AT THE GREENGROCER'S

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

HONEYBROWN BEETLE

This insect is a Honeybrown Beetle (specifically Ecnolagria grandis), also commonly known as a Brown Darkling Beetle.  These beetles are native to south-eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania. They are identified by their golden-brown bodies covered in very short hairs and a thorax that is noticeably narrower than their wing cases (elytra).

They typically have a golden-brown or coppery color, though some individuals may appear slightly more violet or metallic. Adults are slow fliers and are often found resting motionlessly on leaves or hiding among dry fallen leaves and grasses. They primarily feed on dead plant matter and fungi. These beetles are commonly found in forests, woodlands, heaths, and urban gardens.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

PEEK-A-BOO

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

"TEDDY BEARS"

'Teddy Bear' sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), are a popular double-flowered cultivar known for their lush, fluffy, and rounded appearance. Unlike traditional sunflowers with a dark central disk, 'Teddy Bear' sunflowers have petals that cover the entire flower head, giving them a soft, pom-pom-like look.

They are typically a compact, dwarf variety, often growing between 60-100 cm tall, making them well-suited for pots, small garden spaces, or as a short hedge. They are frequently grown for their ornamental value and make excellent, cheerful cut flowers. Care: Like most sunflowers, they are sun-loving annuals that are relatively easy to grow and perform best with regular watering during their flowering period.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

REFLECTING AUTUMN

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme

MELBOURNE TRAM

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

NOSTALGIA

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

FLOWER SHOPPER

At the Preston Market.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

ECLECTUS PARROT

The eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) is a parrot native to the Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea and nearby islands, northeastern Australia, and the Maluku Islands (Moluccas).

It is unusual in the parrot family for its extreme sexual dimorphism of the colours of the plumage; the male (photo here, below) having a mostly bright emerald green plumage and the female a mostly bright red and purple/blue plumage. Joseph Forshaw, in his book Parrots of the World, noted that the first European ornithologists to see eclectus parrots thought they were of two distinct species. 

Large populations of this parrot remain, and they are sometimes considered pests for eating fruit off trees. Some populations restricted to relatively small islands are comparably rare. Their bright feathers are also used by native tribespeople in New Guinea as decorations.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

EQUINOX SUNSET

It is the Autumnal Equinox here in Melbourne and we are now officially into Autumn.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme