Did you know that there are different colored bird of paradise plants?
This flower is also known as the crane flower because of its distinctive shape. Apparently there are 5 species of Strelitzia but I think I’ve only ever seen this one. I really want the white one, but they grow much, much larger. I read somewhere you have to wait for years for the plant to flower.
I tried to take some photos from more unconventional angles. From underneath….
This Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, also known as the Yellow Crested Cockatoo, was happily sitting among the blossoms in my tree. Don’t be deceived, cockatoos can be very destructive. They chew on the branches and in my large gum tree, they have denuded the ends of the branches and littered the ground with small pieces. They have even been known to vandalize houses. They gather together in large mobs and chew on timber, deckings and railings.
Luckily this one and his friend flew off when he noticed I was taking his photo. Camera shy!
I’ve been reading about what makes a good black and white photograph. I’m finding it difficult to get my head around. But I’m happy with this.
I like it geometric feel. The bird was kind enough to pose at exactly the right angle. I like the different shades on the pipes and I love the flair of white on the beak and tail of the bird.
I could have rotated the photo to make the cross pipe exactly horizontal, but I like the slight angle leading the eye up to the bird.
In colour the same shot.
This guy couldn’t resist posing for me. He’s a very different character. I just love him.
Am I the only person who has never had any experience of these strange little creatures?
I have Spring frenzy. A balmy Spring day saw me spending my day working in the garden, too busy even to be taking photos of my progress. I’ll do that tomorrow.
I wondered if anyone might be interested in last weekend’s activity on the farm. We had visitors arrive with their ferrets and ferreting gear, hopeful that they might catch a rabbit or two. These ferrets are all being raised for the purpose of chasing rabbits out of their burrows. They all have names and are extremely well loved and trained by the family who care for them. Snowball, Queenie and Snowwhite all had quite different personalities.
My only experience, or lack of it, with ferrets led me to believe that they were vicious, nasty animals. Far from it. Though I’m too nervous to touch them, the kids who raise them, cuddle them and claim that they make great pets.
In this case a net was quickly erected around the burrow. Then the ferrets were let loose. They disappear into the burrow and a little while later the rabbits will emerge stressed and frantic to escape. They head straight into the nets and get tangled. They are extracted from the nets and put into cages. They can be used for food or fed to the dogs and/or ferrets.
This area on the farm will be growing lucerne again after some rain. However, during the winter the rabbits have invaded and created some extensive burrows. We are reluctant to use poison on the rabbits, so we are using other techniques try to reduce their numbers.
It’s a win for everyone except the poor bunnies. Over 20 were caught. Sadly for us, that doesn’t make much of a dint in their numbers.
This is an Australian Native Hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii), some times called Lilac Hibiscus. It has been claimed that it thrives in the most desolute of places (Simpson, A.G.W. (1982) Bush Garden Handbook, Rigby Publishers, Australia). That goes a long way to explaining why it grows so well in my garden.
Actually, I managed to kill off the original one in my ‘garden’. This one self seeded and thrives on the bank of the lagoon, literally just on the other side of the property boundary. I guess it left home.
I don’t know what happened to these two plants. The weather can be harsh here. It is winter and we’ve had some frosts. My gardening care is sometimes lacking. It’s a famine or a feast, over watering and under watering. I can’t strike the right balance. It comes from love and a sense of guilt. If plants look a little seedy, (excuse the pun), I rush into action often making the problem worse.
I suspect that this time I sprayed some sort of magical horticultural product on their foliage and, well, observe the result. It was supposed to feed them and promote lush growth. Maybe they’re in shock. The first was a lovely lily. It was just past its best, but sadly has been going downhill for a while. Its beautiful white flower, (only the one), developed these brown stains on both sides. I think it is still beautiful in its own way.
But, my potted gardenia seems to be suffering more. It is so finicky. It doesn’t take much for it for it to threaten death. Until now, it has recovered.
I did feel a pang of guilt and stupidity when it last turned up it’s toes. I realised last summer than the air conditioner was pumping out hot air and it was in its direct path. That combined with the general heat was too much for it. I apologised to it, moved it away and nursed it back to health. This time I’m not sure of the cause, maybe the liquid fertiliser spray or maybe the frost or it might be under attack from bugs. Whatever; no flowers this year.
I should probably throw them away and replace them. But, I develop a strange attachment to my plants, so I will persevere. Hopefully, I will be able to put up some photos of them post recovery.
AT PATHO 