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.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

SOARING

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

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

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

AT THE FLORIST

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

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.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

MORE AUTUMN THOUGHTS

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
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!

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

CLOUDY SUNSET

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme