HALLOWEEN PUMPKINS

It's time to make those Jack O'Lanterns, but there is a slight problem in Australia, as pumpkin season is six months ahead in our Autumn (March to May), Step in direct imports from the USA and we have pumpkins a-plenty. The price is steep! A friend bought a nice large pumpkin for $76...

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

GUARD DOG

"Nobody touches that cask of wine, and I mean NOBODY!"

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

FREAK STORM

We had a freak storm in Melbourne overnight and this morning. Winds of up to 146km/h lashed Victoria, leaving a path of destruction littered with fallen trees, ripped-off roofs and 526,000 homes without power. At 9pm, there were about 154,000 households still in darkness across the state, with fears some areas could be without power for days.

Trees were uprooted across most Melbourne suburbs, with some crashing on to power lines, cars and homes, as well as buckling footpaths. The State Emergency Service fielded 2518 requests from residents seeking help with property damage. Things have settled down this evening, and thankfully our house was spared...

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

BINDWEED

Convolvulus is a genus of about 200 to 250 species of flowering plants in the bindweed family Convolvulaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include bindweed and morning glory; both names shared with other closely related genera. They are annual or perennial herbaceous vines, bines and (a few species of) woody shrubs, growing to 0.3–3 m tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, and the flowers trumpet-shaped, mostly white or pink, but blue, violet, purple or yellow in some species. Many of the species are invasive species weeds; but others are cultivated for their attractive flowers, while some are globally threatened.

This is Convolvulus erubescens, commonly known as blushing bindweed, pinkflower bindweed or (in Britain and Ireland) Australian bindweed, is a perennial herb in the Convolvulaceae family that is native to Australia. It has trailing and twining stems and variable leaves, ovate to triangular or arrow-shaped, 25–55 mm long and 2–40 mm wide. It has rosy-pink or mauve, funnel-shaped flowers, 7–15 mm long, 8–20 mm in diameter, with a pale, greenish throat. It is found in coastal and subcoastal areas where it inhabits eucalypt forests, the margins of rainforests, grassy woodlands and grasslands.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

TRAIN STATION

Waiting for the early train on a crisp, misty Spring morning. Even around these suburban train stations in Melbourne there are little oases of native flora where one may find colonies of native animals.

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.

CITY VIEW

View down the River Yarra towards the Southeast.

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.

AT NIGHT

As restrictions due to COVID are gradually being lifted, one of the first to go was the 9:00 pm-5:00 am curfew. Movement about the city at night seemingly was one of main gripes of Melburnians, who are quite the night owls! Next week we are expecting further easing of restrictions and a slow return to normality as we approach 80% double vaccination status.

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

WHIRLIGIGS

 Whirl, whirl whirligigs, the Lockdown is over! Perfect Spring weather to celebrate it too!

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

A SONG FOR THE MOON

It's really hard not to think that the birds are singing to the moon!

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

FULL MOON

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

DUTCH IRISES

Iris × hollandica, commonly known as the Dutch iris, is a hybrid iris developed from species native to Portugal, Spain and North Africa (Iris tingitana × Iris xiphium). Two varieties of Iris xiphium (var. praecox) from Spain and (var. lusitanica) from Portugal, were crossed with Iris tingitana (from North Africa). This was carried out by a Dutch bulb firm 'Van Tubergen' (based in Haarlem) in the 19th century.

Because the bulb could be forced in a greenhouse to flower early, it was popular with florists. Since the 1900s it has been crossed with other species to create various cultivars. After the Second World War, stocks of bulbs were imported to America. They then increased the colour range mainly the yellows.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

YARRA TRAIL

Walking along the Yarra River in Abbotsford, Melbourne, enjoying the vast areas of parklands and nature reserve along the river. This is amazing as these tracts of natural bushland are within a stone's throw of the bustling city centre. Melbourne has a population of close to five million people, so I consider myself very lucky to have such splendid conservation areas within walking distance of my home.

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.

THE GRAMPIANS

The Grampians National Park (also Gariwerd), commonly referred to as The Grampians, is a national park located in the Grampians region of Victoria, Australia. The 167,219-hectare (413,210-acre) national park is situated between Stawell and Horsham on the Western Highway and Dunkeld on the Glenelg Highway, 260 kilometres west of Melbourne and 460 kilometres east of Adelaide.

Proclaimed as a national park on 1 July 1984, the park was listed on the Australian National Heritage List on 15 December 2006 for its outstanding natural beauty and being one of the richest indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern Australia. The Grampians feature a striking series of sandstone mountain ranges.

Although a bit far for a day trip, some acquaintances of ours have done it all in a day, although I must say it was a bit of a Cook's tour! Best to take your time and enjoy your trip there and back, as well as stay a few days and do all the wonderful hikes and walks.

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.

CRUSH...

Or is it puppy love?

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

and also part of the Shadow Shot Sunday meme

LOCKDOWN FUN

There is a glimmer of hope in Melbourne that soon, quite soon our COVID lockdown may be ending... Time to put all those toys and games away, boys and girls, and go out there and rediscover the wide world!

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

and also part of the Seasons meme.

DOG WITH A VIEW

A dog in a neighbour's house equipped with an observation deck so he doesn't miss any of the action. Perfect idea for the watchdog in any dog!

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

SPRING SKY

A change is coming, lots of rainy weather ahead, as gray clouds replace the white ones.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

CANOLA COWS

Cows grazing while the canola plants (Brassica napus subsp. napus) bloom recklessly. The seeds of these plants (=rapeseed) are used to make the canola vegetable oil.

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,
and also part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

LILAC 'SENSATION'

In mid-spring this hybrid lilac Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation', blooms and bears fragrant, single purple blossoms with distinct white margins. It forms a shrub 3 metres high by 2 metres wide. Lilac flowers are beloved for bouquets, and when in bloom, hummingbirds and butterflies are drawn to them. Lilacs are generally a forgiving bunch, tolerant of roadside sites and neglect.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

DROMANA

Dromana is a suburb south of Melbourne, and is located on the Mornington Peninsula. Its local government area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. It is a bayside centre, nestled between Safety Beach and McCrae, and situated at the foot of the towering peak of Arthurs Seat. Dromana's commercial centre is concentrated along the coastal boulevard of Point Nepean Road, with Arthurs Seat and its surrounding bushland providing a scenic backdrop to the shops and cafes along this route.

Dromana's foreshore reserve lines the coast and consists of grassy picnic areas, shelters, walking tracks and designated camping areas. The calm, sandy beaches provide safe swimming and boating opportunities. Points of interest along the coast include the Dromana Pier and the rocky cutting at Anthony's Nose where a boat ramp is situated.

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.

SHORT SPRING

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

DAY 66

Day 66 of the COVID Lockdown N˚ 6 in Melbourne, and the natives are getting more and more restless. The clashes of vaxxers and antivaxxers are taking place at all levels, in some cases becoming violent skirmishes in the so-called "freedom demonstrations". Meanwhile, the City centre itself looks eerily empty and still, devoid of people. COVID cases are increasing and the strain on the healthcare sector is being felt.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

DO NOT DISTURB!

A rather rude awakening for this little fellow who was enjoying a nap in the early morning Spring sunshine. He went back to sleep immediately after his photo shoot...

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

CITY SKY

After the sunset, an afterglow.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

BOTTLEBRUSH

Callistemon is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1814. The entire genus is endemic to Australia but widely cultivated in many other regions and naturalised in scattered locations. Their status as a separate taxon is in doubt, some authorities accepting that the difference between callistemons and melaleucas is not sufficient for them to be grouped in a separate genus.

Callistemon species have commonly been referred to as bottlebrushes because of their cylindrical, brush like flowers resembling a traditional bottle brush. They are mostly found in the more temperate regions of Australia, especially along the east coast and typically favour moist conditions so when planted in gardens thrive on regular watering. However, two species are found in Tasmania and several others in the south-west of Western Australia. At least some species are drought-resistant and some are used in ornamental landscaping elsewhere in the world.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

WEB

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.

MELBOURNE "LOCKTOWN"

As of 8:00pm on Sunday, October 3, 2021, a Victorian who has lived in Melbourne and not left since the beginning of the pandemic will have spent 245 days in lockdown.  It is the longest cumulative lockdown for any city in the world. Buenos Aires previously held the record, enduring a 234-day lockdown from March 20 to November 11, 2020, and a short 10-day circuit-breaker lockdown from May 21 to May 31 this year. Melbourne is set to far exceed the record, with Victoria's roadmap indicating the state will only reach its next vaccination target of 70 per cent double dose vaccinations around October 26.

While the first period of stay-at-home restrictions enforced in March last year due to the COVID pandemic, was not officially called a "lockdown", it is commonly accepted that Melbourne is now in its sixth lockdown.

Here's the timeline of how they played out:

Lockdown 1: March 30 to May 12, 2020 — 43 days

Lockdown 2: July 8 to October 27, 2020 —111 days

Lockdown 3: February 12 - 17, 2021 —5 days

Lockdown 4: May 27 - June 10, 2021 — 14 days

Lockdown 5: July 15 - 27, 2021 — 12 days

Lockdown 6: August 5 - October 26, 2021 — 82 days...

So greetings from the world's favourite LOCKTOWN! I'd love to welcome you to our beautiful city, but at the moment we are locked in and you are locked out!

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.

TOUCH OF SPRING

Southern Hemisphere Spring is blooming with Gondwanaland flowers. SouthAfrican and Australian natives put on a big show in our 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.

PICNIC TIME

Sunday at the Parklands today was an occasion lockdown-fatigued Melburnians made the most of the slight reduction in restrictions. Open air picnics are allowed again within tight guidelines. As the weather was fine, many people went to the Darebin Parklands to enjoy the sun in good company. COVID be damned!

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

RAINBOW LORIKEETS

Rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) are a species of Australasian parrot found in Australia, eastern Indonesia (Maluku and Western New Guinea), Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It is widespread in the Melbourne area. It is feeding on a native gum tree, Eucalyptus leucoxylon "Flowering Yellow Gum", which is currently in bloom all over Melbourne.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

FLYING

One from the archives, when to get on a plane and go wherever one liked when one liked was possible... Now that seems like quite an impossible thing to do! This is the northwest of Melbourne, approaching the airport at Tullamarine for a landing.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme