Sunday Sunset and Monday Sunrise

Hockey.

A few shots taken at hockey on Saturday. For our North American friends, hockey in Australia usually means grass or synthetic grass fields, without a skerrick of ice in sight.

More Friday Photos

Californian Poppies

Grevillea

Calendula

Osteospermum (African Daisy)

Wallflower

Primula

Gazania

Perennial Wallflower 'Winter Joy'

Spring time garden

A sunny Friday afternoon, camera in hand, what can I photograph? I guess the front garden will have to do!

New tulips - white, cream, pink, burgundy and a stray red.


Canadian Maple in the distance with red flowers. Paper Birch in foreground yet to come into leaf.


We're enjoying that patch of green while it lasts.


The gazanias welcoming the sunshine.


Closer view of the C. Maple which provides such stunning colour in the autumn.


View from the roadway.


Hop Bush, Lavatera and Forsythia.

Just too Cute AND Beautiful by half !

Such a fun day with grandson Luca. Sand and water is always a good combination, and the occasional game of 'tennis' with Grandma for variety.




Yesterday I mentioned that we have been visited by an odd pair of Rosellas - one Eastern and one Crimson. They were back today and it would seem by their behaviour that they have actually become a pair. Interesting to speculate on what their babies may be like.

I have lightened the photos a little to shows the colours in their plumage to better effect. In both photos the Crimson Rosella is on the left and the Eastern Rosella on the right. (Please click on the photos for a better view.)

I Couldn't Resist

While working on the deck today the Crimson Rosellas were not shy about flying in for their birdseed. I was able to get to within about a metre of them. For a couple of days we've had a Crimson Rosella quite happily sharing the feeder with an Eastern Rosella. The rosellas are almost invariably in pairs but you don't often see a pair of mixed breeds.

Uninvited visitor

Although these white cockatoos are very striking birds we try to dissuade them from helping themselves to the bird seed. We don't want to encourage them to settle on the roof either in case they take a liking to the woodwork. I've seen photos of houses in a terrible state as a result of those incredibly strong beaks.

Random Pics.

It's a few days now since I posted and I'm not sure just what I've been doing apart from sewing, gardening, mixing potting mix in the cement mixer, babysitting the grandchildren, looking at the exciting exhibits at the Wood and Timber Show (okay, I'm joking), dining out, and even a little housework. So, I'll just have to settle for some random photos of the past week.

ShellyC's peach tree.


Acrobatic Crimson Rosellas.


Nectarine blossom.


Three sunset shots.






Peach Tree surrounded by tomato stakes.

Museum and more...

After our walk through Commonwealth Park on Monday we made our first visit to the National Museum to see a fantastic collection of artifacts from the voyages of Captain James Cook during the late 18th Century. Naturally, we couldn't take photos inside the museum but we took plenty from the outside.

The National Museum of Australia - built on Acton Peninsula, the site of the old Canberra Hospital.


View across the lake to Parliament House - flagpole visible above the trees.


Black Mountain and Tower.


I'm sure this seagull was enjoying the scenery, too.


View towards the city.


Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.


Windswept trees along the lake's shoreline.


This plaque is built on the site of several sporting facilities that were submerged when the Molonglo River was dammed in the late 1960s to form Lake Burley Griffin. These facilities included the racecourse, hockey fields and golf course. Also lost forever beneath the waters of the lake were several farms, many homes and the Springbank Dairy.


Nearby Springbank Island, site of the lost dairy.



On a sad note, I will remember Steve Irwin every time I see the museum from now on as we were having lunch there at the time that he passed away. A great loss to Australia, and the world.