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I was driving around the back of my block in the afternoon a few days ago and paused for a few minutes. The thing that was not immediately apparent was the amazing amount of insects. Bees, Flying Ants, Butterflies, Dragon Flies and a lot of smaller insects as well. The photo makes it look like there are just plants but the reality is that there was this whole world of activity between the plants, the ground, the air and insects. Nothing turned into everything.

JX 10th Oct 2024 

A short walk this morning over a rarely visited part of my block and found a variety of Fungi. It has been a wet Summer so far and this morning felt quite tropical. Perhaps this is why there were a range of different types? I found them interesting and am pleased that they add to the diversity of this particular property.

7th January 2024 

A forecast cool change was on its way after an extremely hot day and a 3 day build up. The clouds began to build up just on dusk. The photos were taken looking towards the western skyline. As it turned out, there was 9mm of rain overnight.

25/2/2023

After a few warmer days and the Weather Bureau forecasting evening storms the clouds let everyone who was outside know that something was brewing. There is always something to see in clouds whether it is the early grey glimpses of approaching rain or the denser clouds trying to stop the sunset breaking through.
And now, two hours later, lightning, wind and rain.

JX  9th November 2022

With a wet winter about to end the first of the native wildflowers & Orchids are appearing. This is a rewarding personal time for me with years of no domestic stock and the efforts to encourage more wildflowers beginning to show.
There are quite a few Euros & Kangaroos who seem intent on damaging some of the young tree seedlings but overall they seem to leave the wildflowers alone. Apart from jumping on them. Lots of visible ant activity at ground level, there is always the falling of branches & sometime trees, just those ongoing bushland cycles.

The main highlight in October was the annual wildflower display. I missed getting any photos of the range of native orchids this year but was able to get some of the flowers. More of those photos will be displayed in the 'Images' section of this site at a later date.
For info, each year I try and grab a few seeds from some of the easier plants and scatter them. Bit by bit the volume of wildflowers has been increasing.

JX 15th November 2020 

As is normal this time of year weather fluctuations have resulted in both reasonable rainfalls & strong winds at times.
General observations have been that there is a bit more Salvation Jane than previously, new tree & shrub plantings have gotten off to a good start, a slight overall decline in Rabbit numbers & some of the 2-3 year old trees being damaged by male Kangaroos. Seems to be much more birdlife, a few younger Kangaroos & the first snake for Spring. Plus that constant variety of clouds.

It was a balmy evening tonight. There was some drizzle, areas of fog or mist, about 15 degrees C and getting dark as I drove around the back of my block ie YackaYacka. There were glimpses of the Freeway Interchange at Totness, the top track, the misty fog on the Ridgeline, a weird reflection of a tree in my rear vision mirror - thanks brake lights. There is also another image which shows some patches of white & a large tree in the background. The white patches are actually shredded scrap paper from our office. I use it to try and help revegetation on an area of water repellant soil.

Over the last 6 months I have seen & photographed quite a range of unusual cloud formations. Straight lines? Smoke signals? Fascinator Style?

Why should this be the case? There does not seem to be a common theme to them apart from the fact that they were not rain clouds? As always they are nature on display.

JX 4th May 2020

Some November 2019 photos of the much admired Bondleigh Hall at Bondleigh of all places.

JX 7/1/2020

These images show the range of colours & images that are visible in the western sky sometimes from YackaYacka. These photos were taken late 2019.

JX 4/1/2020

In a matter of 10 hours there was a dramatic change in the sky at Littlehampton yesterday. From an unseasonal hot Autumn dust storm there was a transition to blue sky and and some clouds drifting in,  Apart from the obvious change in colour, it was the improvement in air quality that was the most noticeable.
JX 12/4/2018

A quick drop back into home today and there was a chance sighting of a visiting deer and several of the local Euros. They both stayed still long enough to let me grab these pictures.

It was a month of many contrasts was November. From cool days to cold mornings to very warm days. Was a month of many snakes with 3 being seen close to the house & shed. Was a lot of bird activity, especially from Kookaburras. Lots of Kangaroos, Wallaroos & Euros around. Looks like lots of Joeys on the way. There were lots of wildflowers as well but no photos this year.

As car drivers we all have that rare occasion to use our vehicles horn.
Sometimes to say hello  like an acoustic wave, sometimes to alert other drivers, to say watch out for others and sometimes to warn, threaten, shout at?
A Toot is a cheeky hello I can see you and is normally accompanied by a smile and a wave.
A Honk is a caring raised voice, to warn someone - be careful and stay safe.

This was a month where I had the chance to vist some of the local wine and beer makers close to Littlehampton & Hahndorf. Prancing Pony micro brewery at Totness (Hahndorf side of Littlehampton) has expanded and sells their full range of craft beers plus has some meals & burgers etc. The flavours are quite unique and the popularity is growing.
The Lane is a place I alway love to visit and when there I always think of the word provenance ie the story behind what you see. More about this in a later post I think.
John April 2015