VIRTUAL SUNSHINE

Melbourne is a bit grey and cold and wet at the moment. So I'm giving you a dose of virtual sunshine with a mosaic from my photo archive.

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

AUTUMN ARRIVES GENTLY

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

FRUITING TIME

Autumn fruits in Melbourne: Lilly Pilly, Pomegranate, Bonewood

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

EARLY SUMMER

A collage of summery colours (clockwise): Pomegranate arils, robins' eggs, lemon slices, Himalayan poppies, red rose, waterlily.

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,

and also part of the Seasons meme.

SPRING IN AUTUMN

Walking along a church garden in Kew, my eye caught sight of this Pyrus calleryana. It is also known as the Callery pear or Bradford pear, and is a species of pear tree native to China and Vietnam, in the family Rosaceae.

Now we are nearly at the end of Autumn here in Australia, and you can see the fallen yellow brown leaves on the ground. However, this tree was blooming as if it were Spring, some of the flowers opening next to the ripening fruit on the same tree... How odd!

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

AUTUMN

Autumn arriving, waiting for the Equinox on the 20th of March!

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme

HARVEST

Early autumn comes laden with its bounty. It is indeed a season of "mellow fruitfulness, close bosom-friend of the maturing sun..." The figs have ripened until they are luscious and honey sweet. Quinces are fragrant and tart, begging to be made into delicious quince paste, the grapes beckon the vintner, but even to the teetotaller provide a sweet delight with their ripe juiciness. Citrus begins to blush and apples crisp and red give the taste buds a treat. Pumpkin, chestnuts and winter cherries vie for attention, but the winter cherries - with their brash overcoats on - win hands down...

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

IN SUMMER

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

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FREE ASSOCIATION

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Blue Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

PEPPERCORN TREE

The Pink Peppercorn Tree, Schinus molle, is an elegant, fast growing, evergreen tree with graceful weeping branches, wonderful textured bark and aromatic, dark green feathery foliage. It is a popular shade tree in regions of Australia with hot dry summers.

Schinus molle is also highly decorative with small cream flowers produced in abundance in late spring followed by pink berries which hang down like strings of beads from late autumn. It has a fast growth rate.

In 1982 the FDA banned the sale of pink peppercorns of Schinus molle, claiming they were toxic when eaten. That ban has been lifted, perhaps because the French, who grow them as a commercial crop, produced overwhelming evidence of their safety. Also, there’s reason to believe that the reactions were actually caused by the fruit of S. terebinthifolia.

However, if you’re allergic to cashews or mangoes, proceed with caution. These plants are all members of the Anacardiaceae family, and if you’re allergic to one, you may be allergic to another.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

APPLES

New season's apples are tasting wonderful at the present time in Melbourne. We are lucky to have a choice supply of fresh fruit and vegetables here.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

BERRIES

Pyracantha coccinea, the scarlet firethorn is the European species of firethorn or red firethorn that has been cultivated in gardens since the late 16th century. The tree has small white flowers. It produces small, bright red berries. Its leaves are slightly toothed and grow opposite to one another. The fruit is bitter and astringent, making it inedible when raw.

The fruit can be cooked to make jellies, jams, sauces and marmalade. It ranges from southern Europe to western Asia. It has been introduced to North America and cultivated there as an ornamental plant since the 18th century. In England, since the late 18th century, it has been used to cover unsightly walls.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

AUTUMN'S BOUNTY

Autumn comes laden with its bounty. It is indeed a season of "mellow fruitfulness, close bosom-friend of the maturing sun..." The figs have ripened until they are luscious and honey sweet. Quinces are fragrant and tart, begging to be made into delicious quince paste, the grapes beckon the vintner, but even to the teetotaller provide a sweet delight with their ripe juiciness. Citrus begins to blush and apples crisp and red give taste buds a treat. Pumpkin, chestnuts and winter cherries vie for attention, but the winter cherries - with their brash overcoats on - win hands down...

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

FRUITING TIME

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

AUTUMNAL MOOD

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Blue Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

AUTUMN APPROACHING

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Blue Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

POMEGRANATE

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

SUMMER

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Blue Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme

PUMPKIN TIME...

Are you ready for Trick-or-Treating?

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

POMEGRANATE

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme