Wordless Wildlife on Wednesday ... Eeekk! What is it?

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

the Wordless Wednesday meme.

Mosaic Monday ... It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like A Tropical Christmas!

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 streets so we can enjoy the fabulous light display.

The house featured in the mosaic is the best known house ... the McGregor's house.  They've been decorating their house for many, many years ... well ever since I first moved here over thirty years ago.

 The Mayor has the annual 'Mayor's Christmas Tree Appeal'.  This allows for cash, gift and food donations to be left under the Christmas tree at the Town Council Office and various other locations around the city.  All these donations are then passed on to those who are not so fortunate through various community organisations.  The target this year is at least $100,000.  The city residents usually meet the target and then some.

Our city also hosts 'Stable On The Strand'.  For the five days before Christmas, one of the parks along our ocean front boulevard is transformed into the town of Bethlehem complete with Roman soldiers, traditional craftspeople, livestock, shepherds and of course Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.  This interactive re-telling of the traditional Christmas story is free for all.  2011 is the tenth anniversary of this fabulous community celebration.





There are also several locations around our city that host Carols By Candlelight, although sometimes that can be touch and go according to the weather.  The largest gathering, which was scheduled for this Sunday, has had to be cancelled because of the weather forecast which has predicted thunderstorms and more heavy rain.  It will hopefully happen the following weekend now.

Our major city streets are always livened up with huge Christmas street decorations.  You can see how these are all attached to the tall street lights.









I thought I would end the post today with a popular photo titled 'Aussie Christmas Wreath'!  Gotta love it!

(Photo was originally taken by Matthew Watt back in 2006 , but has been doing the rounds thanks to Google images ever since!  Here's the link to the original shot Australian Christmas Wreath)


For fabulous Mosaic Monday posts, please go and visit Mary at Little Red House

Flower Flaunt on This Skywatch Friday ... It's Early Summer.

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 hinting at the possiblity of showers of rain today.

Out in the garden one of the poor wallaby-munched Dahlias has somehow managed to bloom and it's quite lovely.

This Dahlia was from a mixed punnet of seedlings, so I don't know the varietal name.

The Petunias are still powering on.  My all-time favourites are most definitely the 'Bonanza' series with their frilly petals.  Most have the white edges such as the bloom above ...

...but others just have the gorgeous frills.  Either way, they just do it for me!  ; )

Of course, this year I discovered the brilliant 'Bumble Bee' Petunias and just fell in love with their brilliant colours.  The black and gold are an unexpected combination that just seems to work ... and these Petunias pair so well with the Vanilla Marigolds.

All the Petunias and Marigolds have been blooming non-stop since August, but they've just recently all had a cut back as they were getting so leggy and ugly.  I'm sure they will now bloom on for quite a few more weeks.

The Pelargoniums are now hitting full stride and showing off their blooms.

The Portulacas, what we commonly call Sun Jewels, are also blooming.

The Mussaendas are parading their striking colourful bracts and teensy weensy yellow star-shaped flowers.

Mussaenda philippica 'Bangkok Rose' or 'Queen Sirikit' and ...

... Mussaenda 'Calcutta Sunset'.

The Ground Orchid, Spathoglottis plicata, and Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue' make a pretty pair,

... as do the two variations of Poinciana blooms on display out at my front gate.  There are Delonix regias standing on either side of the driveway into our place, and the colour of the flowers differ slightly.  As you can see in the photo above, one of the trees has slightly more orangey blooms while the other has the usual darker red flowers.  It's a great contrast!

Here's the orange blooms of the Poinciana on the right of the driveway ...

... and here are the red blooms of the Poinciana of the left side.  


Elsewhere ...

... the Hemerocallis continue to bloom,

... the Mandevilla is on show,

... the Iris domestica has begun blooming once more,

... the Salvia madrensis is bursting out all over,

... the Justicia brandegeana or red Shrimp Plant is still flowering,

... and the Galphimia glauca, or Gold Shower Shrub, is providing lots of yummy nectar for our native Blue-banded bees.

As we begin our Summer here in north-east Oz, sometimes our days can be bright clear blue-sky days ...

and then some days can be dark, dreary, overcast, leaden-grey cloudy days.  

Typical weather as the 'wet' season approaches.  It's almost here!


For lots of superb sky shots, make sure you visit the Skywatch Friday meme.

I'm also joining Tootsie for her Fertilizer Friday / Flaunt Your Flowers meme,

 Tina for her Weekend Flowers On Friday meme,

Ewa for her Flowers On Saturday,

Floral Friday Fotos,

and Today's Flowers.

Wordless Wednesday ... Peek-A-Boo!

(Agile Wallaby playing hide-and-seek)


I'm joining Tina's Wordless Wednesday today with this wildlife shot.  Pop over and join the fun!