matouenpeluche

Waratah Blossom

I was lucky enough today to have my very first wild encounter with the beautiful New South Wales State floral emblem: the Waratah. Its scientific name is Telopea speciosissima. The Australian National Herbarium explains that Telopea comes from the Greek telopos meaning "seen from afar", and speciosissima comes from the latin for 'beautiful' or 'handsome'. The common name 'waratah' is from the original Eora people. Seeing a wild waratah in the bush was on my wish list, so I was totally thrilled when my companion pointed it out to me on a walk today!    

Information from the Australian National Herbarium.

Sydney: late August flora and fauna

A large pelican (are they any other size?)balancing comfortably on tree stump by a local lake,  Eggs and Bacon (Heathy Parrot Pea), Grey Spider-flower, Native Lilac (False Sarsparilla), a kookaburra, Heath Fuchsia with a backdrop of Showy Boronia and a rare pink Spider Flower.

Close Encounters...

...of the furred kind. 

Calico Kitten

Making shapes in the sun - a calico kitten relaxing.