The Fluffy Large...

The fluffy large flowers of the possum banksia are gorgeous. I have been hunting for one to plant in my garden for years. The flowers are larger than most other banksias. The colour of the blooms is also rather different to other species of banksias. 

Depending on the soil conditions they grow between 2 metres in height with a width of 3 metres. 

It's sometimes referred to as wooly banksia and is native to the southwest of Western Australia.

Like all banksias these nectar rich flowers attract an array of honeyeaters and insects.

My search continues to find a nursery that actually has any for sale...

 

Apart From...

 Apart from one missing tile this unique mural is a great work of art. 

The image had been expertly etched into each individual tile. 

Each matches up perfectly, which made me wonder were the tiles put up before the image was done? 

Or prior to installation?

Xanthorrhoea, commonly known as grass trees are iconic Australian plants.

There are several species of grass trees throughout Australia and their height varies from one to six metres.

They are extremely slow growing, growing only 1 cm per year. 

The mature grass trees seen today are likely between 350 - 450 years old. They have developed adaptations to assist them surviving in Australia's often harsh environment, their trunks are insulated by dead leaves, this protects the living growth point during bushfires. Some are even stimulated by fire, and will produce larger numbers of flowers after being burnt.

They also have a symbiotic relationship with fungi in their root system. This helps to nourish the plant in soil that is nutrient poor.

 Although, a particular fungus, cinnamon fungus  is deadly to grass trees, which causes rot and dieback. 

I have mentioned before that these trees have a unique presence, when I am surrounded by them I can feel their ancient energy. 

They have strong vibration and often when standing near them I feel seen. 

They tend to grow in colonies where their varied shapes and sizes makes for some outstanding bushland vistas...

Being Mesmerised...

Being mesmerised by the sky is a daily occurrence and often a distraction when driving. Especially when rainbows are glistening in front of me.

I am also somewhat obsessed with clouds.

I have remarked many times about how a clear blue sky lacks personality.

Clouds give more than just shade and the promise of rain. 

They offer interest and depth as well as variations of how the sunlight illuminates the earth.

Many remark on how dismal a cloudy day is. 

I can stare for hours at a cloudy sky, watching the clouds drifting and shifting.

It's a regular occurrence for me to stop and gaze upward completely lost for words as I admire the horizon.

Greatful for my ability to find beauty in the simplest of views, humbled by how minuscule I am in the grand scheme of the Universe...

 

I Noticed...

 I noticed this picture on the wall at the vets during my last visit with Charlie, so thought I'd share it...

A Visit To...

A visit to Tomato Lake at the beginning of May seems like an age ago now, months seem to be zooming past. And I still have so many posts from May to publish, this visit was actually on May 1st. 

 There had been a lot of planting done along the edge of the lake to create habitat for wildlife. I was amazed at how tall some of the plants had become. I had to pause a minute to recollect how long it had been since I had been here. Must have been months, if not a year.

 As always there's plenty to see, I was especially thrilled seeing a nankeen night heron nestled on a branch. It kept glancing and calling out in a particular direction. I then noticed tucked in denser foliage, it's mate and at least one fledgling. It was difficult to see them clearly through the leaves. Their reddish brown plumage gives them a stunning appearance. They are not always easy to see, as they can camouflage really well. It's only the second time I've seen any here.

I was also lucky to see a snake necked turtle out of the water on a tree branch, again this was an extremely lucky sighting, as it was not easy to see...