Wildlife On Wednesday ... Stick Insects.

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!

But so far this Summer, I've only noticed a soft lilting Cicada song out in the bushland. Sometimes there's just no Cicada song at all!  So very different to last Summer!

There's also been very very few Christmas Beetles which, as they common name suggests, are usually a regular sight in early and mid Summer here.

I've only spotted two so far, and that was a couple of weeks ago now.  No sightings since then! 

The Rhino Beetles are also usually common Summer guests with these fabulous clicking noises.   I've seen none at all this Summer.











Another of the missing Summer insect guests this year, have been those flying Termites.  As a matter a fact, there has been a total absence of any of these annoying little creatures. 

Now I don't mean to complain because they really are annoying!  Usually at this time of year, I'm closing all the doors and windows just as the sun goes down to keep out the masses and masses of these creatures that flock to the lights at night.   There's always a few that manage to get inside the house, despite my best attempts to block every crevice and entryway, and the evidence is apparent the next morning when I have to clean up the broken wings lying scattered everywhere, and the poor little lifeless bodies!  I'm not really missing that job, I have to say!

Yes, it's been a relatively insect-free summer this time around.  I wonder if that has some significance?

The only insect that seems to be hanging around this Summer are the stick insects!  Quite a few of these handsome looking creatures have been wandering up and down the verandah here,or just hanging about from the ceilings. 

These fascinating creatures that look like sticks are actually called Phasmids.  They've developed some fantastic shapes to camouflage themselves in order to prevent detection from their predators.  Some have horns, some have spines and some have lobes on their abdomen or legs.  They can be green or brown.

We often refer to these creatures as 'Walking Sticks', and they vary in size from large ... 

... to very large ...

... to whoppers!!!

These creatures usually feed at night, and remain motionless during the day, hoping their camouflage works.   Whilst they are active at night, they nowhere near as annoying as the insects I mentioned at the beginning of the post.  I don't mind having the Stick Insects visiting our place. 

One interesting little thing about them ... they are one of the small group of insects that can regenerate lost appendages.  Nothing quite like having the ability to grow another leg when you lose one!!!!

I would love to see others posting about the wildlife they see around their house or garden.  If you have created such a post recently, just let me know as I'd love to pop over and visit to see what's been visiting your place lately.

I know my friend, Marguerite, over in Western Australia, has posted today about the kangaroos that she sees from her place.  Do go over and take a look ... Our Neighbours.

Mosaic Monday ... Showcase of Native Flora Blooms.

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 ...

Eucalyptus/Gums, Daisies, Kangaroo Paws, Christmas Bells and Acacias/Wattles.

I'm joining Mary's meme Mosaic Monday.  Pop over to see loads more fabulous photo mosaics.

Flower Flaunt ... from our Australian National Botanic Gardens.

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 of our spectacular and unique Australian flora.  Originally opened back in 1970, our National Botanic Gardens was one of the first in the world to focus on the study and display of our country's native plant species.  You won't see beds of annuals or roses, and you won't see many of the plants that grow in my garden either.  Introduced plants and trees like Poincianas, Cassias, Acalyphas and Crotons, that are common sights here in the tropics, are nowhere to be seen in these gardens.

This garden is often referred to simply as 'Australia's Garden', as around one-third of our country's diverse native flora species is on display in a spectacular 40 hectare bushland setting.  That's around 6,000 native species, with a collection of over 74,000 individual plants.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by a stunning Crimson Rosella.  I've always wanted to see one of these beautiful birds in reality and I spent ages trying to get shots of this one before walking into the Visitors' Centre where my very patient husband was waiting with a rather resigned look on his face.

Anyway, after a quick saunter round the Visitors' Centre, we were off, following the 'Main Path Loop' which is a 1.5 kilmetre loop around only one small section of the gardens. We spent just over an hour walking the loop and I wish I could have lingered longer, but it was a rather warm day and we quite simply ran out of time.

We began our stroll at the Rainforest Gully, featuring rainforest plants of Australia's eastern coastline from Queensland to Tasmania ...

on through the conifers section, where we spotted an Australian King Parrot, which I've longed to see in the wild.

Our wander then led us through the Rock Garden,

where there's a terrific display of Kangaroo Paws or Anigoznathus, (which I just can't grow up here despite numerous efforts!)

opposite a beautiful display of daisies,

 including Chrysocephalum apiculatum

and Helichrysum bracteatum.

The Rock Garden area was one place I would have loved to spend a lot more time exploring, but time was short, and unfortunately I missed out on seeing the many treasures to be found there.

Luckily though, I did manage to spot this magnificent Ptilotus exaltatus, which I've only ever seen in photos before.

We continued on past the Acacia collection partly seen in the shot above,

where we spotted some fabulous wattle flowers.

Then we wandered through the magnificent Eucalypt Lawn,

where we spotted a Pied Currawong with its piercing yellow eyes.

The Main Path then took us past the Sydney Region flora section, where there were quite a few lovely plants in flower including ...

the Sydney Flannel Flower or Actinotus helianthi,

and Christmas Bells or Blandfordia grandiflora


We continued on past the Proteaceae section, containing one of the gardens largest and most decorative plant families.  It contains about 900 species in generas such as Grevillea, Banksia and Hakea.  Now I'm afraid I don't know the names of many of the plants I photographed in this section of the gardens, but I'm sure you will enjoy looking at them despite the lack of specific I.D.s!

There was a noticeable change in plant form then as we wandered on through the Monocotlydeon section which includes plants such as ...

the Gymea Lily or Doryanthes excelsa, which is summer produces a very tall flower spike topped by a cluster of large crimson flowers ....

and some of the Australian Grass Trees, the Xanthorrhoea species.

We then strolled rather hurriedly through the Myrtaceae section as it was now the middle of a summer's day and the sunlight was becoming rather fierce.   The family Myrtaceae dominates the Australian vegetation with about 1700 species, and includes prominent plant groups such as the Eucalypts, the Calliestemons or Bottlebrushes and the Melaleucas or Tea Trees and Paperbarks.

Our stroll then took us on to Hudson's Cafe, where we sat down to enjoy a cool drink before finally wandering through the Tasmanian Rainforest Gully.

The floor of this shady gully is dominated by Tree Ferns, Dicksonia antartica, and the difference in temperature and humidity strikes you immediately as you wander along the pathways. It was such a refreshing and delightful way to end our visit.

I'm joining Fertiliser Friday / Flaunt Your Flowers,

Floral Friday Fotos

Weekend Flowers On Friday

Flowers On Saturday