UNEXPECTED FLYING OBJECTS...

Yesterday, I spent quite a bit of time outside trying to get a photo of some blue triangle butterflies which were dancing around my neighbour's mock orange (Murraya paniculata) but gave up in disgust, seeming to have only snapped vast skies of perfect blue behind the flowers, just missing the subjects each time. But then I uploaded the shots to the computer and after a bit of cropping, it turned out I had caught a lovely dance off, not just the butterflies but including a bee! A joyful moment indeed.

To top it off, I'd also unknowingly captured a dandelion seed heading off to parts unknown... But that meant I didn't get to wish on it.

COOROY COLLAGES...

In July last year when I first visited the Noosa Botanic Gardens in Cooroy, I was fascinated by quite big fruits growing on several large shrubs/trees called Elephant Apples.  Today I returned and guess what? The fruits look much the same, slightly more yellow is all, despite the signage saying they flower in summer. When one was cut open it was layers of fibrous flaps enclosing what looked like banana flowers.  There were quite a few lying on the ground and let me say if one hit an elephant on the head, it would get a headache I think. They are pretty hefty "fruit". Read more about the apple  here. It appears I missed the flowering and so will have to keep returning to catch them. Tragic because you know how much I hate the Gardens... not!

Today I was also treated to a climbing frangipani. I've seen native frangipani but this one is a hardy looking vine which I'd not heard of before (not difficult as I'm fairly ignorant about lots of plants) which was climbing up a palm tree. The flowers were subtlety perfumed.

I love cassia and this Rainbow Shower example is also new to me. What a delight! From under the very shady branches the flowers look more yellow but you can see from outside more pink/red and in the close up, lots of different tones. An absolute stunner.

Honestly, the people who live near these Gardens are very, very lucky. I wish it was on my doorstep, not a 30 min drive away.  

POND LIFE...

 Another visit to the Noosa Botanic Gardens revealed a world I hadn't really noticed before. These dear little frogs were hiding out on the reeds in a pond at the Gardens.  I was thrilled because I hadn't seen so many since I was a child. 

I was standing looking at the pond and noticed the little bumps on the reeds. Some were things like reed flowers, some grasshoppers and cicada shells. But the frogs were a delight. 

What a face... 

I particularly loved the white waterlilies, although some purple ones poked their heads up.

Always something getting around in the pond.  Some prettier than others.  

This not-very-clear shot, is one of the turtles who live in the pond.  He thought I had bread.  I don't have a photo of the black snake that passed very close to my feet as I was trying to get a close up of the frogs. Ugh. He slithered into the pond without reacting to my shriek.

This very tiny, blue damselfly falls into the pretty category. Such a vibrant blue. Very hard to see let alone focus on so I can only apologise for the daggy background; had to take what I could get.  Lots of lovely green lily leaves he could have landed in front of, but didn't. 

I found a large dragonfly cunningly camouflaged against some dead flowers on a nearby shrub...

To top it all off, the glorious scent of jasmine and caper white butterflies fluttering around.  Perfect... except for the snake.

“Life is like a pond, and every decision and act we commit, good or bad, is a pebble flung into it. The ripples spread in widening circles.” 

― Francine Rivers, An Echo in the Darkness

LIFE BOTANIC...

Another walk around the Noosa Botanic Gardens at Cooroy on Lake MacDonald yielded 2 waterbirds I hadn't seen there before.  These magpie geese were resting up in the favourite resting spot of the regular pelicans and ducks.

The usual suspects sans ducks and 4 guests.

They rest with their eyes open it seems, or perhaps they are just ultra aware of me blundering around in the undergrowth looking for the perfect shot.

Far off on the furthest side of the lake I spotted this bird and when I zoomed in realised I'd not seen one before. Turns out to the a Jabiru or Black-necked Stork.  With no way to get over there I had to be content with this slightly unfocussed shot.  Nevertheless, I was happy.

Strolling around the gardens, I spotted this handsome, orange dragonfly cunningly camouflaged against some rusty looking dying flowers.

This damselfly was much harder to spot and it was even harder to get a decent shot because of his size. Too much 'traffic' in the background to focus properly but, again, happy to see him and his brilliant colours.

Speaking of brilliant colours, the Iris growing near one of the ponds are spectacular at the moment and you can see how blue they look in the close up below. There are clumps of mauve, white and cream coloured ones in other parts of the Gardens.

Also in this floral collection is a white waterlily found amongst all the purple and pink lilies, a pretty pink lily of some sort and flowers of the large Brazilian potato tree. 

This Australasian Darter or snake bird was sunning itself above the lake and showing his plumage off to advantage.

I just love taking photos of pelicans with their beak buried between their wings as they rest. Again, keeping an eye on me.

There are several examples of grass tree in the Gardens in varying states of growth. On the left with this fairly small tree taken from above, I almost feel as if the photo is in 3D; perhaps I've finally working out the focus? and on the right the flowers of a more mature tree with visitors. None seen that had the thick trunks we are used to seeing in the bush.

SPRING FEATHERS AND FLOWERS...

I enjoyed another lovely walk through the Noosa Botanic Gardens after work yesterday and was pleased to see a lot more in the way of flowers now that Spring is upon us. My pelican friends were keeping an eye on things too...

This sweetie posed nicely before continuing his ablutions with some other birds sharing the pipe.

Bougainvillea must be about to flower everywhere although I must confess I've not noticed it in such abundance anywhere else recently. The rusty pink of this example was truly beautiful.

I didn't notice until afterwards that there was a little grebe in the foreground of this picture (you have to look hard) of a purple swamphen foraging on the edge of the pool.  Purple waterlilies and the tiny water snowflake lily are showing off.

This gymea lily was only a little over my head thanks to my being on the amphitheatre and it growing up from the bed below so was able to get much closer than one can normally. 

 I heard the eastern whipbird a long time before I saw it of course due to their distinctive call.  This was the best photo I could get in the gloom of evening the previous time I went to the Gardens. They are nervous and flit around quickly so I'm very happy with the snap. I didn't hear any at all yesterday but there were lots of kids running around the spot.

As I walked to the car I passed under a sausage tree and noticed flowers on the ground. Having never seen the flowers before I was thrilled. Most were on the ground with only a few on the tree.  Lots more to come though judging by the number of buds.

A WALK IN THE SUNSHINE...

We had quite a bit of rain last night but today the sky was blue and cloudless. I decided I'd take a walk in the Maroochy Botanic Gardens to see what I could see. It's a great spot for a picnic with many seating areas. The 82 hectare site is broken down into different areas like wetlands, sculpture gardens, moss garden with marked walks. Lots of flowers and greenery of course there. Lots of people too. Note to self, next time go much earlier and during the week if you want peace and quiet.

 Away from the screaming kids, shrieking girls and loud cricketers & golfers (next door to the gardens) I did manage a couple of snaps of birds.  In the gloom of the rainforest area they haven't turned out as well as I'd like. The first is a turtle dove of some sort which looks very different to the ones I see around home [edit Oct 2020: Older and wiser me knows it's a bar-shouldered dove and a white-browed scrub wren]. Top right is a tiny wee little bird which was leaping around in the undergrowth and generally being uncooperative (no idea what it is).  A small yellow wren or similar flitted around tantalisingly close sometimes but managed to avoid my lens. At least the  wicker whipbird sculpture sat still for me. 

Of course, there are lots and lots of sculptures scattered throughout. There's also a python which can give you a fright the first time you set eyes on it. You'll have to go see them all for yourself.

 On the left is Phaius tancarvilleae a large swamp orchid which is almost ready to flower. They are quite beautiful and well worth the trek out there to see them (in my opinion anyway). Top right is the Rusty Kurrajong and a pretty little ground cover which is probably a weed.  :) 

I think the top white flower is a geraldton wax but I could be wrong. Same shape but different colour. The bees didn't care. On the right is hardenbergia which is out everywhere in the bush at the moment.  Below are violets, on the right is the native violet which doesn't have a fragrance and I thought the one on the left was some exotic, endangered plant but apparently I was looking at the wrong label.  That's one thing I was disappointed in;  lots of plants not labelled.

SHARING ART ON FACEBOOK CHALLENGE....

My lovely sister Pam from Cloth and Creation and Nest In The Attic nominated me for a "Share your art on Facebook Challenge" where I had to share my art and nominate someone else each day.  I thought I'd share the photos I put up with you...

 

 This night blooming cactus is quite magnificent and for the past few months it has been flowering madly, on and off.  Whenever I drive past I always look to see if it's budding up.  The plant is very tall, standing at least 3 metres.

These photos were taken at night  but look at the number of buds. It will still be in flower in the early morning. Unfortunately, this morning it was pouring with rain here so I went back to bed instead of heading over to see if I could get a clearer shot.  Maybe tomorrow...

A cooperative common crow butterfly sat for a while so I could get a shot, unlike a few other more colourful specimens who were just too quick for me.

 

I took this photo of a little wattlebird just before a couple of rambunctious rainbow lorikeets chased him off.

That's a blade of grass this tiny orange dragonfly is perched on.  I'm surprised I even saw him, let alone managed to shoot.

 

This ugly brute greeted me as I came up to my front door last night.  It has set up home close to the door and gave me a fright. I often get caught in what remains of its web each day but fortunately it removes itself during the day.  Ikkkkk! I console myself with the thought of wasps and mozzies it's probably dispatching each night.  Hopefully...

 

I also included some photos of other art and crafts I do.  These are a couple of my favourite ceramic pieces I've made over the years. I particularly love the spanish lantern on the right.  A lot of work went into carving and painting windows and doors to let out the candle light.

I started this painting in acrylic of a monsteria delicio a while back and I'm taking my time finishing it.  I noticed the other day that I've damaged the canvas at some stage so it will be mine all mine... eventually.

Any actual mosaic artists should look away now!  

This is the beginnings of a wall planter I'm working on using smashed china (at least I've started, I tell myself) which will have a couple of cacti or succulents in it when it's finished.  I foolishly didn't work out a design before beginning and as the thickness of the china varies so much I think I'll have to start again with a different bedding glue.  But one day it will be finished.

SOME FLYING FLOWERS....

Last week I was driving on the Bruce Highway and there were enormous numbers of butterflies of all colours flying across the traffic in a westerly direction.  Unfortunately, I (and hundreds of other motorists) hit a few and felt bad. Why can't they fly higher?  Anyway, since then there seems to have been more of these flying flowers (see quotation at the end of the post) around.  I also just missed getting a snap of a blue triangle butterfly the other day. By the time I got back out there with my camera, he was flying over the house, never to be seen again.  

Read about the butterfly migration here. Included in that article is this fellow, the blue tiger butterfly. Pam posted a much more colourful photo of one back in 2010 but this is the first time I've seen one.   Apparently their colours fade as they age so perhaps this one is elderly.

 My daughter and I were exploring the Buderim Forest again from the other end and saw a pink butterfly tree which is also the favourite food of the Ulysses butterfly so I was delighted to see someone (although not the Ulysses) having a feed.

A large citrus butterfly lived up to its name by enjoying a perch on my lime tree.  It seemed particularly partial to that one lime and I disturbed it so many times I eventually just left it and hoped I had enough shots to satisfy my curiousity.  

Not sure if it's my imagination because I couldn't see any eggs the next day, but it looked to be trying to lay eggs as you can see from this close up.

Love the colours in the wings...

 ... and even more inside the wings.

 Lastly, although not a butterfly, I present this blue or azure damsel fly, snapped on a bright green lily pad. It was quite a distance away so a little hard to be sure if it's blue, azure or something else.

He was very tiny as you can appreciate so I was very pleased to get a half-way decent shot of him. Love those little pads coming through too.

And to top it off, these are the very pretty (tiny) white water snowflake lilies that grow up from those pads.

The butterfly is a flying flower, The flower a tethered butterfly... 

Ponce Denis Ecouchard Lebrun