 |
| Look for the birdie near the middle |
Shortly after we moved into this house, in 1997, we planted a flowering gum called "Summer Beauty" on the nature strip, next to the road.
While the tree was still a sapling, a novice bicycle rider knocked one of the branches off. It changed the shape of the tree forever, meaning that the majority of the flowers face the road.
It is always pretty in flower but this year the tree seems to be flowering more gloriously than it ever has and though I can't see it all the time I am noticing that it is connecting me with the outdoors at all times of the day.
Right now I can hear the lorikeets feeding on it. While the blossom is heavy they will be there, calling to each other for most of the day, every day and then at night the fruit bats will come. Doors and windows are open with the hope that any small breeze might blow away the humidity. The sounds of the bats squabbling into the night and swooshing great wings is so close that I feel I could reach an arm out and touch one
What an absolutely glorious sight. Nature is so often solace and heart balm for me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it!
DeleteGorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThere is also a stunning red variety, sometimes I wish I had that one :)
DeleteLorikeets are more desirable to have than fruit bats to my way of thinking, but what do I know? That tree is absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSmall numbers of fruit bats are ok, large numbers become a pest.
Deletewelcome, by the way!
DeleteSpectacular!
ReplyDeleteYes and the photos don't quite show it the way it is in real life, maybe some of the blossom dropped before the picture was taken
DeleteThat is beautifully pink! Love the colourful bird in the midst of it all.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to imagine that such bright colours make good camouflage, isn't it? but they really do
DeleteThe urge to reach out and touch a bat is surely dangerous. The bat might bite you and basically they are just flying rodents. It's lovely that you planted that tree yourself - well most probably your husband did!
ReplyDeleteyes, i'm sure he did. he does most things better than i do.
DeleteAustralian fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are lovely and i would be happy to touch one, except if it carried lyssa virus which is usually an equine disease and kills quickly........
And we are in the midst of our winter! Milder than what we have in the Northern parts of India, but at around a minimum of 10.0 Deg Cel, cold enough to warrant warm clothes and quilts to cover ourselves in the nights.
ReplyDeleteYour tree with the fowers look beautiful. We too have a bush that has hibiscus flowers showing almost all of them facing the road. We do get some inside too though.
Just yesterday, we harvested the first crop of turmeric from our little patch of vegetable garden grown by my daughter in love. I am expected to give a recipe to use it tomorrow. We have some grand dishes for the winter with green turmeric when the fresh crop is plentiful.
10 degrees C is quite cold but lovely for sleeping if you have warm bedding! I'm a little bit jealous :)
DeleteMy son Keaghan tried to grow turmeric but it went mouldy in the ground, just like his garlic. We are not great gardeners but we have had some good pumpkins and tomatoes over the years.
I haven't heard of using green turmeric, what a shame I'm not there to try it!
Every flower, every tree, every thought that praises them is worthy and to be beautiful as well is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteit's a good thing to look for beauty, I must do more of it!
Delete