matouenpeluche

The Bush is Alive...

...with the sound of buzzing. Particularly popular this fine Spring are the pretty pink wax flowers.

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.

Crimson Rosella

The ridiculously good-looking Crimson Rosella - accessorised with gum blossom.

Showy Boronia and July flora and fauna (part II)

Below is the first Boronia of the season: Showy Boronia. It's absolutely everywhere in some parts of the bush at the moment.

Below are more July (mostly!) flora and fauna. From top left: Pine-leaf Geebung (actually I took this photo in February, but only recently found the name for this flower), more wattle currently in bloom, a Phebalium squamulosum type flower out now, a Snow Wreath, Blackeyed Susans, bundled Guinea Flowers, a very large and industrious echidna foraging for food in a park I visited recently, a cobalt blue Dampiera triloba.

Sydney flora and fauna: July

Top left hand corner and down as follows: Acacia longifolia or Sydney Golden Wattle, Slender Rice Flowers (a lot along bush paths but only in one park!), Sweet Wattle, a mum Swamp Wallaby (joey in pouch), Long-leaved Fivecorners, Gingko tree, white duck, and black and white duck.

Mr and Mrs Little Corella

This is Mr and Mrs Little Corella in a coral tree.

A Little Pied Egret

This is a Little Pied Egret (or Pied Heron) - enjoying the company of two robust looking pink water lilies.

Dove and snow drops

A Dove out for a stroll amongst snow drops.

A Gentleman Gouldian Finch

First there was the Lady Lady Gouldian Finch and now her husband, the Gentleman Gouldian Finch. Also, he is perched in front of a suitable flower. The flower is the Sturt's Desert Rose which is the Northern Territory State emblem which is principally from where he hails. They are also know as Rainbow Finches by the way.