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

HAPPY BILBY EASTER!

The bilby (specifically the Greater Bilby - Macrotis lagotis) is an iconic Australian desert-dwelling marsupial known for its long, rabbit-like ears and silky blue-grey fur. It is an "ecosystem engineer" that plays a vital role in soil health by digging extensive burrow systems up to 3 metres long and 2 metres deep.

In Australia, the bilby is widely promoted as a native alternative to the Easter Bunny to raise awareness and funds for its protection. Since bilbies are nocturnal and rare, the best way to see them is at specialized nocturnal houses or sanctuaries.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

Happy Easter!

GOOD FRIDAY

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

DAHLIA SEASON

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

DISTANT SEA VIEW

Port Phillip Bay viewed from a Southbank apartment. The view is quickly disappearing as new high rise buildings are coming up like toadstools...

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