The Illawarra Flame Tree...

The Illawarra flame tree is a large deciduous tree native to the east coast subtropical rainforests of Australia.

I encountered this one a week or so ago and it stopped me in my tracks. 

Although it's nearly finished flowering, the tree was still strikingly beautiful. And the carpet of red on the ground from the fallen blooms was also really lovely.

The fruit had me curious, as the pods are extremely large. 

The large seeds are edible, normally they are cooked before eating as that removes the hairs. They are rich in protein and taste like peanuts.

Traditionally, the inner bark was utilised for a number of things, such as string for making fishing nets. 

I also found the leaves really lovely, I had to zoom in with my camera to get a closer look.

Now I know where this one is, I will visit at different times during the year to capture it's shifting beauty throughout the seasons...

 

Chirriger Kwilla...

Chirriger Kwilla An Exploration of Noongar Totems is an exhibition by two highly regarded Noongar artists Peter Farmer Snr and Peter Farmer Jnr.

Chirriger (Blue Wren) and Kwilla (Great White Shark) are the personal ancestral totems of the artists. 

The size of each painting really brought out the magnificence of each piece. Totems are passed down through lineage and serve as spiritual emblems, while defining a person's role and responsibility in the community. The totems are also connected to cultural lore.

They also provide kinship and balance, as protection of the totem in the environment is taken seriously to protect a species. 

The aboriginal people lived in harmony with their environment for thousands of years as the totems encouraged sustainable practices and a deep affinity to the environment. 

This exhibition gave me chills as subtle messages from the works entwined with my soul. 

Each piece was as spectacular as the next, a true masterclass in traditional aboriginal art...

 

 

I Was...

I was completely enthralled yesterday watching one single bee as it flew from bloom to bloom. The flowers it was drawn to was one of the salvias in the garden. I've planted a few more plants with purple hues, in a hope of getting more native blue-banded bees come into the garden. But actually, I just love bees, and know how important they are for the survival of the planet. I find it hypnotic watching bees and other insects flitting about in the garden, a a wonderful way to ground myself and be thankful for this wonderful life giving garden I have nurtured into existence...

 

The Sky...

The Sky has put on a spectacular New Year's Day display with a 22° halo around the sun.

 22° halos are formed when sunlight passes through ice crystals in the atmosphere. 

These sun halos happen quite frequently, yet every single time I see them I am always stopped in my tracks. 

The clouds today also made for some rather mystical dreamy views too...