LIVING GOLD

Surely the most magnificent site in many Australian gardens at the moment is the beautiful Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta). The flowers can only be described as 'deep gold', definitely not yellow, and they are quite magnificent, especially as they can grow into quite large trees.

UP, UP AND AWAY...

This photo was taken on 20/11, only a matter of hours before this little bird ventured out into the big wide world, following his brother who left a couple of days earlier. Once they came out of the birdhouse it really was up, up and away. No floundering around trying to test their wings - they were off and flying immediately.

You've following the progress of these young Crimson Rosellas since before their birth..........

and now guess what?

Mother has been coming back to the nest in recent days ...

and there are TWO new eggs there now!!!

Gosh, who'd be a female bird?????

Mt Buffalo Chalet and gardens

As mentioned yesterday, part of this beautiful chalet on top of Mt Buffalo was destroyed by bushfire last summer. The chalet has been closed since the end of January 2007 and it's unknown when it will reopen. This is causing much distress and loss of business in the Mt Buffalo area.

We couldn't see where the damage had been, but then, that was nearly 10 months ago. Obviously someone still attends to the property and looks after the beautiful gardens. It's such a shame that no-one is there to appreciate them.

The view from the front verandah.

Anyone need a rock for their garden?

"My, my, that's a BIG world out there!"

At least one of the Crimson Rosella chicks has had a good look at the world today from the safety of 'home'. On two or three occasions a chick would sit halfway out of the birdhouse, surveying the world, whilst the parents sat in the tree within easy reach. We expect them to venture out of the box in the next day or two - whether it's by design or accident, who knows? We're almost certain there are only two live chicks as we can only hear two of them chirping.

A wattle bird has been a mite too inquisitive lately, flying in very close to the box and annoying the parent birds. We're not sure if it will be a danger to the chicks. Our big concern is a stray cat who thinks it has visiting rights; fortunately it has a bell, which we can hear if we're in the vicinity.

Bright to Mt Buffalo

On Friday morning we drove from the beautiful little town of Bright in northern Victoria to Mt Buffalo, one of the highest mountains in that State at some 1333m above sea level.

Cattle grazing on the outskirts of Bright, surrounded by pine covered hills.

Mt Buffalo has seen many summer bushfires but nature has a wonderful way of regenerating the natural bushland. New eucalyptus shoots with brilliant red tips in the sunlight sprout from the base of the old trunk.

The timber thins out above the snow line.

Among the rocks at the summit.

Huge boulders sit precariously on the edge.

A glimpse of the valley below.

More mountain ranges in the smokey distance including Victoria's highest peak, Mt Bogong (1986m) at right of photo.

Overlooking the Kiewa Valley - a very fertile agricultural area.

A few rock climbers were scaling these rocks when we were there.

Burned out, but not dead.

Bracken fern alive and well.

Looking back towards the top of the mountain.

On top of Mt Buffalo is a beautiful chalet which was damaged in last summer's bushfires and has been closed ever since. In my next posting I will show photos of this chalet and the lovely gardens.

Almost 'no room at the inn'

It must get very crowded in here when the parent birds come to feed the babies. The tail feathers of the third chick can be seen at the top of the photo. I could see two birds breathing but not the other one; I hope it's still alive.

Surely it can't be long now before they try out those little wings. We'll really have to be on the alert for stray cats then!

"The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring, tra la..."

.... well, a few of them anyway.

Azalea

Abelia, Smoke bush, Cherry Tree

Smoke bushes, Iceberg roses

Lavatera, Cercis, Grevillea, Petospermum

Beetroot look just as good among the petunias and poppies

Grevillea 'Purple Cloud'

Cotinus 'Grace' in flower

Washed and Watered

There's nothing like a good shower of rain or two, or even a thunderstorm, to freshen the most jaded garden. Even the weeds take on new life ...lol.

Even the galahs and pigeon looked happy.

(...and even the little terracotta bird on the edge of the feeder is washed and watchful...lol.)

What joyful music was the sound of water filling both tanks, which are now flowing over.