I Can't Imagine...

I can't imagine my garden without my small flock of chickens free ranging. Even though they may interrupt what I am doing, like they did over the weekend. My raking was put on hold while Nova settled down for a spot of sun bathing. She's looking rather bedraggled as she's moulting. She's some bald patches as well as parts where her new pin feathers are coming through. 

As I carried on raking elsewhere another garden helper showed up, a magpie who's taken to sleeping under the patio. Both the chickens and magpie follow me around for the same reason, raking stirs up insects, which means tasty treats. 

After I completed the raking of the back garden I decided I was going to clean the chickens mirror. They love to gaze at their reflections each morning after grooming.

 Trouble was they had all decided to settle down here for a group sunbathing session.

So I left them be, content to sit nearby watching them. 

My girls are extremely close, there's seldom any bickering between them. It brings me endless joy knowing they live free lives. They have a garden to wander each and every day, never confined to a cage or small enclosure. Over the years various people have suggested that I keep them confined, obviously this advice went ignored. I can't imagine having depressed chickens locked up in a coop for their entire existence. 

They might eat some plants and dig little furrows everywhere, but they also keep the garden healthy by eating bugs, snails and even an occasional mouse if they find one.

Mostly though, they bring happiness...

 

Titivaing...

Titivaing the front garden and shifting the dynamics somewhat has brought a new energy to the area. I created different rooms in my garden, I like to say rooms because like being in a house my garden has different sections that aren't separated by doors, rather foliage.

 Each area different from the others.

The front garden is a quieter secluded area. It's here under the ponds that some of the quendas have made their home. Also the smaller birds like the silver eye, pardalotes and new Holland honey eaters frequent this area in larger numbers.

There's also several pairs of bronzewings who prefer dwelling here. 

It's a lovely place to sit with a book; not that I ever get any reading done. I am constantly distracted by what happens around me.

Mostly I bring my coffee out and just be.

Soaking up the vibrant energy from the plants and the grandmother tree who towers above all, it's a very healing space.

It's here that I am going to plant a selection of spring bulbs. I really miss the springtime displays of daffodils and crocus that would dazzle each village and city in spring in England.

Here that's not something one sees.

So I decided to create my own mini spring bulb display. 

This is the right time to plant, and I shall do so over the next couple of days. And then I shall wait for the warmer weather to return once again, prompting the bulbs to sprout...

 

The Milk Trees...

The milk trees were in flower and I didn't notice in time, I only caught the tail end of their blooming. Some had already finished flowering and were turning into little balls. It's difficult to get a good photo as the trees are all really tall now...

 

The Sky...

The sky was absolutely mesmerising one particular day earlier on in the month. Clouds came and went lazily drifting. The day was warm, it was a perfect day for sky gazing. I stopped several times to capture the moments above me.

I sky gaze everyday. 

I always have.

By gazing at the sky I realise how insignificant and tiny I am in universe.

Not in a negative kind of way. 

More in awe.

I remember once walking along in the shallow warm salty water of the Indian Ocean, gazing upwards I felt so seen and so connected in that moment. 

Seen by the guiding presence of the unseen force of all creation. 

I feel this connection all the time; yet stilling myself for a few moments always enhances my connection to Source, the Mother of all...

 

A Single...

A single seed pod caught my attention as I was walking. 

It looked vulnerable here on its own. 

I wondered if the seed will actually complete it's journey to germination then to seedling and onto sapling before eventually becoming a tree...

 

Golden Sap...

Golden sap dribbling from a pine tree had attracted a copious amount of bees. Although not a source of food for the bees the sugary sap is collected to make propolis which serves to protect and seal the hive.

 I was actually having lunch out and purposely sat at the table right next to this tree. 

I was enthralled watching the bees working tirelessly harvesting the sap. No one else seemed even mildly interested in this amazing sight. Actually I don't really think any other diners actually noticed at all...