Category: Gardens

Weekly Photo Challenge : Three (II)

[The weekly photo challenge this week provided the following guidelines. “In a nutshell, a three-picture story is a way to help you think about storytelling with images. To create a three-picture story, gather:

  1. An establishing shot: a broad photo of your subject.
  2. A relationship: two elements interacting with one another.
  3. A detail: a close-up of one part of your subject.”

I believe this second entry really meets those criteria. I had been looking for an excuse to use these photos for several months.  This challenge has given me the excuse!]

We spotted this rather unusual Pandorea Pandorana “Ruby Belle” in a nursery and snapped it up. Commonly known as the Wonga Wonga vine, this species is found in, but not unique to, Australia. Now about three years old, it flowers prolifically in early spring. It has merged, and coexists with, a long established Pandorea Jasminoides, which flowers from November to May.

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Camera : Canon Powershot SX50HS (1) f4.0, 1/100, ISO 160, focal length 7.8mm (2) f4.0, 1/80, ISO 160, 8.5mm (3) 1/1000, f7.1, ISO 3200, 4.3mm

Weekly Photo Challenge : Threes

Grevillea “Moonlight”, is a hybridised Australian Native which attracts many of our native birds. One of the most frequent visitors is the Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), a member of the honeyeater family, and appropriately named for constant tweeting!

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Camera : Canon Powershot SX50HS, f6.5, ISO 800, exp. 1/160 to 1/500, focal length 215mm, the last photo at x4 digital zoom. Photos taken from an elevated position approximately 20 metres from the tree.

The Occasional Possum

A couple of weeks ago, for the weekly photo challenge, I posted a photo of an unexpected addition to our family – the possum in the watering can. The next day, the possum did not return.

Somewhat to our surprise, the possum was back in the watering can yesterday! This time, I was able to take a closer photo of it, enjoying its daytime sleep.

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As darkness fell, we were able to observe our visitor as it set off for its nocturnal adventures. In a couple of smooth movements, it was up on the pot stand, where we keep a few herbs and propagation pots. Sensing our presence, it peered at us from behind a pot. Then, thinking the coast was clear, it leapt to the nearest the post, with help from a hanging basket.

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Not happy about the camera flash, it was soon up and away over the roof. 

It has again failed to return today. Perhaps the camera flash was not a pleasant experience worth the risk!

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This possum is clearly a Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), possibly adolescent. The long tail clearly visible in the last photo above is characteristic of this species. More details of the species can be found here.  (I realise I used the incorrect link, to a brushtail possum, in my earlier post. I apologise for this error.)