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 Springtime here can be hard work and the gardening spirit starts to wane just a little.
It's about now that I do, however, start to really appreciate the brilliant leaves of the many foliage plants scattered here and there ...
... and the fantastic plumage of the Lorikeets that I've been spotting when I'm wandering a little despondent and dispirited through the parched landscape.
It's enough to sustain this dry tropics gardener for a little bit longer.
For loads of fantastic Mosaic Monday posts, visit Mary at
Little Red House
Love the lorikeet shots. I know how you feel. We get this way here in Tucson. Our hot season is about to end and in fact, just recently it has been fun going out into the garden and work again.:)
ReplyDeleteHello Bernie, I love the different varieties of leaves. The colors are beautiful on the leaves and the beautiful Lorikeets. Wonderful photos and mosaics.
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie: Your plants are experiencing spring and ours look tired and worn out. It will soon be time to put our garden to bed. Will have to look at the beauty in yours. The Lorikeet is such a pretty bird. V
ReplyDeleteThe 'upside-down' Lorikeet is just charming! Your plants featured are lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt has been exceptionally dry here too. We had a touch of rain and I got all excited, oh well. soon enough we will get rain for days and days on end. I love those caladium leaves of yours - I never see different caladiums here.
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie, The lorikeets are so colourful and cute. I know how you feel we are heading into the fall season and the garden is not showing very well. Take care and have a great week.
ReplyDeleteRohrerbot, Spring and Summer are the hardest times in the gardening year for me. Not much joy to be had, so I have to look very hard for the delightful moments.
ReplyDeleteEileen, glad to see you've enjoyed your visit again. I thought you would appreciate the Lorikeet shots. They've been dropping by almost every day while the Poplar Gums have been flowering.
Val, there's really not all that much beauty in my garden at the moment. Most of my lovely flowers are missing out in my courtyard thanks to the starving wallabies, and the rest of the place is berefit of anything but green leaves.
Thanks Shyrlene. Those Lorikeets are a pleasure to watch. They've got definite character!
Africanaussie, we had some dark clouds hanging around a week or so again, but that amounted to nothing at all. It definitely looks like we're back to the usual long dry once more after the slight change last year.
Jen, I suppose gardeners all over the world have their down moments. I'll keep looking for the little delights wherever I can!
This could very well be my first lorikeet siting! Every time I visit your blog I am transported to a more exotic place!
ReplyDeleteBernie...Genie here...I am wondering the difference between a parrot and lorikeet. They are gorgeous birds and your captures are awesome. Hope all is well down under...guess you are moving into spring...or do I have it all mixed up. Am still teaching...have pretty much deserted my Buttons for Baga blog for this photography one. My sewing and crafting have been put away because of the arthritis in my hands. I love taking and processing photos so I am still a very happy camper. As always, beautiful series of photos. genie
ReplyDeleteThey are such a beautiful bird. Comical too. Great shots of them.
ReplyDeleteI know just how you feel, Bernie. We tend to get very dry and parched here in August. This year has been a wonderful exception, however, with over 21 inches of rain in the past 30 days! Your foliage pictures are beautiful, indeed. Thanks for sharing at MM> :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteBlack Eyed Susan, the Lorikeets are just fabulous and quite cheeky.
ReplyDeleteGenie, Lorikeets are in fact Parrots. All is well here except I'm in the dry season doldrums a little now. Everything is dry and parched looking here. I always look forward to seeing your fabulous photos so I hope that blog of yours goes on and on for a long time.
Mary, we had an exceptionally wet 'dry' season last year, but it's all back to the dry 'dry' this year! Not my favourite time of year.
I love the colours the sun brings back to your garden. You have really nice foliage plants. And of course the birds, they are so attractive! Good shots of them. Enjoy the week Bernie! I am sure your garden will bring you lots of wonderful surprises ;-)
ReplyDeleteGardenwalk, yes I thought you would appreciate the shots. You are of course correct. They are rather cheeky birds.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I just love the foliage plants and at this time of year, when the flowering annuals and perennials are doing it tough, they really shine!
It's always grand to take a walk with you! The birds are quite the entertainers!!! Have a grand day! Cathy
ReplyDeleteLovely birds!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day,
Markus
wonderful mosaics. You really found a great variety of leaves. Love the colorful birds.
ReplyDeleteBernie, those lorikeets are as gorgeous as the flowers on your other blog. Truly special eye candy. Your mosaics are stunning!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bernie for posting my most missed lorikeets. I still remember them as my only companions while at the CSIRO, North Ryde laboratory even during weekends. They gave me lots of happiness even when alone. And that leaf at the bottom right of your collage, is that a caladium too? I want to have that too!
ReplyDeletegardening can be (no - is!) an emotional rollercoaster. Birds and insects provide hope against naughty wallabies? Some annuals and perennials do well down south but i guess they're not something associated with the tropics?
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed that we both live in Australia and yet your winter is "dry" and our winter is hopefully "wet"! Wonderful images Bernie.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog to say hi. Have a wonderful weekend.