So Many New Surprises In The Garden Today

20 years ago

Its wonderful to walk around the garden and come across so many different things. So now I have my camera hanging from my neck when I get up and let the chooks out as its then when I see the most interesting things in the cool of the morning as I do the rounds. First I check on the veggies and who would be in amongst the cucumbers is some of our resident Eastern Dwarf Tree frogs "Litoria fallax" they are those very small ones 2mm long so cute:

Very well camouflaged it if wasn't for the eyes I would not have seen it.

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And as I look through the vine I find its mate so I took a pic of it also:

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And as I pass the big gum trees I hear this strange noise and when I look up there are these two brown/grey blobs, I know what they are !! I was so excited as I race into the house to get my telephoto lens I have always wanted a pic of these Owls they only come around for two days a year and how lucky can I be to see them right then. Not a very good pic as they were really high up but I think they are Tawny Frogmouth Owls, mind you the shorter one looks more like a dog or a cat...

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And as I continue on my way towards my two Cassia Fistula trees that I grew from seeds that I bought down with me from my tree in Townsville, who would be there again but these jolly green caterpillars I take heaps off them every day but this one I must have missed as its a bit on the big side, Opps wrong lens so I race into change it so I get a better pic of this muncher, now no more:

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Moving on toward the front of the block I could not believe my eyes after two and a half years one of my Wisteria's decide to flower and in the Summer, I though that very strange but a wonderful surprise all the same:

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I have to watch where I tread here as the ground covers are alive and buzzing with the sound of

the bees all busy there doing what bees do best:

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And as I make my way down the long driveway I see this flash of colour and another surprise

my latest Hibiscus has finally flowered just the one flower but its a start.

Hibiscus Orange Flame:

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I wonder what I will find on my early stroll around the garden tomorrow morning.

No damage I hope as we had a terrific Thunderstorm a few hours ago....Cheers..MM

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Comments (15)

peter1968
20 years ago
Great photos, especially of the frogmouths. The one on the right has the most curious expression on its furry face.
User
Original Author
20 years ago
Made a mistake Sorry!! Those cute frogs are 2cms long,
Not 2mm like I wrote...MM.
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tinahere
20 years ago
wow great photos YL....aren't you lucky to have so many little creatures around!! It's like getting a birthday surprise every day!!!!! thanks for showing us all....Tina
hollakes
20 years ago
What a wonderful story I can actually put myself in your place as I read and look at the great photo's
Bev
youngquinn_gw
20 years ago
That shot of the owls is brilliant, I love the wisteria and frogs but you can keep your caterpillas! Wandering around a garden such as yours would be enough to get me out of bed early too. cheers pam
lakota
20 years ago
The pics of the frogmouths are wonderful. We had to look after an orphaned one once, he was beautiful.
If your wisteria is a japanese variety they actually spot flower in summer normally, mine always have. It sounds like yours just started a little late. Your garden sounds like a wonderful place and with caterpillars and things I bet your chookies get lots of treats.

Cheers, Jules
Kiwi_oz
20 years ago
Isn't it a wonderful life.
Heather
ashmeri
20 years ago
MM, thank you for the wonderous walk in your world.
Knowing that your garden is really so young it is amazing how many creatures have found it to make their home in safety.
The Tawny Frogmouths are great.
Shame the caterpillars are so colourful but I guess it doesn't make you fell guilty when you squish them as they do so much damage, I just love the butterflies but usually dread seeing them in great numbers because of their offspring.
Marion
goldhills
20 years ago
Great photos of the 'wildlife' and beautiful hibiscus, love the way you have descrobed them. Really brings the garden to life. Should put a couple of frogs in your cassias for the caterpillars, just hope the frogmouths don't spot the frogs - not sure if frogs legs are a delicacy for frogmouths, hopefully not.

I haven't had a chance to take photos lately as I have had house guests for a couple of weeks, maybe next week when they leave.
User
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks everyone...What a face Peter yes its different.

HI Tina this OL just loves finding all these little creatures on the block Yes I am lucky.

And Bev just picture your Canna lilies under one of the Gum trees near the bird bath, so beautiful Thanks:

We get lots of Caterpillars here Pam which is surprising with all the birds around, the Butcher Birds get all the moths and the Noisy miners like to get the bugs off the gum trees yet none of them will eat the caterpillars so strange:

You are lucky Jules looking after a TFM Owl that would be a wonderful experience. My two blue and one white Wisteria are Sinensis Chinese, Crazy thing to do in Dec when the temp has been in the mid thirties for a couple of weeks. Would you believe my chooks do not like the green caterpillars , oooohh but they sure like the lawn crubs. How is your mother to be coming on should not be too long now, best of luck for that wonderful advent.

Yes it is a wonderful life Heather and Lifes wonderful here too.

Marion I used to feel that way to, but not anymore those Caterpillars are quite welcome to 1/4 of everything but they are so greedy they want it all. We have lots of tall gums trees here Marion , most of what I have planted are still short, lack of rain I wish they would grow.

Hi GH if I put a little frog on that cassia that may cause a problem, would you believe that those caterpillars are longer than the frogs and wouldn't that make a good pic one of those in the mouth of a tiny frog. No chance of the Owls finding the frogs ( I hope ) too much camouflage and up different ends of the block, I went out and had a look they are gone now...MM.
annie_____
20 years ago
Great photos!!
and lucky you! you get TWO owls.
keep 'em coming!
User
20 years ago
Wonderful...isn't nature great. (With a little bit of help from you of course!) Those owls and frogs are delightful.
Cheers,
Dee.
danielkemp
20 years ago
Hi MM! I have not been able to sleep so came to the computer to check out some stuff. Then I thought "I bet MM will have some nice photos" and I was right. Thank you! Daniel
ginnybee
20 years ago
Yes they are lovely pics. MM I just love frogs live & fake in the garden, love the owls where we lived before they lived in our house paddock all year but I didn't have a digital camera then, I love that Hybiscus it is just lovely
Jan.
barbarah_70
20 years ago
Superb set of photos and a wonderful narrative.

So Many New Surprises In The Garden Today

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