FOREST

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,

and also part of the Blue Monday meme,

and also part of the Seasons meme.

VIEW

View towards Port Phillip Bay from Southbank.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

URBAN PIGEONS

Melbourne pigeons living naturally in the Darebin Parklands, where they have almost reverted to a wild state. 

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.

"MAJOR RAIN EVENT"

I heard the weather report yesterday and I had to smile when I heard the weather prediction for today. The announcer said Melbourne was expecting a "major rain event". I translated that as "it will rain tomorrow". However, all day today it has been raining and the skies have been leaden, the garden well and truly soaked, while flooding has been an issue in many parts of the state.

"Major rain event" indeed, with a month's worth of rain falling in one day! Our climate has been disrupted, that's for sure and our changeable Melbourne weather has become even more unpredictable and even more changeable...

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

CRUCIFIX ORCHID

A red Crucifix Orchid flowering in our garden at the moment. Epidendrum radicans is the scientific name of this species of orchid. Common names include ground-rooting epidendrum, fire-star orchid, rainbow orchid, and reed-stem epidendrum. It is a common roadside weed at middle elevations in Central America.

It is a crucifix orchid, often confused with many other members of the section Schistochila, including E. calanthe, E. cinnabarinum, E. denticulatum, E. erectum, E. fulgens, E. ibaguense, E. imatophyllum, E. incisum, E. schomburgkii, E. secundum, and E. xanthinum, among others. The diagnostic characteristic of E. radicans is its tendency to sprout roots all along the length of the stem; other crucifix orchids only produce roots near the base. Additionally, E. radicans flowers are resupinate, unlike the members of the Epidendrum secundum complex, E. fulgens, and many other crucifix orchids. E. radicans also differs from E. secundum by bearing no nectar in the flower.

Crucifix Orchids have tough leathery leaves and long, thin stems with long lasting clusters of flowers. The common name refers to the lip of the flower called the labellum, which resembles a small cross. Great beginner's orchid - tough and easy to grow!

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

RAINDROPS

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,

and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

OLD & NEW

The architecture of Melbourne is characterised by an extensive juxtaposition of old and new architecture. The city is noted for preserving a significant amount of Victorian architecture and has some of the largest in the country. Additionally, it features a vast array of modern architecture, with around 60 skyscrapers over 100 m in the city centre which have deliberately been set back from thoroughfares and streets to preserve historic architecture—leading to the title of "Australia's most European city".

The juxtaposition of old and new has given Melbourne a reputation as a city of no characterising architectural style, but rather an accumulation of buildings dating from the present back until the European settlement of Australia. The city is also home to Australia 108 (2020), which at 317 metres is the tallest skyscraper Here are some landmarks of our city.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

OF WOOD & STONE

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,

and also part of the Blue Monday meme,

and also part of the Seasons meme.

TIMBER!

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

WHITE-FACED HERON

The white-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) also known as the white-fronted heron, and incorrectly as the grey heron, or blue crane, is a common bird throughout most of Australasia, including New Guinea, the islands of Torres Strait, Indonesia, New Zealand, and all but the driest areas of Australia.

It is a medium-sized heron, pale, slightly bluish-grey, with yellow legs and white facial markings. It can be found almost anywhere near shallow water, fresh or salt, and although it is prompt to depart the scene on long, slow-beating wings if disturbed, it will boldly raid suburban fish ponds.

The adult white-faced heron is medium-sized for the family and mostly pale blue-grey. The forehead, crown, chin and upper throat are white. The crown pattern is variable, with the white occasionally spreading down the neck; the variability makes identification of individuals possible. The iris may be grey, green, dull yellow or cinnamon. The regions between the eye and bill on the side of the head (lores) are black. The beak is black and often pale grey at the base.

During the breeding season pinkish-brown or bronze nuptial plumes appear on the foreneck and breast, with blue-grey plumes appearing on the back. The adult typically weighs 550 g  and ranges from 60 to 70 cm in height. Immature birds are paler grey with only the throat white, and often have a reddish colour on the underparts. Chicks are typically covered with grey down.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.