FLOWERING GUM TREE

From Autumn until Spring, many of Australia's native flora species flower. This is a flowering Eucalyptus tree, all of the common eucalyptus trees being referred to in Australia as "gum trees".

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

RAIN

As Autumn progresses in Melbourne, the days get shorter (of course!), the nights are noticeably cooler and the days more often than not are mellow and warm. However, increasingly we may see rain showers, or occasionally heavy rain that can lead to flash-flooding. Well, it's Melbourne, and if you don't like the weather, wait an hour and it will change!

The gardens of course gratefully receive the rain and this year everything seems to be growing/blooming prematurely. For example, I saw the first Spring bulbs sprouting today! A few months before their time...

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.

MELBOURNE GREEK FESTIVAL

Antipodes Greek Festival in Melbourne is a way to immerse yourself in the rich and vibrant world of Greek culture. It is and interesting and exciting experience celebrating all things Greek. There is always an extraordinary lineup of performers, artists, stallholders, and surprises that ensure you experience a most epic celebration. Generally, this Festival is held in February every year. Here are some Cretan Dancers, dancing a folk dance called the "Sousta".

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

FRUITING TIME

Autumn fruits in Melbourne: Lilly Pilly, Pomegranate, Bonewood

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

SUNDAY BRUNCH

In Preston, on a lovely Autumn day.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme,
and also part of the Scenic Sunday meme.

RAINBOW LORIKEET

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.

SUNSET

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

COSMOS

Cosmos bipinnatus, commonly called the garden cosmos, Mexican aster or cosmea, is a medium-sized flowering herbaceous plant in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to the Americas. The species and its varieties and cultivars are popular as ornamental plants in temperate climate gardens.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

GUM LEAVES

We have just welcomed Autumn here in Melbourne but the gum trees are sprouting forth new leaves and have begun to bloom. This makes for a welcome recompense for the shortening of the days, increasing coolness and the promise of Winter ahead.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

MURRAY RIVER

The Murray River (in South Australia: River Murray; Ngarrindjeri: Millewa, Yorta Yorta: Tongala) is a river in south-eastern Australia. It is Australia's longest river at 2,508 km length. Its tributaries include five of the next six longest rivers of Australia (the Murrumbidgee, Darling, Lachlan, Warrego and Paroo Rivers). Together with that of the Murray, the catchments of these rivers form the Murray-Darling basin, which covers about one-seventh the area of Australia. It is widely considered Australia's most important irrigated region.

The Murray arises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains, then meanders northwest across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between the states of New South Wales and Victoria as it flows into South Australia. From an east–west direction it turns south at Morgan for its final 315 km, reaching the eastern edge of Lake Alexandrina, which fluctuates in salinity. The water then flows through several channels around Hindmarsh Island and Mundoo Island. 

There it is joined by lagoon water from The Coorong to the south-east before emptying into the Great Australian Bight (often referenced on Australian maps as the Southern Ocean) through the Murray Mouth, 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Goolwa South. Despite discharging considerable volumes of water at times, particularly before the advent of large-scale river regulation, the waters at the Murray Mouth are almost invariably slow and shallow.

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