Different views

This Abutilon (Chinese Lantern) is covered in beautiful deep red flowers for at least 10 months of the year.

The elusive sunlight shining through the leaves of the Cercis (Forest Pansy) is so hard to capture in a photo - but I'll keep trying.

Malus (Crab Apple) blossom fully open. What more could one ask for in a flowering tree - shape, compactness, attractive foliage, and the flowers are glorious - and the bees love them.

Cotinus (Smoke Bush)

I have a habit of always photographing the garden from the same places, so today I opted for some different views.

Banksia rose spilling over the back fence.

Flowering eucalypt, just outside the fence.

The open space between our garden and the next suburb.

Looking towards the house and vegetable garden area.

Fruit trees with grapevines beginning to show through the pickets.

The back yard.

Jasmine over the back gate and espaliered pear and apple trees, which do a wonderful job of protecting that wall (our bedroom) from the hot westerly sun.

The front garden - from ground level.

Is it 'Where's Wally'? No, ........

.... it's 'Where's Luca'?

Definitely the loveliest 'flower' in the entire garden.

The Vagaries of Nature

Just outside our garden stands this lovely eucalypt now bearing the prettiest of pink flowers.

Alas, the white cockatoos also find it very attractive. Whilst they may obtain a small amount of something edible from these trees, most of their activity is sheer wanton destruction. They can lay waste to a huge eucalypt, a tree bearing fruit, an ornamental tree in blossom, or your favourite shrub in a matter of days.

They are magnificent looking birds, but I'm not sure that this is enough to redress the damage they do.

However, Mother Nature always has a few surprises up her sleeve, like this very colourful frilled-necked lizard just sunning himself nearby.

In the Garden this weekend ....

Crab apple in bud - should be in flower in a couple of days.

Crepe Myrtle just shooting in the front of yellow daisy.

Lavatera

Acanthus

Lamium and bluebells

Centranthus (Red Valerian)

Broom and white alyssum

Mixed shrubbery

Bronze fennel and yellow osteospermum

Bronze fennel, euphorbia and erimophola

Silver-leafed Pyrethrum

Osteospermum and mixed shrubs

Osteospermum (African daisies) and Californian Poppies

Another Malus (Crab Apple)

White alyssum and blue ajuga

Californian poppies growing wild

Smoke bush and Japanese maple behind.

Yellow Banksia Rose

Cotinus (Smoke Bush)

Lavender and daisies

Roses, lemons and lavender

Bluebells

Vegies - carrots, parsnips, beetroot, broad beans

Ladies and Gentlemen...

... may I introduce 'Rossini'.

He is about 4 years old. His parents, 'Scruffy' and 'Buddy' were our constant visitors all one summer, demanding to be fed first thing in the morning and then serenading us throughout the day as they perched on the backs of the outdoor chairs.

We named Rossini after Gioachino Rossini, a popular early 19th century Italian composer; one of his operas being 'The Thieving Magpie'.

We chose wisely. This magpie isn't a thief, but he certainly is 'musical'. Richard has often been regaled with his extensive repertoire whilst working in the garden, but I hadn't heard the full 'concert' until yesterday.

The beautiful magpie warble was interspersed with many other bird calls including parrots, plovers, sparrows, as well as dogs barking, human voices, cars and even an ambulance siren in perfect pitch.

I know that magpies are noted for being good mimics but the range of sounds that Rossini has acquired is amazing. He has even copied the special way in which Richard whistles to him.

He is quite tame and will come into the house if the door is left open and when he's hungry he runs along the brick path, hops up the five steps up onto the deck, and pecks on the familyroom door.

We hope he stays and serenades us for many years.

The Joy of Rain ...

... followed by the Beauty of the Rainbow.

A Meme with a difference

Susan, of Patchwork Reflections sent a fun meme to try.

Here are the instructions:

* Grab the nearest book.
* Open the book to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post the text of the next two to five sentences in your blog along with these instructions.
* Don’t dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.
* Tag five other people to do the same

The closest book to me, apart from the dictionary, was one given to me by a very dear friend, entitled 'The Eternal Hills' by Donna Spooner Tanney (some of you will now be able to guess who the dear friend is).

Page 56.

"I pretend I'm brave, too, but when Hank's gone, and I'm alone, I get to thinking about what could happen, when the baby comes.

Hank is doing right well on the farm. Our grain and garden look first rate. His harness business is doing great, and I dassn't say anything to upset him. He is so good to me.

I'm getting quite a stock of baby things sewed up, and some knitted sweaters and booties, too. It's a January baby, so he'll need them. Say hello to all the girls and tell them they're going to be aunts! I miss you all."

Now to ask 5 other bloggers:

I could ask Kerri as she knows the above excerpt off by heart, but she has already been asked, so instead I shall choose:

Noella

Tanya

Shannon

Shelly

Marion

"Meals on Wheels" - grandchildren style!

Zoe, Shay and Luca had a sleepover here this week.

It's always a pleasure to have them, especially as their food preference never varies - mashed potatoes with their dinner, and boiled eggs for breakfast. It seems that there is a certain lack of these items in their home diet - (they're really quite easy to make, Shelly).

A lovely sunny morning invited us to breakfast on the deck.

Although the table is a little way from the kitchen that was not a problem using our Mobile Waitressing Service.

All food was transported skillfully and speedily to the table in the same manner as the tray of toast below.

After breakfast, all items were returned to the kitchen in the same mobile manner.

A busy morning of playing creates an appetite, so the mini chefs did a great job of barbequeing the sausages for lunch.

Garden Vistas

The view from the front door up towards the road. The garden is on three levels.

Under the cherry tree.

Please observe the front lawn whilst it is green - it could be gone in the blink of an eye, or a few hot windy days.

Cherry tree and the water tanks.

Front gardens from the top of the driveway.

White cherry blossom and blue sky - perfect!

African daisies, rocket (in flower) and Californian poppies.

African daisies and rosemary.

That tree again!

Mixed shrubbery.

Another 'statue' !!!

Some vegetables wait for no man, or woman - flowering Bok Choy.

All the vegetable beds are bordered by pansies - a must, according to 'the statue' above!

Broad beans

Perennial wallflower and Pear blossom

Roses and lavender.

Mountain Ashes and unknown daisy

Banksias and gazanias

Osteospermums and gazanias

Ceanothus just budding up.

Daisies and azalea in front garden