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

AGNES FALLS, GIPPSLAND

Tucked away within the green, hills of the Strzelecki Ranges, the meandering Agnes River cascades from a 59m height over rocks into a deep gorge, forming Agnes Falls. They are surrounded by protected pockets of old forest and native bushland.

With impressive views, cascading waterfalls, much native wildlife and its protected forest, Agnes Falls is a hidden patch of serenity near the Gippsland coastline. A short drive from Toora or Welshpool, it's also a beautiful, scenic stop on a day trip exploring South Gippsland.

A 200m walking track leads from the car park to the falls viewing area, where  the Agnes River can be seen tumbling over rocks and into the steep, sheltered gorge below. The falls are even more spectacular in wet seasons and after heavy rain.

The reserve protects a small remnant of the dense forests that once covered the Strzelecki Ranges, and the tall eucalypt canopy and diverse understorey of shrubs, ferns and trees are home to a range of birdlife. Keep an eye out for playful Grey Fantails and Eastern Yellow Robins darting through the low trees and shrubs, and listen for the calls of Kookaburras, Crimson Rosellas and Currawongs.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

and also part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

AUTUMN GARDEN

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme

and also part of the Seasons meme

AT THE GREENGROCER'S

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

HONEYBROWN BEETLE

This insect is a Honeybrown Beetle (specifically Ecnolagria grandis), also commonly known as a Brown Darkling Beetle.  These beetles are native to south-eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania. They are identified by their golden-brown bodies covered in very short hairs and a thorax that is noticeably narrower than their wing cases (elytra).

They typically have a golden-brown or coppery color, though some individuals may appear slightly more violet or metallic. Adults are slow fliers and are often found resting motionlessly on leaves or hiding among dry fallen leaves and grasses. They primarily feed on dead plant matter and fungi. These beetles are commonly found in forests, woodlands, heaths, and urban gardens.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

PEEK-A-BOO

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

"TEDDY BEARS"

'Teddy Bear' sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), are a popular double-flowered cultivar known for their lush, fluffy, and rounded appearance. Unlike traditional sunflowers with a dark central disk, 'Teddy Bear' sunflowers have petals that cover the entire flower head, giving them a soft, pom-pom-like look.

They are typically a compact, dwarf variety, often growing between 60-100 cm tall, making them well-suited for pots, small garden spaces, or as a short hedge. They are frequently grown for their ornamental value and make excellent, cheerful cut flowers. Care: Like most sunflowers, they are sun-loving annuals that are relatively easy to grow and perform best with regular watering during their flowering period.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

REFLECTING AUTUMN

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme

MELBOURNE TRAM

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

NOSTALGIA

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

FLOWER SHOPPER

At the Preston Market.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

ECLECTUS PARROT

The eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) is a parrot native to the Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea and nearby islands, northeastern Australia, and the Maluku Islands (Moluccas).

It is unusual in the parrot family for its extreme sexual dimorphism of the colours of the plumage; the male (photo here, below) having a mostly bright emerald green plumage and the female a mostly bright red and purple/blue plumage. Joseph Forshaw, in his book Parrots of the World, noted that the first European ornithologists to see eclectus parrots thought they were of two distinct species. 

Large populations of this parrot remain, and they are sometimes considered pests for eating fruit off trees. Some populations restricted to relatively small islands are comparably rare. Their bright feathers are also used by native tribespeople in New Guinea as decorations.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

EQUINOX SUNSET

It is the Autumnal Equinox here in Melbourne and we are now officially into Autumn.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

ZUCCHINI FLOWER

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

DAWN IN THE PARKLANDS

At the Darebin Parklands in suburban Melbourne, about 6 km from the CBD.

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

GREAT OCEAN ROAD

The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243-kilometre stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Warrnambool. The road was built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932, and is the world's largest war memorial; dedicated to casualties of World War I.

It is an important tourist attraction in the region, which winds through varying terrain alongside the coast, and provides access to several prominent landmarks; including the nationally significant Twelve Apostles rock formations. The Twelve Apostles is a collection of miocene limestone rock stacks jutting from the water in Port Campbell National Park, between Princetown and Peterborough on the Great Ocean Road.

The apostles were formed by erosion: The harsh weather conditions from the Southern Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed; leaving rock stacks up to 45 metres high. The site was known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922 (Muttonbird Island, near Loch Ard Gorge, was the Sow, and the smaller rock stacks the Piglets); after which it was renamed to The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles, despite only ever having nine stacks.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

AUTUMN'S ARRIVAL

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

AT DEGANI'S FAIRFIELD

A nice weekend brunch at the local meeting place...

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

WAITING...

Patiently for his master...

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

UP, UP AND AWAY

We often have hot air balloons overhead in our neighbourhood as they use a nearby park as a launching ground. The balloons are a hit with both locals and tourists.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

MORNING GLORY

Ipomoea is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Convolvulaceae, with over 500 species. Most of these are called morning glories, but this can also refer to related genera. Those formerly separated in Calonyction (Greek καλός, kalos, good and νύκτα, nycta, night) are called moonflowers. The generic name is derived from the Greek words ιπς (ips) or ιπος (ipos), meaning "worm" or "bindweed," and όμοιος (homoios), meaning "resembling". It refers to their twining habit.

The genus occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants, lianas, shrubs and small trees; most of the species are twining climbing plants. Ipomoea nil is a species of Ipomoea morning glory known by several common names, including picotee morning glory, ivy morning glory, and Japanese morning glory. It is native to most of the tropical world, and has been introduced widely. It is cultivated as an attractive ornamental plant in many places, and the descendants of garden escapees now grow wild, in some situations regarded as a weed.

This is a climbing annual herb with three-pointed leaves 3 to 8 centimeters long. The flowers are several centimeters wide and appear in various shades of blue, pink or rose, often with white stripes or edges or blends of colors. Common cultivars include 'Scarlet O'Hara', 'Early Call', and 'Rose Silk'.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

INVERLOCH

Inverloch is a seaside town located in Victoria, Australia. It is located 143 kilometres south east of Melbourne via the South Gippsland Highway on the Bass Highway at the mouth of Anderson Inlet, in the Bass Coast Shire of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Known originally for the calm waters of Anderson Inlet, it is now also known for the discovery of Australia's first dinosaur bone. At the 2011 census it had a population of 4,960.

Inverloch is a popular tourist destination, particularly for swimming, kitesurfing and windsurfing at the calm waters of Anderson Inlet. Fishing and surfing are also popular. The town was first named Andersons Inlet after Samuel Anderson, the first European to settle here. It was later renamed Inverloch after Loch Inver (Lake Entrance) in Scotland. The town is also home to a tennis club which is home to the some of Australia's greatest players.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme,

and also part of Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of Nature Notes meme.

AT BRUNETTI'S

Brunetti, the Italian restaurant, café and pasticceria, is a famous Melbourne institution on Lygon Street, Carlton. It is large, yet cosy; noisy and busy, yet intimate; crowded, yet efficient; popular, yet delivers consistently good quality food and service. I've lived in Melbourne long enough to see it growing and growing, but whenever I go there I remember my student years at Melbourne University and the endless cups of espresso we consumed there (not to mention the great food!)...

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

WAR

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme

and also part of the Seasons meme

STIRRINGS OF AUTUMN

The countryside looked autumnal last week, with the first rains for quite a while, and the drop in temperature made me rummage in the wardrobe for warmer clothes...

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

TEA BREAK...

... And a nap afterwards.
This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

SUNSET SILHOUETTES

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

TULIPS

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

RAIN

On a moving train, in the rain. Looking out of the window, the water running in rivulets down the glass, while the fast moving scenery outside becomes a blur... Autumn is here.

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

FITZROY

Fitzroy is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, three kilometres northeast of the Melbourne central business district, located within the City of Yarra local government area. Fitzroy recorded a population of 10,431 at the 2021 census.

Planned as Melbourne's first suburb in 1839, it later became one of the city's first areas to gain municipal status, in 1858, then known as Fitz Roy. It occupies Melbourne's smallest and most densely populated area outside the CBD, just 100 ha. 

Fitzroy is known as a cultural hub, particularly for its live music scene and street art, and is the main home of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Its commercial heart is Brunswick Street, one of Melbourne's major retail, culinary strips. the intersection of Smith and Gertrude street has become a nightlife hub, especially for queer venues and events.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

AUTUMN'S FLYING IN

We've had a couple of days of rain with falling temperatures, and March has come, warning of Autumn's arrival shortly. The garden still looks summery and the birds are still active and chirping away...

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme

and also part of the Seasons meme

LYGON ST, CARLTON

Melbourne's "Little Italy" in Lygon St, Carlton always brings back happy memories of my University years, as it is only a block away from my Alma Mater, the University of Melbourne... Still vibrant and colourful, a pleasure to visit again and again.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

EASTERN ROSELLA

The eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius) is a rosella native to southeast of the Australian continent and to Tasmania. It has been introduced to New Zealand where feral populations are found in the North Island (notably in the northern half of the island and in the Hutt Valley) and in the hills around Dunedin in the South Island.

The eastern rosella is 30 cm long. It has a red head and white cheeks. The beak is white and the irises are brown. The upper breast is red and the lower breast is yellow fading to pale green over the abdomen. The feathers of the back and shoulders are black, and have yellowish or greenish margins giving rise to a scalloped appearance that varies slightly between the subspecies and the sexes. The wings and lateral tail feathers are bluish while the tail is dark green. The legs are grey.  The female is similar to the male though duller in colouration and has an underwing stripe, which is not present in the adult male. Juveniles are duller than females and have an underwing stripe.

The diet of eastern rosellas mainly consists of fruit, seeds, flowers and insects.  The natural range of the eastern rosella is eastern Australia, down to Tasmania. The species is found in lightly wooded country, open forests, woodlands, gardens, bushlands and parks. Eastern rosellas usually breed in spring but if needed summer as well. They can have 2-9 eggs. In the wild their breeding hollow is 1m deep and 30m high up a tree. The sign the eastern rosella mostly shows that they would be breeding is that they give food to each other. 

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme,

SUNRISE BALLOON

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

ROSA 'MERCEDES'

A hybrid tea rose, 'Mercedes' has been blooming in our garden for nearly 30 years. It is a compact bush producing long-stemmed flowers, with beautiful buds that open slowly to give a striking red bloom that lasts for several days - as long as 10 in cooler weather. It is a perfect cut flower.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

BEACH, DROMANA

Dromana is a seaside suburb on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 57 km south of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Mornington Peninsula local government area. Dromana recorded a population of 6,626 at the 2021 census.

It is believed that the name Dromana is of Irish origin and that it came about from the influx of gold prospectors in the late 1830s. There is a Dromana (Irish: Drom Eanaigh) on the tidal section of the River Blackwater, near Cappoquin, County Waterford in Ireland, and this is the most likely origin of the name.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme

BRUNSWICK STREET

Brunswick Street is a street in inner northern Melbourne, known for cafés, live music venues and alternative fashion shops. Brunswick Street runs north–south through the inner northern Melbourne suburbs of Fitzroy and Fitzroy North, from Victoria Parade at its southernmost end, crossing Gertrude Street and Alexandra Parade through Fitzroy, and north continuing until it reaches St Georges Road in Fitzroy North, near the Edinburgh Gardens. Tram route 11 (West Preston to Victoria Harbour) runs along the entire length of Brunswick Street.

It is a renowned bohemian strip and a premier destination for vibrant nightlife, eclectic fashion boutiques, vintage shopping, and diverse, often casual dining. It features iconic pubs, live music venues, street art, and a bustling café culture. Many fine Victorian era buildings ar e lined along its length. Landmarks include the Atherton Gardens housing estate, St Vincent's Private Hospital, and the Australian Catholic University.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

SUNSHINE

Late summer with sunshine still plentiful, but tempered somewhat by the shortening of the days...

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

REFLECTION

A corner on one of the busiest thoroughfares in Melbourne, Hoddle St that becomes Punt Rd, further South. Reflected in the glass is the Collingwood Housing Commission Building built 1971. There are 47 of these template designed steel framed concrete towers consisting of pre-cast slabs covered in exposed aggregate, some as tall as 20 to 30 storeys, which were constructed across inner Melbourne during the 1960s and early 1970s.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme