WURLY

A "wurly" (also spelled wurlie or wurley) is a small, temporary shelter traditionally used by Indigenous Australians. Also known as a "humpy" or "gunyah", these dome-shaped or lean-to structures were constructed from branches, bark, and leaves. They were easily assembled to suit a nomadic, semi-permanent lifestyle.

Built using local, readily available natural resources like eucalyptus branches, Melaleuca (paperbark), and grass. Generally featured a curved, windbreak design that relied on a standing tree for support, keeping inhabitants protected from harsh weather. Positioned to take advantage of natural shade and warmth, often serving as temporary camps before groups moved to the next food and water source.

Here it is seen in the Darebin Parklands, in suburban Melbourne. Indigenous Australians often use these natural reserve areas in order to teach the younger generations bushcraft and indigenous culture.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

AUTUMN FRUIT

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme

and also part of the Seasons meme.

BY TRAIN

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

DUCKS ALL IN A ROW

The Australian wood duck, maned duck or maned "goose" (Chenonetta jubata) is a dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia. It is the only living species in the genus Chenonetta. Traditionally placed in the subfamily Anatinae (dabbling ducks), it might belong to the subfamily Tadorninae (shelducks); the ringed teal may be its closest living relative.

This 45–51 cm duck looks like a small goose, and mostly feeds by grazing in flocks. The male is grey with a dark brown head and mottled breast. The female has white stripes above and below the eye and mottled underparts. Both sexes have grey wings with black primaries and a white speculum. Juveniles are similar to adult females, but lighter and with a more streaky breast.

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SOUTHBANK SKIES

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AUTUMN HYACINTHS

Our weather is all topsy-turvy this year, with many late Summer flowers lingering in the garden (I picked some lovely roses on Mother's Day, and also some chrysanthemums!). And now well before Autumn is over, bulbs are sprouting with the first jonquils blooming already, together with violets. And here some hyacinths (these are from the florist, so no doubt, they have been forced to bloom...).

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

FOR THE BIRDS

Seen here is the City of Whittlesea Civic Centre and Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre (PRACC). The complex is located at 25 Ferres Boulevard in South Morang, Victoria. The site was developed in the early 1990s and includes council offices, a convention centre, and landscaped grounds. Floating wetlands are utilized within the surrounding water-feature as a refuge for local bird life.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme

SOUTHBANK

Southbank is a vibrant, high-density inner-city suburb of Melbourne located directly along the southern bank of the Yarra River. Known as the cultural and entertainment heart of the city, it sits just opposite the central business district (CBD). It seamlessly blends skyscrapers, thriving arts venues, and bustling waterfront dining precincts.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

ANOTHER WEEK

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

MOE LIBRARY

This post is part of the Weekend in Black and White,
and also part of the My Sunday Best meme

REGENT BOWERBIRD

This is a male Regent bowerbird (Sericulus chrysocephalus), a medium-sized species endemic to the rainforests of eastern Australia. Male birds are sexually dimorphic, featuring striking black plumage contrasted with a golden-yellow to orange crown, mantle, and wing patches.  They are famous for building and decorating "avenue-type" bowers constructed from vertical sticks to attract mates, sometimes even using a "saliva paint" to decorate the structures. The species is primarily found in the coastal forests and rainforests of south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales.

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SOARING

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KALANCHOE

Kalanchoe, is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent plants in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae, mainly native to Madagascar and tropical Africa. A Kalanchoe species was one of the first plants to be sent into space, sent on a resupply to the Soviet Salyut 6 space station in 1979. Many hybrids, such as these, exist and are used as popular indoor plants.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

DUCK AND CREEK

A Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), a common and adaptable dabbling duck found throughout Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding islands.They are identified by their mottled dark brown plumage and a characteristic head pattern featuring a dark brown line through the eye, bordered by cream stripes above and below.Their diet is largely vegetarian, consisting of seeds from aquatic plants, but they also consume aquatic insects, crustaceans, and mollusks.

These ducks are widespread in Melbourne's creek and river habitats, in this particular instance, at the Darebin Parklands, through which flows the Darebin Creek. A quite clean and unpolluted waterway, home to many native species of flora and fauna.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme

RAINY NIGHT

If you travel to Melbourne, pack an umbrella - you never know when you might need it!

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

RAINY

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

ROCOCO

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme
And also part of the Weekend in Black and White.

SWALLOWTAIL

Papilio anactus, the dainty swallowtail, or small citrus butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly from the family Papilionidae, that is endemic to Australia. For protection against predators, this non-poisonous butterfly mimics the poisonous male Cressida cressida, another swallowtail butterfly that obtains its toxic properties through its host plant, the Dutchman's pipe.

Papilio anactus is endemic to Australia. It was originally only present in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, but due to the growing of citrus, a larval food plant of this species, in orchards, the species spread to South Australia in the late 1920s. Papilio anactus is not present on Kangaroo Island or elsewhere in Australia, as there are currently too few citrus trees. It also occurs on New Caledonia. There, it may be an introduced species or a vagrant.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.

FOGGY MORNING

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AT THE FLORIST

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TRANQUIL

A short train ride away from metropolitan Melbourne, towards the East are the green farmlands of Gippsland, forest reserves, rolling hills and natural bushland.

This post is part of the Nature Notes meme

and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme

INNER SUBURBIA

Johnston St looking east in Abbotsford. One of the older Melbourne suburbs, typical working class in the 19th century. Abbotsford now has a mix of industrial architecture and green spaces, and is popular with both families and creative types. Converted factories, hip cafes and cool bars line Johnston Street, while Abbotsford Convent hosts artsy workshops and is home to markets, cafes and artists’ studios.

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MORE AUTUMN THOUGHTS

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and also part of the Seasons meme.

MUSHROOM SEASON

Macrolepiota procera, the parasol mushroom, is a basidiomycete fungus with a large, prominent fruiting body resembling a parasol. It is a fairly common species on well-drained soils. It is found solitary or in groups and fairy rings in pastures and occasionally in woodland. It is widespread in temperate regions of Eurasia and possibly North America. It is a well-regarded edible mushroom.

This was found on our lawn here in Melbourne, so obviously it has also been introduced to Australia. Take care as it resembles some toxic species! Notably, Chlorophyllum molybdites, which causes the largest number of annual mushroom poisonings in North America due to its close similarity to Macrolepiota. Never eat any mushrooms found in the wild that you are unsure of their edibility!

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CLOUDY SUNSET

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NATIVE GERANIUM

The Austral Stork's Bill (Pelargonium australe) is an Australian native flower, similar to stork's bills in other parts of the world. The plants produce clusters of asymmetrical, light pink to white flowers, often with darker reddish-purple markings on the upper petals.  The leaves are generally soft, velvety, and rounded with toothed edges. It is popular in gardens for its hardiness, salt tolerance, and long flowering periods.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

DAREBIN CREEK

Darebin Creek is a waterway that runs through the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is the main watercourse of the Darebin Valley and a major tributary of the Yarra River. For tens of thousands of years it was used as a food and tool source sustainably by the Wurundjeri people, Indigenous Australians of the Kulin nation alliance, who spoke variations of the Woiwurrung language group.

The creek rises on the northern urban fringe of Melbourne north of the suburb of Epping, following a general southerly route and meeting the Yarra at Alphington. The creek forms much of the municipal boundary between the City of Darebin and City of Banyule. Formerly an intermittent stream, increased stormwater runoff with urbanisation of the Darebin Creek catchment has resulted in permanent water flow. 

The creek runs through Darebin Parklands, a large nature reserve one or two kilometres northwest of the junction at which the creek meets the Yarra. The Darebin Creek Trail runs along the banks in the lower reaches of the creek. This is the creek at the Darebin Parklands in Fairfield.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Roentare’s Water Meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

MELLOW

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

DROUGHT

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I'M NOT A SHEEP!

A Labradoodle, which is a popular hybrid breed known for their friendly temperament. These dogs are often sociable and highly intelligent, making them popular family pets.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

GOOD MORNING, SUN!

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

GLORY FLOWER

Clerodendrum bungei, commonly known as rose glory bower, glory flower or Mexican hydrangea (though neither a Hydrangea nor from Mexico), is a species of flowering plant in the deadnettle family, Lamiaceae. Native to China, it is commonly grown in gardens as an ornamental shrub. It has escaped from cultivation and is naturalised in the Americas.

Clerodendrum bungei is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 2 m in height. Its leaves are cordate (heart-shaped), 10–20 cm long and not quite as wide, and have coarsely toothed edges. The flowers, which appear in late summer, are coloured rose, crimson, or pink, and arranged in a conspicuous rounded terminal inflorescence known as corymb, which is up to 10 cm in diameter. As in other Clerodendrum species, the calyx is five-lobed. At the centre of each flower there is a slender tube c. 3–4 cm long which terminates in five spreading white lobes.

While the flowers are fragrant, crushed leaves have an unpleasant odour. Clerodendrum bungei possess extrafloral nectaries that produce a sweet secretion attracting ants (and other arthropods), which in return often protect plant from herbivory. Its flowers also attract butterflies.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

EARTH DAY 2026

It is especially important in these troubled times we live in to raise children who respect and care for our Earth. Children should grow up with a responsibility to nurture and heal our planet... Planting a tree and caring for it is a good start.

This post is part of the Nature Notes meme

MARIBYRNONG RIVER

The Maribyrnong River is a perennial river of the Port Phillip catchment, located in the north–western suburbs of Melbourne, in the Australian state of Victoria. The Maribyrnong River draws its headwaters from near Mount Macedon within the Macedon Ranges, part of the Great Dividing Range. Formed by the confluence of the Jackson Creek and the Deep Creek below Taylors Lakes, the river flows generally southward, joined by two minor tributaries before reaching its confluence with the Yarra River at Yarraville, to eventually empty into Port Phillip. The river descends 42 metres over its 40-kilometre course.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

AS THE YEAR MOVES ON

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

FUNGUS SEASON

The rains have come and fungi are appearing in the garden, from lowly toadstools to delicious edible mushrooms!

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

WOOF!

This handsome fellow belongs to a neighbour and is a Chocolate Labrador Retriever. The Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, known for being a friendly, confident, and highly intelligent companion. Labs are famously social, eager to please, and playful, making them excellent family pets. They are high-energy dogs that typically love outdoor activities like running, hiking, and swimming.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

SUNRISE IN THE CITY

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

THE LAST ROSE

The last rose of the season is making a brave show of it... 
This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

IT'S A JOB...

View from a balcony in Southbank. It's a painter painting the walls of a high rise apartment building. Can you find him in the first photo? I've given you a zoom photo in the second image. And as you can see in the third photo he gets a nice view of the sea (he has a little rear view mirror on his helmet!)...

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

POSTCARD FROM MELBOURNE

A digital postcard I've made in Photoshop from my photos and which I send as an email to friends overseas.

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

and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme.

RAIN

We are now well into Autumn and rain is with us rather frequently, while the cool weather necessitates the comforting reassurance of a heater warming the room...

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

BLACK COCKATOO

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

SUNSET

It is Orthodox Good Friday today. Happy Easter on Sunday to those celebrating it.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

AUTUMN DAISIES

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

AT THE MARKET

A bit pricey, but they're organic...
This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

ANOTHER WEEK

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

FIRE!

It's not a pleasant thing being woken up at night by blaring sirens and going out see billows of smoke coming out of a house a few doors down... However, it was good to see the rapidity of the response by emergency services and the efficiency with which the firefighters put out the fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme