From One Natural...

From one natural oasis to another, switching the wild rugged bushland to my own garden after my hike.

In August my garden was definitely filling with colour, and I stopped to watch a couple of bees as I sipped coffee after my adventure. 

There are always rose chested cockatoos in the garden, I feel these are scouts sent to keep an eye on me should the chickens be getting any treats. Being free-range my chickens get fed in different places to dissuade and confuse the native birds from invading their seed.

Now that theres a solid understory around the whole garden has seen my quenda colony increase. I can tell a couple of them apart by discoloured fur and one has a stumpy tail. 

There's a constant stream of joeys appearing, so I have succeeded in what I set out to do.

Create a safe place for wildlife.

When I first moved in and began the planting process, people I knew at the time were trying to get me to plant a food forest.

Well I did.

Just not for me.

My garden was for the wildlife.

I feel this is my greatest achievement in life.

Taking a barron sandy piece of land and turning into a haven for native wildlife. 

When I first arrived there was hardly any shade, and very little plant life. 

Now it's just how I imagined it to be.

A small untamed natural nook a constant source of wonderment and beauty.

A place that's become home to many birds who nest in the foliage and bathe in the many water bowls and birdbaths dotted about.

Where bobtail goannas also dwell.

And most especially where tiny marsupials have set up dens also in various parts of the garden. Their happy zoomies always making me laugh as they hop about in what seems to be endless contentment.

How blessed am I to have my very own quendas living alongside me...

 

In August...

In August I took myself on a morning hike at John Forrest National Park. There are numerous tracks at the park, and mostly I favour the hidden entrances the locals like to keep secret. 

This particular day however, I drove to the main entrance and took a short stroll on the newly installed bridge, before heading off onto a track that I had actually never noticed before.

 This pathway took me up the side of a hill and gave wonderful views of endless forest.

 There were also some marvellous granite boulders which did tend to tease me into venturing closer. 

Although tempting, I tend to stick to the tracks, this helps protect the bushland from disease which can be transferred from footwear.

As the weather had been unseasonably warm this winter, many of the plants were in flower. Some were only budding up, others though were in full glorious bloom. 

There were plenty of birds about and bees, I didn't however see any kangaroos. 

The water was extremely low in the stream that runs through this part of the park for this time of year, but at least there was enough to create a gentle flow, the trickling melody along with rustling leaves was deeply relaxing as I strolled by. 

Being midweek I had the place pretty much to myself, I prefer it this way. It's easier to tune into the the forest energy when there are no other people around. 

As is my way, I stop to take in the many wonders I passed. 

I always seem to notice so many scenes that tantalise my senses, be it a bird high on a branch in the distance to moss or flowers, I notice everything. 

I was going to split this post into two parts, but I decided not to as it breaks the flow.

I hadn't realised how much had captured my attention, and even after deleting those images that I wasn't happy with, there's still plenty to take you on a long midwinter meander through the stunning Western Australian bushland...