the bottom of this post.)

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-31507610223681894472011-12-17T11:52:00.001+10:002011-12-17T22:02:00.302+10:00

Continuing my 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' series showing sights you would see around my place ... On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me... five but...ter...flies!

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-17844578559133643722011-12-16T18:52:00.002+10:002011-12-20T22:50:47.370+10:00

Continuing my 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' series showing some of the sights around my place this year ... On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me .... ... four Wallabies. (Mother Agile Wallabies and their 'joeys')

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-76455726306719669192011-12-15T14:25:00.000+10:002011-12-20T22:50:27.820+10:00

Continuing my 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' series showing some of the sights around my place this year ... On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me ... three Fig Birds ... (adult female, juvenile male, adult male Fig Birds or Sphecotheres viridis)

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-5082808649829508362011-12-14T17:09:00.000+10:002011-12-20T22:50:08.032+10:00

Continuing my 'Twelve Days Of Christmas' series showing some of the sights around my place this year ...   On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me two Dragonflies ...

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-70802574550646496372011-12-13T08:26:00.000+10:002011-12-20T22:49:46.220+10:00

I thought of a great way to use many of the photos I've been taking of the sights around my place throughout this year  ... a 'Twelve Days Of Christmas'  photo series.  Now I know that the twelve days don't really begin until Christmas Day, but I'll be away from from computer and the internet for the period between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day ... so I thought I would begin this series today

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-12440921292582593002011-12-12T14:44:00.001+10:002011-12-12T15:43:38.911+10:00

Now I know for some the idea of Christmas during Summer seems quite wrong.  I'm thinking, of course, of our fellow northern hemispherian gardeners.  Here in the tropics though, we know no different.  No snow, no chilly weather and no fires crackling.  There's most certianly none of that.  Instead, we're making mince pies while we bake in 36 deg C heat, and wrapping presents while the scorching

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-2678228880834068862011-12-09T11:33:00.001+10:002011-12-11T10:28:54.043+10:00

December is early Summer here and there's blue sky as far as the eye can see.   Nothing surprising there! But what a lovely surprise I found this morning when I ventured out to trim back the rather unruly Salvia madrensis. Yes, out I went, braving the scorching heat and sultry conditions on this early summer's morning, in order to do some much needed trimming back and this is what I found

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-74797545679068482702011-12-07T10:31:00.001+10:002011-12-07T10:41:56.769+10:00

I'm adding this to my Wildlife on Wednesday posts and joining  ... Tina's Wordless Wednesday  and the Wordless Wednesday meme.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-2078955728140598932011-12-05T11:24:00.001+10:002011-12-07T13:42:32.035+10:00

Not far to go now!  Of course, my grandchildren have it figured out in terms of the number of sleeps ... only 20 more to go!! Here in my north-eastern corner of tropical Australia, it's time to get in the Christmas mood. People decorate their houses and yards for the annual 'Street Light Drive'.  Every year we get in our cars, turn on the local radio station and are directed down particular

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-40450060704238090132011-12-02T09:47:00.001+10:002011-12-09T22:13:33.449+10:00

The sun has risen on the start of our Summer season and here in my north-east corner of Australia, the heat is on!  We've had quite a few days when our daytime highs have hit 32 or 33 deg C (89-91 F) and the humidity has started to climb up over the 70% mark.  On this particular Fertilizer / Skywatch Friday, it's another overcast day with a sky filled with dark threatening clouds hanging around

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-55464986967182574552011-11-30T05:44:00.001+10:002011-11-30T05:49:38.626+10:00

(Agile Wallaby playing hide-and-seek) I'm joining Tina's Wordless Wednesday today with this wildlife shot.  Pop over and join the fun!

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-6663467251503702792011-11-28T17:04:00.001+10:002011-11-28T17:57:57.030+10:00

Raindrops on rooftop and raindrops on flowers, Birds and the dry bush are covered by showers, Grey skies and grey clouds at the end of our Spring, These are a few of my favourite things! Yes, it looks as if the dry season is coming to an end for this year.  It was relatively short ... only seven months without rain this time around ... but it's always a harsh time.  Now it seems

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-44275181256504115992011-11-24T20:54:00.001+10:002011-11-27T10:17:37.153+10:00

It's raining ... amen, hallelujah!  Yes we've finally had a decent amount of rainfall.  Yesterday afternoon the dark grey clouds rolled in and the rain fell .... and kept on falling for over an hour!  Then the drizzle started up again very, very early this morning and fell for several hours.  Those raindrops actually soaked into the ground and I'm sure I heard the bush give a huge sigh of relief.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-19143955065006980672011-11-21T12:30:00.001+10:002011-11-24T20:51:54.072+10:00

Yes our native Planchonia careya or Cocky Apple trees are flowering at the moment.  This means these trees seem to be back to their usual timeline.  Last year, after a rather damp and unusual 'dry' season, they bloomed in October.  This year we had our normal dry 'dry' ... no rain at all for seven months ... and the Cocky Apples are blooming once again in late November into early December.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-92059234708123069222011-11-18T09:17:00.001+10:002011-11-20T13:26:13.444+10:00

Only  12 more days until the start of Summer.  Springtime here is almost over and the 'dry' season is drawing to a close as well.  There's still quite a bit of colour in various corners of my place despite the parched conditions, especially in my tiny Daylily Corner of the tiered garden beds.  The dark varieties have been strutting their stuff lately. Here's Hemerocallis 'Bela Lugosi' with its

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-62368470719994953422011-11-14T13:56:00.001+10:002011-11-14T15:15:31.065+10:00

My beloved other half and I have just returned from a fabulous birthday celebration weekend at our favourite getaway location.  Just four hours drive along the highway north is Mission Beach where we've often spent weekends away in the last decade or so.  Well, this past weekend we didn't stay at our usual resort hotel, right on the beachfront, which I've written about before in an earlier post

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-28320231134531340572011-11-11T08:09:00.001+10:002011-11-11T08:31:27.978+10:00

It's Remembrance Day here in Australia.  At 11.00 am on the 11th day of the 11th month, the country stops to observe one minute's silence to remember all those who have fallen in the line of duty.  The red poppy has become a familiar emblem of this special day and whilst there are no poppies growing in my garden, I thought I would share some of the red blooms that are on show out in my garden

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-32339600753723978672011-11-07T00:18:00.001+10:002011-11-07T11:20:31.575+10:00

When I first began working at my present school, there was no mention of gardening chores or rose garden tending.  Not once during the interview did I hear the words 'rose garden' spoken!  But, here I am ... I've become the Rose Garden caretaker.  Upon moving into my present classroom, with the school's only rose garden just outside the doors, I became the rose garden carer by default.  Having

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-92102759777969037412011-11-04T06:41:00.000+10:002011-11-05T14:18:38.460+10:00

It's been wonderful wandering around the courtyard and the shadehouse lately, as both spots are filled with such lovely perfumes.  I know I flaunted the rather regal Oriental ladies last week, but they've been putting on such a brilliant display and filling the shadehouse with their heady fragrance, that I thought they deserved a little more time in the spotlight.  One of the other

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-14614086843371084772011-10-31T09:44:00.000+10:002011-10-31T09:44:14.427+10:00

Maybe that should be ... Oh For Smell-O-Monitor-Vision!  Anyway, my Oriental ladies are blooming and the fragrance is heavenly. This is only the second year I've grown these grand ladies and I'm now hooked!   I'm not one for cutting blooms to bring inside but I couldn't resist the urge to bring a bouquet of them into the house. They're taking pride of place on the kitchen bench right now,

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-88766321774724468842011-10-28T08:16:00.002+10:002011-10-30T10:25:41.442+10:00

Our mid-Spring month is now almost over and I can feel Summer just waiting around the corner.  The days are getting warmer, but thankfully the nights are still comfortable.  It's getting hectic at work now that the end of the school year is approaching.  It an absolute joy to come home from a long day at school and find the Oriental Lilies blooming and filling the shadehouse with their exotic

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-25115485939843007862011-10-26T07:09:00.003+10:002011-10-26T07:10:01.644+10:00

Join in the fun on Wordless Wednesday

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-3982963979823526742011-10-24T11:31:00.002+10:002011-10-24T11:31:53.424+10:00

Well I've only had two very brief years experience growing Daylilies, so I'm not all that clued up on how it all works ... yet!  When the first bloom of my Hemerocallis 'Jamaican Me Crazy' opened up, I was a little taken aback.  It looked quite odd with its crinkly petals and bizarra maroon streaks.  I wasn't sure what was going on.  Well I think he was just playing with me.  Trying to live up

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-43030487699758146782011-10-21T11:18:00.000+10:002011-10-23T15:15:18.786+10:00

Yet another Flower Flaunt/Skywatch Friday has begun.  We've had some strange weather lately.  It's been very gusty and windy with grey clouds hanging around heavy with the promise of decent rain.  That hasn't eventuated in my suburb, but apparently there has been heavy showers in other areas around our city area.  Here, we've had some very very light drizzle which barely touches the ground. 

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-46547131809782902602011-10-18T22:12:00.001+10:002011-10-18T22:12:22.989+10:00

I'm joining Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday meme for the first time today and I can share the first of my Hemerocallis bloms for this Spring. Hemerocallis 'Blackberry Jack' bloomed first, as he has done for the last two years since I planted my very first Hemerocallis bulbs. Then today, when I arrived home from work, I noticed Hemerocallis 'Francois Verhaert' had suddenly appeared. These boys are

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-31188224887080022082011-10-17T12:19:00.004+10:002011-10-17T15:02:01.395+10:00

Well I know I've been complaining a little lately.  The dry season sometimes gets me way, way down, and that's been the case this year. Six months without means hard work for the garden and gardener.  But, something awoke me this morning and I thought I was dreaming.  I heard thunder!!!!  I cautiously and hopefully made my way out of the bedroom, onto the verandah to see this ... ... and this

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-30208652367482732672011-10-14T07:45:00.002+10:002011-10-16T11:42:52.030+10:00

The view across to the hills this morning was unusual.  The combination of colours, cloud formations and smoke from the bushfires still raging in the mountain ranges created a morning sky that looked almost apocalyptic!  It was an incredible sight. So on this day that started out with a strange twist, let's see what's blooming around the place. The first of my Hemerocallis has begun

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-78694115040785002532011-10-10T09:49:00.001+10:002011-10-10T09:49:47.397+10:00

The dry season conditions here are most certainly agreeing with the Roses at school.  When I moved rooms at the beginning of the year, I became responsible for the small Rose garden just outside the building where my 'Star Room' is located. At the beginning of the year, all the Roses were in a bad way after a terrible wet season and cyclone season.  It's taken some loving care and attention, but

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-87424403797130695672011-10-07T16:50:00.000+10:002011-10-09T00:55:05.742+10:00

Though it's the middle of Springtime here, you wouldn't know it.  Spring is also smack bang in the middle of our dry season and things around here are progressively getting more and more parched and desolate looking.  I take comfort in the few flowers that are left blooming mostly in the pots scattered around the courtyard or out in the shadehouse.  Even then, some of the flowers have been

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-46817011105772439832011-10-03T11:11:00.000+10:002011-10-03T11:11:20.959+10:00

I'm deep in the dry season doldrums at the moment ... dry brown landscape all around, ravenous wallabies nibbling loads of plants to stubs, sad looking shrubs and trees still in cyclone recovery mode, and lots of thirsty pathetic looking plants everywhere.  Then there's the on-going construction site that is the carshed and the sight my damaged house and pergola, still not fixed after Yasi hit

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-60902085081543503152011-09-26T09:26:00.000+10:002011-09-26T10:06:55.120+10:00

My better half and I were on a mission over the past weekend.  We whisked ourselves away to our favourite get-away spot to celebrate another milestone in our marriage ... our 33rd anniversary.  It's amazing how quickly the years pass and I think we often overlook just what an achievement it is to still be together and happy after all this time. Mission Beach is only a three-hour drive away

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-423207101085591022011-09-23T00:01:00.003+10:002011-09-23T09:33:24.047+10:00

Where did that first month of Spring go?   It just seems to have hurtled past and it's primarily been about fighting battles in an effort to win the war against the loss of many of my plants.  There have been battles with sneaky, hungry Agile Wallabies, which suddenly seem to want to eat everything in my garden.  This has never really been a problem before, in all the years we've lived here. 

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-44280723680541535052011-09-21T09:06:00.003+10:002011-09-21T09:19:31.384+10:00

(Check out the slide down, the side-step, the face-first and grab, the quick leap and the backwards glide!  All you ever needed to know about getting down a tall gum tree without actually trying to fly down!) My almost Wordless Wednesday post ... lesson courtesy of Professor Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo!

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-66167003685292902272011-09-19T01:07:00.000+10:002011-09-19T01:07:19.778+10:00

It's almost five months into the 'dry' season now.  Annuals and perennials are starting to struggle because of thirst or they've suddenly become the main dish for the hungry wallabies.  The re-growth of trees and shrubs recovering from cyclone damage has pretty much stalled and the property is looking not only parched and brown, but rather unkempt and unloved.  Keeping things going through the

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-72010539676294011712011-09-14T20:06:00.000+10:002011-09-15T06:23:02.215+10:00

(Please scroll down to the bottom of the page and stop the Playlist.  Then you will be able to hear one of my favourite bird's song) (Song of the Little Shrike Thrush - Colluricincla megarhyncha) I'm joining Wordless Wednesday today.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-16885859607854838692011-09-12T15:16:00.000+10:002011-09-13T08:09:51.695+10:00

  A commemorative service was held in our nation's capital, Canberra, yesterday evening.  Our Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, joined the United States Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, at a twilight ceremony to remember the September 11 attacks and to honour the victims of that terrible day. The Australians who perished Ten Australians are known to have died in the September 11,

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-31440433825659665962011-09-09T13:22:00.000+10:002011-09-11T07:49:02.111+10:00

Yes, it's our first week of Spring and that onwards march towards the searing summer heat and horrid humidity has started!  As you can probably infer, I'm not all that excited that Spring has actually arrived.  Luckily the conditions here are still cool and comfortable, so I'm still able to wander around the garden during the daylight hours.  That will change during Summer. Here's a little of

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-9057757457505899202011-09-07T17:32:00.002+10:002011-09-08T09:37:50.596+10:00

(our North Queensland Day Moth or Alcides metaurus) I'm joining Wordless Wednesday , so drop in and check it out.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-62064225213092284372011-09-05T10:45:00.001+10:002011-09-21T18:06:47.663+10:00

The first day of Spring (September 1st) is known as Wattle Day here in Oz.  In many, many corners of this great land, the native Acacias or Wattle Trees start to bloom and signal the beginning of our Spring ... but not here.  In the surrounding bushland in my north-eastern corner of Australia, the Acacias bloom from early Autumn into early Winter, not Spring! So we're not seeing this right now.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-23954515692364707982011-09-02T18:00:00.001+10:002011-09-04T18:38:51.213+10:00

September is our first month of Springtime Downunder and as if to celebrate, the first flower buds on my Callistemon 'Pink Champagne' have burst open.  I've been enjoying watching each individual bud unfold slowly along the long flower spray.  I'm rather pleased with the colours. In the background of the above shot, you can see just how dry our front yard is now.  There's a carpet of

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-65462929546246692352011-08-29T12:05:00.000+10:002011-08-29T12:05:20.613+10:00

Well, Spring is almost upon us.  There's only two Winter days left and hat's not something I'm rejoicing over.  Springtime here is really just an early Summer.  The days have already started warming up considerably, with the mercury edging closer and closer to that 30 deg C (86F) mark.   The night time temps no longer drop below 15 deg C (59F).  So, before the conditions get warmer, I'm out and

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-59786684126433301402011-08-26T14:56:00.001+10:002011-08-28T21:51:27.792+10:00

Well, after having some trouble with the internet connection, I'm back to posting once again.  It's dry as a bone around here these days.  Some of the well-established plants around the place are starting to suffer as the 'dry' season rolls on.  The mercury is starting to rise as Spring approaches, so it doesn't take long for the potted plants to dry out as well. Let's see what's blooming

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-36761353315032303622011-08-22T08:50:00.000+10:002011-08-22T15:05:09.260+10:00

While I realise that Mary is taking a break from hosting the Mosaic Monday meme this week, I thought I'd use some mosaics in my post today anyway.  Over the past weekend I made a quick trip to my home town for a family do.  When your baby brother turns the big 50, you begin to realise you're not a spring chicken anymore!!  Anyway, it was a treat driving around my small home town and taking in the

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-66468714395306449662011-08-19T10:55:00.000+10:002011-08-19T10:55:09.106+10:00

Here in the southern hemisphere we're halfway through our last month of Winter.  Whilst that might be cause for rejoicing further south, here in the north we're a little saddened by the thought.  Springtime here is the beginning of the end of the fantastic cool, clear sunny Winter days and the beginning of the plunge into the horrid Summer temperatures and humidity levels.   Ah well, it's time to

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-88714639492012758532011-08-17T10:34:00.002+10:002011-08-17T10:34:27.296+10:00

The Agile Wallaby and I are joining Wordless Wednesday today.  Hop over and join in.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-51056115428862197392011-08-14T16:40:00.001+10:002011-08-15T09:56:01.256+10:00

Begonias are a common sight in my dry tropics garden.  They are so well suited to the conditions here and simply thrive in the shady spots around the garden.  When you grow a lot of Begonias, you start to take notice of the beauty of their tiny little flowers.  Whether it's the every-blooming Dragon Wing sprays or the tiny dainty flowers of the Rexs, Begonia flowers have an undeniable beauty.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-84541274859779642592011-08-13T10:14:00.002+10:002011-08-13T10:14:52.406+10:00

The air is still filled with that smoky perfume and there's still little plumes of smoke swirling through the trees on the hillside opposite our house, but luckily the bushfire didn't reach our place.  It was rather a tense night on Wednesday night ( Wildfire On Wednesday ) watching the blaze from our verandah, but thankfully the conditions remained still and the pace of the flames slowed down

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-63454654371913069902011-08-10T19:10:00.006+10:002011-08-10T20:01:21.928+10:00

I often do a Wildlife On Wednesday post, but not today.  Today it's a Wildfire On Wednesday post.  I had posted recently about the practice of controlled burns that happen around our city and surrounds every year. Wintertime is potentially the time when the risk of bushfire is the greatest here in my corner of the world.  Winter is the middle of our dry season and after a particularly bad wet

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-12189864760487679532011-08-08T11:30:00.002+10:002011-10-18T07:26:26.944+10:00

If you visited my place right now you'd be thinking 'The landscape looks so drab and dreary!  This can't be the tropics!!!  Where's all that bright, in-your-face tropical colour?'. You'd be right!  We're smack bang in the middle of our dry season here, having had only 4 mm of rain in four and a half months.  That 4 mms mostly fell in April and with less than 1 mm falling in May.  So after months

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-16516210545621819662011-08-05T10:45:00.000+10:002011-08-05T10:45:05.118+10:00

Here it is, our last month of Winter.  The wonderful sunny, mild weather continues and the memory of the last summer is now very distant.  We had a very light shower of rain overnight but it didn't do much for the garden. These very, very occasional showers of rain are typical of our 'dry' season ... they barely touch the ground!  We don't really count them at all as their only worth is that they

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-59291466677846830372011-08-03T07:18:00.000+10:002011-08-03T07:18:05.634+10:00

I've written a post about this fantastic looking creature before and I included loads of facts about the Varanus varius.  You can catch up with that post here ... The Lace Monitor Lizard (Varanus varius).  The Lace Monitor Lizard or Tree Goanna is one of our country's largest lizards and is such a striking looking thing. I find them just fascinating as they have the most incredible markings

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-37402187660478140452011-08-01T12:39:00.004+10:002011-08-01T12:40:00.712+10:00

The first day of August heralds the beginning of the end of Winter for us.  Yes, August is the last Winter month here in Oz.  It's been simply fantastic weather for getting out into the garden and there have been quite a few chores for me to do around my place.  The past weekend was jammed pack with gardening jobs.  Lots of weeding and trimming.  Digging over and digging in the mulch in the new

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-81487032166778914242011-07-29T13:22:00.001+10:002011-07-29T13:22:20.191+10:00

Only a couple of days left in this mid-Winter month of July and the weather continues to be sunny and mild. In the last couple of weeks there have been some controlled burn-offs around our city, including one that was set at the base of the ranges that surround my home.  These controlled burn-offs are a common sight here in winter, especially after a long and intense wet season.  They are

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-10471322080438967932011-07-25T10:40:00.002+10:002011-07-25T13:59:17.916+10:00

For some inexplicable reason, an old crooner's song came to my mind this week as I was musing on a topic for this week's MM post.  Don't ask me why!  But sing along if you know the melody ... Let me tell ya 'bout the birds ... ... and the bees The flowers ... ... and the trees The moon up above ... ... and a thing called love. I love our winters!  Of course I'm

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-19939506342979332732011-07-22T16:43:00.003+10:002011-07-24T12:33:01.062+10:00

Let's see what's in flower this mid-Winter's Friday here at my place here in the north-east of Australia.  As I don't really have lovely garden beds or borders, there won't be vista shots or garden views.  I can however show off some of the blooms on display right now on the potted plants or shrubs out in my garden. In the courtyard, I'm very pleased to finally see the bracts and flowers of this

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-72987392262299663592011-07-18T11:02:00.002+10:002011-07-18T11:02:29.106+10:00

These two Laughing Kookaburras have been spending a whole lot of time together.  I have spotted them perched in trees together or sitting on the verandah railing together.  They definitely seem to like each other's company. It's hard to tell male and females apart in this bird species, but I'm thinking that these two might just be a couple.   A male and female Kookaburra will pair for life,

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-59152542340869484682011-07-15T14:03:00.001+10:002011-07-17T18:43:30.377+10:00

Let's see what's blooming around our mid-Winter garden right now. There's a bit of purple!  Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' Gomphrena globosa 'Purple Buddy' Petunia ... unknown variety. dwarf Angelonia angustifolia There's a smattering of pink.  Azaleas.   Antirrhinum 'Strawberry Crush'. Wonder of wonders ... there are just a few flowers on my poor damaged Tabebuia

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-30741310179959677452011-07-13T20:08:00.002+10:002011-07-13T20:08:36.445+10:00

While sitting on our verandah enjoying a leisurely Sunday morning, my husband and I spotted a small group of birds gliding slowly through the bushland and alighting on trees every few metres or so.  As they gradually came closer and closer, we were intrigued to find out exactly what these birds were as neither of us had ever seen anything like them before.  They had the most beautiful

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-80716629464086708872011-07-11T10:47:00.002+10:002011-07-11T10:47:45.187+10:00

No indeed, not everything in life is black and white.  Black and white are not always common sights in anyone's garden either.  I did, however, find a little bit of black and white in my garden last week. Can you spot the black Spangled Drongoes sitting the White Gum?    Now here's a beautiful white.  It's the first bloom on my Dietes. Here's the Spangled Drongo up close.  I've been

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-24049820755490097542011-07-08T09:49:00.000+10:002011-07-08T09:49:10.808+10:00

July is our mid-Winter month and the weather has turned rather warm.  We're not getting the cool nights we were around a fortnight ago and the days have warmed up a notch too.  The daytime skies have been mostly cloudless and bright blue. The early morning sunrises and evening sunset skies have been stunning.  This was the sunrise viewed from my verandah just this week .... ... and this

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-54872405252265482662011-07-06T13:48:00.001+10:002011-07-06T14:11:58.546+10:00

This beauty is not easily mistaken for any other bird with its striking blue patch around the eyes.  Entomyzon cyanotis ... the Blue-faced Honeyeater ... is one of our larger Honeyeaters with golden-green upperparts and a pure white underbody.  It has a black crown, a black face and a black neck with a narrow white band across the back. It is, however, the blue facial skin that really holds my

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-76606409588866843902011-07-04T13:18:00.000+10:002011-07-04T13:18:47.927+10:00

My holidays didn't turn out quite as I expected.  I've been sick with some nasty sort of virus during my semester break and haven't really been able to do much at all.  So much for the long list of household chores I was going to catch up on!   Anyway, I can't complain too much ... instead of furiously cleaning, I've been chilling out just enjoying the weather and the views from my verandah

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-91984802860319835392011-07-01T14:15:00.001+10:002011-07-03T12:44:47.411+10:00

One of my all-time favourite flowers has to be Bracteantha bracteata or what we commonly call, the Everlasting Daisies.  Many may know them as Paper Daisies or Straw Flowers. I love watching the little coloured papery bracts open up to reveal the fluffy flowerhead in the middle of the bloom. Look closely at the bloom on the right.  Can you see the flowerhead in the middle surrounded by those

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-69988432791198833592011-06-29T15:50:00.002+10:002011-06-29T15:54:37.420+10:00

I'm joining the Wordless Wednesday meme today. Words about the Yellow-Bellied Sunbird here! Enjoy!

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-66825456954528772052011-06-24T14:01:00.001+10:002011-10-28T21:02:44.561+10:00

I'm joining Tootsie for her Flaunt Your Flowers/Fertiliser Friday meme, Mary for her Mosaic Monday meme and Today's Flowers with my post today. I would encourage you to pop over to these blogs and enjoy the posts. The moon won't go to bed today and is still hanging around our winter sky at 10.00 am  in the morning.  It's another beautiful blue-sky day with just a hint of a chill in the air.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-4010542795048584822011-06-20T12:29:00.001+10:002011-06-20T12:33:26.056+10:00

It seems the bees are enjoying this glorious winter weather as much as the plants and flowers are.  Now that the sky is clear and bright blue, and the sun is bathing the garden with its' brilliant golden rays, the bees have been out and about. I haven't been out in the garden as much as I would like lately ... hectic other life! ... but when I have had the time to take a quick stroll around,

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-1613166348344982011-06-17T09:01:00.003+10:002011-07-01T13:46:23.031+10:00

I'm joining Pam's Foliage Follow-Up  meme and Tootsies' Fertiliser Friday/Flaunt Your Flowers meme today.  Right now it's our first month of Winter here in the northern tropics of Oz.  You know it's Winter here when you see the Poinsettias showing off and my Euphorbia pulcherrimas are showing their stunning bracts right now.  People often think the bright leaves or bracts look like flamboyent

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-62239897617915124032011-06-09T15:02:00.000+10:002011-06-09T15:02:43.703+10:00

Well I've been away for a little while ... so apologies for what probably appeared to be neglect in acknowledgement of comments.  I have been away on 'retreat'.  I am quite lucky to have an employer that offers the chance to get away on these breaks every few years.  It's an opportunity to leave our everyday life and classrooms for a while, to spend time reflecting on and contemplating about some

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-24050637750123106542011-06-03T16:48:00.004+10:002011-07-01T13:54:51.737+10:00

 Winter is here!  Although many would never call what we experience here a ... Winter!!  Northern Hemisphere folks would not consider our daytime or even our night-time temps even slightly cold! To us, of course, this is what Winter is all about!  Today it's been a very pleasant 26 deg C (86 F) and this evening we're expecting a slightly cool 16 C (60 F).  During the week the mercury dropped to

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-4020793619137156302011-06-01T22:09:00.001+10:002011-08-29T20:55:20.020+10:00

It's been quite a while since my last WOW post.  Oh dear, this is sounding rather like a confession!  I feel like I should have said 'Father' at the end of that opening sentence!!!   Well, I do feel a little guilty about letting the wildlife posts slip, but real life has been quite hectic and blogging has taken a back seat.  Anyway ... One of the regular background noises here in the

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-85811723776591805102011-05-30T09:31:00.001+10:002011-05-30T09:34:08.091+10:00

  The weather has just been fantastic and I can't get enough of the glorious blue skies and the bird song at the moment.  Our nights are certainly getting a little cooler and our days shorter as our rather wimpy Winter approaches.  I, unfortunately, haven't been able to do much around the garden ... in between national literacy and numeracy testing, school-based assessment and reporting, it's

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-73171413361520563612011-05-23T17:52:00.003+10:002011-05-23T18:00:40.823+10:00

My baby boy is heading off overseas again.  Last time he was away for over a year, but this time I think it will probably be a lot longer.  He and his partner are heading back to her home on the Emerald Isle and they're both looking forward to this adventure together. Thankfully they were able to come and visit for a while.  Our baby boy hasn't lived at home for around eight years now and so he

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-44191028523160537252011-05-20T17:20:00.000+10:002011-05-20T17:20:10.872+10:00

I've haven't written a post for two weeks ... how time flies when you're busy at work!  The last couple of weeks have been extremely hectic, but I have managed some time in the garden over the weekends.  I couldn't miss flaunting some flowers today, so here's a quick look at some of the blooms out in the garden right now. I've finally started potting up some annual seedlings and a few have

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-2321521186450828882011-05-06T18:33:00.002+10:002011-10-28T21:02:21.856+10:00

May is the last month of our Autumn and the Acacias have started their dry season blooming.  Already there's a further little drop in our daytime temps (expected high of only 27 deg C / 80 deg F today) and the nights are certainly getting cooler.  Last night was a lovely 17 deg C / 62 F. On the garden front, not much has changed from my last Flower Flaunt post.  Pretty much the same things

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-61964694374872152532011-04-29T15:48:00.000+10:002011-04-29T15:48:40.578+10:00

On this special day when a rather well-known couple are pairing up in old London town, I'd thought I'd share some of the things that go together well in my garden right now ... mid-Autumn and the beginning of our 'dry' season. This pair I particularly love ... dwarf Angelonia angustifolia and Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara'. The foliage and flower of Episcia cupreata certainly make a lovely

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-68905192405057081452011-04-27T07:51:00.001+10:002011-07-01T13:58:22.913+10:00

This poor creature, Philemon buceroides, is not the prettiest bird on the planet.  Whilst it has a close resemblance to a vulture from some angles, this is in fact the largest of our Aussie Friarbirds. This bird is a fairly common around my place for most of the year.  It's easily distinguished from other birds,   not so much because of its' dull grey-brown body ... which is in stark contrast

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-38037280617933596472011-04-22T00:02:00.005+10:002011-04-22T08:49:05.872+10:00

Wishing all a Happy Easter! For those who are wondering what on earth that strange looking chocolate animal is, here's a link to show you one of our unique Aussie animals and our native Australian Easter icon. I'm on a week-long end-of-term break and enjoying every moment.  The weather has been fabulous.  Bright sunny blue-sky days, albeit getting shorter ... and lovely cool nights.  I'm out

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-24565588882504750922011-04-18T12:17:00.000+10:002011-04-18T12:17:42.838+10:00

These are the days, and nights, that making living in the tropics worthwhile.  It's another clear blue-sky day today and the living is easy after a hard start to the year.  Our daytime temperatures have finally fallen below that 30 deg C mark ... albeit by only a degree or two ... but it does make a difference.  The nights have started to become a little cooler, hinting at the soon-to-be 20 deg

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-39228452661085164952011-04-11T09:05:00.002+10:002011-04-11T09:09:59.484+10:00

Oh what a difference a week makes ... It's simply glorious!  You might remember in my last Mosaic Monday post, I was bemoaning what seemed like the longest ever 'wet' season.  If we do see a 'wet' season here, and until around two years ago, they were scarce, it would last maybe a month or two.  This one was into its' fourth month and the garden was in monsoon season survival mode! Well, our

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-15017968218629105342011-04-08T09:10:00.005+10:002011-04-08T11:27:31.739+10:00

Hallelujah!  What's that I spy as the sun rises? Could that be blue sky? Is that bird soaking up some bright golden rays to start the day? Are those fluffy white clouds strewn across that vast expanse of blue? Yes, folks ... here they come!  Those brilliant bright blue Autumn skies!  Finally! After two days filled with brilliant sunshine and mostly clear bright blue skies, I'm hopeful the '

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481571533790905294.post-79374334420381561232011-04-04T00:50:00.000+10:002011-04-04T00:50:04.153+10:00

The weekend was a wash-out!  The sun seems to have gone on holiday ... possibly taking that long-awaited overseas trip!  We're left with bleak and cheerless at the moment.  Sunrises ... lacking in liveliness! Flowers ... drowned and dreary! Can you tell the weather is making me glum?    Rain, rain, go away!  Today!  OK! For fabulous Mosaic Monday posts, visit Mary at Little Red House

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com21