Author: glenys mahler

I live in Patho, Australia.

Flowering in my garden

September 24, 2020

Wandering around my garden today, another clivia. This one much better behaved than the orange one, that was hiding a leak in the pipes. Click here.

This little red pig face popped out in my glasshouse. It’s only a cutting. Its colour is amazing.

An iris, splashing a little yellow.

Cobwebs

September 23, 2020

A sign of neglect or a thing of beauty? I call them Irish lace, although I believe the more common term is Irish curtain. I like Irish Lace. It’s also a sign of good luck. Look the leprechauns have left me some presents.

These cobwebs appeared on a garden decoration while I wasn’t looking. I like the way they have followed the circular pattern, almost looking like a part of the design.

This is another view. The garden sculpture contraption is made out of farm bits and pieces and moves with the wind.

Another web (below) was interesting in that it was a bit of a failure for the spider. It looks to have collected only one small insect in the top right hand corner. The rest of it is small bits of whatever was blowing in the wind.

Black and white or Blanco y negro?

September 22, 2020

in Spanish it’s white and black…

I wonder why we say black and white photography, not white and black photography? In Spain it’s white and black, yet it means the same thing. Either way, it is something that fascinates me and an area of photography that I am yet to explore.

This is a ranunculi. It’s white! The dots were specks of grass clippings thrown up by the lawn mower.

I wondered what it might look like in ‘Black and White’. Quite a contrast, but I like the dreamy whiter one better. Probably the only time I wished the lawn hadn’t got mown!

Pink Mystery

September 19, 2020

I had no idea what this flower is. Thanks to Agata 40thousandkm for identifying it as a forest lily (veltheimia bracteata)…

It’s in a pot and there is only one flower stalk.

It is swelling and the bells are starting to open up.

I wonder whether it will ever be all opened up. I’ll keep watching.

Cat among the tulips

September 18, 2020

Cats Beware!!!

He knows something you might not. Did you know that tulips are toxic to cats? Have a look at what they did to this cat! He’s been sitting there literally stoned, for many, many years.

What are you looking at?

Seriously, the bulbs are apparently where the real danger lurks, but any part of the plant can cause harm. The cat doesn’t have to consume very much for it to be a lethal dose.

Mind you this cat has shown no symptoms. He could have been affected by the allergenic lactones, that might have caused vomiting, diarrhoea and depression, even death. But wait, he is looking a little depressed. His ears are definitely not in a happy way.

A dark red tulip

So be careful, the dangerous dosage is less than one leaf.

And if that’s not bad enough… That beautiful bouquet of tulips on the table contains yet another threat.. If your poor old moggie takes a drink from the vase, he could be ingesting poison in the water.

They’e poisonous to other animals as well. But that’s another post…

Cactus Macro

September 17, 2020

It was fascinating. But I was worried that when concentrating and looking through the view finder, I might not be able to judge my distance away from this prickly character. Especially with the new tube attached making the lens longer.

I’m still learning to manipulate the functions of my camera, (despite having had it for years). I must have got over enthusiastic, because this shot (below) was, I admit, totally accidental. I wish it wasn’t! It’s just a double exposure, but to me it looks like little satellites surround the plant.

This shot is effective in black and white. Those thorns are sharp. I think I got a few in focus.