Walkies

When are we going walkies? Lucky old Woody is getting quite a few walks at the moment.

Not only are there still a huge amount of wild flowers blooming but there are orchids too.

Above - Cottonheads

Quite a few "bob tail lizards" about too.

Above - Looks reptilian but is in fact the remains of a grass tree (Xanthorea)

I still can't stop taking photos of these beautiful flowers!

Click on the images to see them up close.

Above - Coral Vine

Below - Little Pink Fairy Orchids

Below - Scented Sun Orchid
(Thelymitra Macrophylla)
These Sun Orchids are the reason Woody is getting extra walks.
We usually walk mornings and evenings and the Sun Orchids always seemed to be closed. So we went to look at them in the heat of the day and lo and behold the flowers were fully open. (Hence the name dummy!)


And this one is called Blue Lady Orchid
(Thelymitra Crinita)
We thought all the Cowslip orchids had finished but came across these.

Oh, and Woody made a couple of new friends. But he won't be seeing much of them. They are living at the bottom of the pond now.

They are gilgies, freshwater crayfish.

We'd gone looking for some tadpoles and came back with these.

(We haven't named them yet but one suggestion came up... Gill and Mike?)

Not sure how to attract frogs to our pond but had this idea.
We're going to put a sign up down at the local creek:

Come and view this beautifully landscaped pond:

• alfresco dining;


• multiple lilly pads provide extensive games area;


• three storey reeds with valley views;


• five small fish and two gilgies leasing at present but willing to share...

Be quick! Don't miss out on this one!

Back to the Beach

I am wondering where we're going.

For the last six months all the trips in the car have ended up at the vet's!

Not the park, not the beach, not friends' places - THE VET'S!

There, I had pins stuck in me, a Number One (short hair cut) on both back legs and dreadful things done to them!

And I'm SICK OF IT!

Yyyyyyyyyyyyesssss!

The BEACH ! At last!!!
I can dig holes without getting into trouble!


I can bark at absolutely NOTHING!
And best of all... I can get completely and utterly WET!

So many bums to sniff and so little time!

If she calls me I'm not coming! Throw that stick and I'll show you what a marvellous swimmer I am!

Mum couldn't take her eyes off me (understandably) and oops!

Didn't see that wave coming in .. two 'booties'.

Shoes, socks and jeans all wet and squelchy!

Very funny.

So that's it, eh?

It's all over, Rover.

Why can't we stay all day?

Why can't we live here?

I will make it quite plain that I am extremely unhappy, in a deep deep depression and only a really lovely treat will cheer me up.

I'm tired and depressed - LIFT ME into the car please.

Canine Crooner

It's Sunday afternoon and Glenn and Woody

decide that it's sing-song time.

Here is Woody's rendition of "Moon River"...

Sexy orchids

Click on the photo and zoom in..

if you dare!

There is something very sexy about orchids.

They are so stylish, so feminine, so graceful and elegant.

How can an insect not be attracted to such beauty?

But then, that's the whole idea I suppose!

Colours

Went for a long bike ride on the Kep Track near where we live last Sunday.

I can't help myself but take photos of the wildflowers.

So much variety and colour - it takes my breath away.

The Leschanaultia is one of my favourites.

It is such a vibrant blue - sometimes rich and dark,

sometimes fairer but always the colour of the sky.

The Kangaroo Paw seems to pop up from nowhere and there's lots this year.

This Alpaca looked up at me as I passed. He'd been 'chewing' on the sheep's wool

for some strange reason!

Orchid walk

We went for a glorious walk this morning. We usually respect the natural bush and keep to the firebreaks but today we wanted to look for orchids.

You have to step so carefully.

There could be a tiny gem just where you are about to put a foot.

The main part of this Fringed Mantis orchid is less than a centimetre across.

They stand up to 20cms high.

We have quite a few Cowslip Orchids (above).

Such dear little things.

Exquisite.

When you are walking and suddenly there in front of you is one of these little gems it is like finding treasure.

But I'm English so I had to grow some of these.

They are in a pot on our front step.

And I love them.

Visitors!

When visiting Perth, Western Australia, Kings Park is a must to all visitors.

The park covers one thousand acres and includes natural bushland, grassed parkland, botanical gardens, a tree-top walk, and this time of year a stunning show of Western Australia's wildflowers.

This is as close as Gill got to the tree-top walk!

The photo is very slightly blurred owing to her nerves making the board walk

all of a quiver!

As we stood taking in the magnificence of the wildflowers we were

surrounded with the superb fragrance of Boronia.

There is a wonderful view of the city and the Swan River from Kings Park.
Above are the Everlasting Daisies which always give a stunning show.


Gill and Mike enjoyed walking into town most days.
It's a pleasant bush walk into town which takes about 20 minutes to half and hour depending how fuelled up one is on chocolate coated dates, Cherry Ripes, Freckles, or whatever was in the fridge that took one's fancy!

It has been known for a Cadbury's Flake to magically 'appear' in one's coat pocket!
Amazing!

It's funny how you can live somewhere for years and it's only when you have visitors that you actually get to see the interesting places you've always wanted to see!

One of the places I have always wanted to visit was Araluen.

It must be the best time of year for these gardens. Not only were the tulips in full bloom but we were surrounded by camelias, magnolias, rhododendrons, and blossom.

We took a drive out to a country town called Toodyay (said 'Toojay'). This is a town I have always wanted to have a good look around.

Below is a typical Australian country pub where we had a delicious lunch. Oh, and a very cross beer! That'd be a 4XXXX then?

We did lots of walking around our own property as it is full of wildflowers and orchids this time of year.

Below is Mundaring Weir - considered one of the World's greatest engineering projects and is located 39km from Perth. The Mundaring Weir is the start of a water pipeline that distributes water to agricultural towns in the wheatbelt area, Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. The water is distributed a total of 700 kilometres in all.

C Y O'Connor initiated plans for the Mundaring Weir in 1895 but these were fiercely opposed in Parliament and the approval was not granted until 1898. O'Connor was a victim of vicious campaigns and his plans were subject to vigorous criticism. In March 1902 O'Connor took his own life, partly as a result of the pressures involved with his role in the Mundaring Weir construction. The Mundaring Weir was completed in 1903 and the water scheme changed central Western Australia forever.

We had lunch at the Mundaring Weir Hotel which was built in 1898. Do click on the link as they have a wonderful website.


Mike couldn't get over the fact they have a "Lamb on a Spit" every single Sunday!


The local parrots (above) joined us for lunch, at the table, and are obviously partial to butter!

Another very yummy lunch was enjoyed at Lake Charlotte - our local winery.

Here we had a "Hot Rocks" meal which means your meat or fish is served on a square of volcanic rock which has been heated in the oven. It stays hot enough to keep cooking your meat or fish for 45 minutes and the idea is to cut and cook each piece to your own liking.


Woody enjoyed the company and soon had them

wrapped around his little paw.

(He wears his ears back for special occasions.)
All packed and ready to go, having a rest before the long haul home.
Woody cuddled up and was maybe hoping he could make her stay. Bless.