Tuesday, March 31, 2009

the weird and the wonderful

Found this stick insect basking in the sunshine. If it hadn't moved I would never have seen it. An amazing creature, looking just like a dry twig.
Here is the Ox tongue lilly in bloom. I took this picture last week and have been waiting for ite leaves to appear so I can show how it gets its name, but it seems to take forever. Having said that, tomorrow they will probably start to emerge from the soil.
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Friday, March 20, 2009

Ox tongue lilly--day of the triffids?


This is the amazing Ox Tongue Lilly, firstly the flower pushes up through the earth and will grow a short stem, then after the flower has finished, two leaves appear, growing opposite each other which look like a long Ox tongue. I had almost forgotten that I planted them in their new sunny position. They had been growing for years under some shrubs, and of course they will not send up a flower without any sunshine. I planted about eight of them, all in the same spot last year, so there may be some others lurking just beneath the surface.
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Friday, March 13, 2009

Flowers that normally bloom in the Spring Tra-la

Before I went into hospital I pruned this tree, a Santa Rosa plum, so that it will be easier to net next fruiting season. We have had an extremely hot summer this year and the trees cant work out just what is going on. This one is in full flower and the bees are buzzing all over it. I cant make it up the hill to inspect the other trees, but Popeye assures me that there are flowers on them as well. Its autumn (fall) here in OZ they are supposed to be shedding their leaves, not flowering !

We lost one of our laying hens to a fox yesterday, the first one in 3 years. Since we keep the female alpacas in the same paddock where we free range the chickens, we have to date been confidant that the hens would be safe from these nasty, foxie beasts. It must have waited until the alpacas were out of sight, over the hill and then made its move. The remaining hens are too scared to venture out this morning. I expect the trauma will affect the number of eggs for a while.
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Sunday, March 8, 2009

I'm back !!

I have been home from hospital now for almost a week after having my right hip replaced. It seems
as if it all went well (will find out for sure on thursday)
Although I haven't felt like posting any blogs, I have however been keeping up with all the favourite blogs that I read, and when I can get around without the aid of a walking frame, I shall beout and about with my camera. Soon will be hip-hopping around town.