Thursday 21 November 2013

Simple Pleasures


 I haven't had time to paint just lately as there are other things afoot. So in the meantime I thought I'd post some photos I took the other day of simple things around the house and garden that bring me joy. I was at a garden centre the other day with one of my daughters and we had never seen such ridiculously cute sunflowers before. I couldn't restrain myself from buying one. It is equally beautiful from the back.
The cat that featured in one of my recent paintings is now a very regular visitor.


A ladybird thought it was beautiful too!


The flower below is a native trigger plant (Stylidium) that my mum and dad bought for me recently. You can see some smaller varieties at the base of the larger plant. If you prod the flowers a little hammer is triggered and springs across your fingernail. Of course the hammer wasn't designed with fingernails in mind but instead for visiting insects as a heavy handed tactic to ensure pollination . 

I had only ever seen smaller varieties before I was given this larger specimen. It was in bud at the time and I waited with baited breath to see what the flowers would look like. It seemed they would be huge, with hammers big enough to bruise grown men. In the end they were smaller than anticipated but still beautiful. I feel a bit cruel when I trigger them off because they have to reset themselves. It must take up a bit of energy - particularly after having already expended energy by being cross that it wasn't an insect that had triggered them off in the first place. 


See the tiny little trigger flowers at the base.


We were pleased to have our resident bob-tail goanna visit a couple of days ago. We only see it once or twice a year - usually with its mate. Hopefully its mate is still hale and hearty somewhere in the garden.


They blend in so well with the sand and leaf litter it's no wonder we don't see them more often.


We have a nest with two Wattle bird chicks in it. Huge chicks about the same size as the mother.


I haven't seen them for the past day or so, so maybe they are already fully fledged!








10 comments:

  1. I enjoyed seeing some beautiful summer flowers ...here it is raining, raining, raining...and cold ! Wish you a nice weekend.

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    1. Thanks Jane, I hope you get some fine weather soon!

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  2. Beautiful inspirational photos Wendy...I'm happy you are enjoying summer. Like Jane said, we are having a lot of cold rain. It is incredible to see the iguana how it blends into its environment, it is big! Your sunflower photos cheered me up and the lovely birds, enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Thanks so much Celia, I'm glad the photos cheered you up. I hope you are able to enjoy your weekend despite the rain.

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  3. Hello Wendy! So very nice of you to post a bit of Australia for the rest of us! Love your home and your surroundings! So nice to see flowers in bloom while were are freezing here in New England. Had our first snow of the season the other day! Glad you posted! Fun to hear from you art or no art! Take care Cobber!
    Flowers in bloom loving art buddy!
    Michael

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    1. Hi Michael, Brrr sounds early in the season for snow! it seems that the northern hemisphere is having unusually cold weather and we are having unusually hot weather. We had a reprieve from the heat today with a glorious westerly sea breeze smacking in first thing. We've had mostly easterlies blowing lately which seems to be accompanied by a lot more flies. They have been tormenting me on my morning walks, but not today with the change of wind direction.
      I hope you are getting to paint something inspired by your recent cruise?

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  4. Great photo's, Wendy! The bob-tail Goanna is really wonderful and the sunflower is indeed very lovely. I agree with Jane and Celia, we're having cold and rainy weather too. Have a nice weekend! :)

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    1. Hi Hilje, I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. Yes, the bob-tails are super cute - they waddle when they walk. Sorry to hear that your weather is so cold and rainy, hopefully you will get some more nice Autumn weather before winter sets in properly. Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

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  5. What beautiful sunflower photos. They remind me of Vincent van Gogh's flowers and spring. Here winter is coming and your pictures keep my spirits up.

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  6. Love the sunflower...I wish we still had them growing! I have never seen a bob-tail goanna before...nice to see life around the garden:)

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