VIEW

View towards Port Phillip Bay from Southbank.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

URBAN PIGEONS

Melbourne pigeons living naturally in the Darebin Parklands, where they have almost reverted to a wild state. 

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.

"MAJOR RAIN EVENT"

I heard the weather report yesterday and I had to smile when I heard the weather prediction for today. The announcer said Melbourne was expecting a "major rain event". I translated that as "it will rain tomorrow". However, all day today it has been raining and the skies have been leaden, the garden well and truly soaked, while flooding has been an issue in many parts of the state.

"Major rain event" indeed, with a month's worth of rain falling in one day! Our climate has been disrupted, that's for sure and our changeable Melbourne weather has become even more unpredictable and even more changeable...

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

CRUCIFIX ORCHID

A red Crucifix Orchid flowering in our garden at the moment. Epidendrum radicans is the scientific name of this species of orchid. Common names include ground-rooting epidendrum, fire-star orchid, rainbow orchid, and reed-stem epidendrum. It is a common roadside weed at middle elevations in Central America.

It is a crucifix orchid, often confused with many other members of the section Schistochila, including E. calanthe, E. cinnabarinum, E. denticulatum, E. erectum, E. fulgens, E. ibaguense, E. imatophyllum, E. incisum, E. schomburgkii, E. secundum, and E. xanthinum, among others. The diagnostic characteristic of E. radicans is its tendency to sprout roots all along the length of the stem; other crucifix orchids only produce roots near the base. Additionally, E. radicans flowers are resupinate, unlike the members of the Epidendrum secundum complex, E. fulgens, and many other crucifix orchids. E. radicans also differs from E. secundum by bearing no nectar in the flower.

Crucifix Orchids have tough leathery leaves and long, thin stems with long lasting clusters of flowers. The common name refers to the lip of the flower called the labellum, which resembles a small cross. Great beginner's orchid - tough and easy to grow!

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

RAINDROPS

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.

OLD & NEW

The architecture of Melbourne is characterised by an extensive juxtaposition of old and new architecture. The city is noted for preserving a significant amount of Victorian architecture and has some of the largest in the country. Additionally, it features a vast array of modern architecture, with around 60 skyscrapers over 100 m in the city centre which have deliberately been set back from thoroughfares and streets to preserve historic architecture—leading to the title of "Australia's most European city".

The juxtaposition of old and new has given Melbourne a reputation as a city of no characterising architectural style, but rather an accumulation of buildings dating from the present back until the European settlement of Australia. The city is also home to Australia 108 (2020), which at 317 metres is the tallest skyscraper Here are some landmarks of our city.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

OF WOOD & STONE

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,

and also part of the Blue Monday meme,

and also part of the Seasons meme.

TIMBER!

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

WHITE-FACED HERON

The white-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) also known as the white-fronted heron, and incorrectly as the grey heron, or blue crane, is a common bird throughout most of Australasia, including New Guinea, the islands of Torres Strait, Indonesia, New Zealand, and all but the driest areas of Australia.

It is a medium-sized heron, pale, slightly bluish-grey, with yellow legs and white facial markings. It can be found almost anywhere near shallow water, fresh or salt, and although it is prompt to depart the scene on long, slow-beating wings if disturbed, it will boldly raid suburban fish ponds.

The adult white-faced heron is medium-sized for the family and mostly pale blue-grey. The forehead, crown, chin and upper throat are white. The crown pattern is variable, with the white occasionally spreading down the neck; the variability makes identification of individuals possible. The iris may be grey, green, dull yellow or cinnamon. The regions between the eye and bill on the side of the head (lores) are black. The beak is black and often pale grey at the base.

During the breeding season pinkish-brown or bronze nuptial plumes appear on the foreneck and breast, with blue-grey plumes appearing on the back. The adult typically weighs 550 g  and ranges from 60 to 70 cm in height. Immature birds are paler grey with only the throat white, and often have a reddish colour on the underparts. Chicks are typically covered with grey down.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.

SUMMERY SKY

A perfect Summer's day in Melbourne today and the City looked clean, crisp and inviting as I crossed the Sandridge Bridge, going towards the Flinders Street Station.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

SUNFLOWER

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

SUMMERTIME

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

BY THE YARRA

COVID-19 is still at large and wreaking havoc with our lives, not least our travel plans. Local travel and tourism is fortunately an option here in Melbourne, with many places in Victoria still offering a wealth of options for local tourists both in the metropolitan area, as well as further afield, daytripping!

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

SUMMER MACROS

Looking at all the little details during a Summer walk. Rock and wood; bark and lichen; kangaroo apples and casuarina seed cones; green bottle flies and ants and earwigs...

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,

and also part of the Blue Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

GOLDEN EVENING

Summer evening and a walk to one of the neighbourhood parks.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

MAGPIE CHICK

A young Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), with dark irises and less distinct plumage, as opposed to adult birds seen here.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.

SUMMER SKY

Summer day in the Darebin Parklands. Inner suburban nature reserve, about 6km NE of the City centre.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

DANDELION

Taraxacum officinale, the common dandelion, is a common flowering herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae. It can be found growing in temperate regions of the world, in lawns, on roadsides, on disturbed banks and shores of waterways, and other areas with moist soils. T. officinale is considered a weed, especially in lawns and along roadsides, but it is a useful plant, sometimes used as a medicinal herb to treat many ailments and in food preparation as a green vegetable.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

CATERPILLAR

Hippotion celerio, known as the Vine Hawk-Moth or Silver-striped Hawk-Moth, is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found in Africa and Central and Southern Asia and, as a migrant in Southern Europe and Australia. Larvae may be green, yellowish green or even brown. They have a dark broken mid-dorsal line and a creamy dorso-lateral line from the fifth segment to the horn.

The head is round, and usually a dull green colour. The larva has a horn which is usually long and straight. There is a large yellow and green eyespot on the third segment and a smaller one on the fourth segment. Larvae typically feed on the leaves of plants such as the grape vine, Cissus, Impatiens and the Arum lily.

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.

BLACK SWANS

The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is a large waterbird, a species of swan, which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. The species was hunted to extinction in New Zealand, but later reintroduced. Within Australia they are nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent upon climatic conditions. Black Swans are large birds with mostly black plumage and red bills. They are monogamous breeders that share incubation duties and cygnet rearing between the sexes.

After hatching, the beige-coloured cygnets are tended by the parents for about 9 months until fledging, when the chicks become black. Described scientifically by English naturalist John Latham in 1790, the Black Swan was formerly placed into a monotypic genus, Chenopis. Black Swans can be found singly, or in loose companies numbering into the hundreds or even thousands. Black Swans are popular birds in zoological gardens and bird collections, and escapees are sometimes seen outside their natural range. These fine specimens were snapped at the Coburg Lake Park in Melbourne.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

INSTAGRAM ROCKS

I've recently started painting rocks as a challenge and found that I enjoyed doing it. I publish my efforts on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jammysevenk/) and here is a sampling of my work. You may find more of my art if you click on the link above.

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,

and also part of the Blue Monday meme,

and also part of the Seasons meme.

ON THE WATER

A perfect Summer day in Melbourne today and many people ventured out to be on the water on the Yarra River. In Alphington, the river was idyllic and the boating party looked timeless from afar...

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,

and also part of the My Sunday Best meme.

DOG WALK

A lovely Summer day today, perfect for taking the dog for a walk...

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.

FLIGHT

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

QUEEN ANNE'S LACE

Daucus carota, whose common names include wild carrot, bird's nest, bishop's lace, and Queen Anne's lace (North America), is a white, flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate regions of Europe and southwest Asia, and naturalised to North America and Australia. Domesticated carrots are cultivars of a subspecies, Daucus carota subsp. sativus.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

LEAF

We have had a few days of La Niña weather here in Melbourne, with cool temperatures and quite some rain. We are not complaining, as last year we experienced a hot, dry Summer with terrible bushfires. Better water than fire...

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.

REFLECTING

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

JAPANESE GARDEN

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,

and also part of the Blue Monday meme.

and also part of the Seasons meme.

PRESAGE

The days have started to shorten little by little and the sun has started the northward journey. A fallen brown leaf carried by the waters of the creek is a presage of Summer's end...

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

CATERPILLAR

Hippotion celerio, known as the Vine Hawk-Moth or Silver-striped Hawk-Moth, is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found in Africa and Central and Southern Asia and, as a migrant in Southern Europe and Australia. Larvae may be green, yellowish green or even brown. They have a dark broken mid-dorsal line and a creamy dorso-lateral line from the fifth segment to the horn. The head is round, and usually a dull green colour.

The larva has a horn which is usually long and straight. There is a large yellow and green eyespot on the third segment and a smaller one on the fourth segment. Larvae typically feed on the leaves of plants such as the grape vine, Cissus, Impatiens and the Arum lily.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.

EVENING WALK

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.