Autumn in an Australian Native Garden

At this time of year there is not much color in the garden. Only three kangaroo paws are in flower.

The leucadendrons provide some autumn color.

Other plants in flower are the correas.

The grasses are doing well due to the good rains we have had.

Other Autumn flowering plants in the native garden are Banksia ericifolia

Diplopaena grandiflora

Some flower buds are forming on the Eucalyptus caesia

and on the Protea nerifolia

Magnificent Double Rainbow

Just ahead of a storm, there appeared in the sky an incredible double rainbow. Double rainbows are formed due to an optical illusion when sunlight enters a raindrop and creates two internal reflections before the rays exit the droplet. The colors were particularly vivid against the dark sky and the colors are reversed in the second rainbow. Nature in all its magnificence!

Unusual Western Australia Native Plant

My Diplolaena Grandiflora ( a grafted plant) has its first flower. It is endemic to Western Australia so it will be a challenge to get it to grow in Victoria. It is also known as the Wild Rose or Tamala Rose though it does not belong to the rose family. A showy upright shrub from 0.5 - 3 metres, it has clusters of red stamens in the center of the flower which is surrounded by pinkish-red bracts. The leaves are a soft grey color- a really lovely native shrub and a beautiful addition to my garden.

Dry Creek Bed (under water)

After more than 30ml of rain, the dry creek bed in the natural habitat garden, is no longer dry. This is the system which brought the rain to Geelong, Victoria, Australia.. It is much needed as there has not been any decent rainfall for a couple of months.

The water was flowing in the creek and the fish pond was under water.   

Eucalyptus and Banksia Flower Arrangement

Eucalyptus tetragona is a Western Australian tree with beautiful silver gum nuts and blue-green foliage. It combines well with Banksia baxteri (also a Western Australian shrub). It has attractive dome-shaped yellow-green flower heads and serrated leaves.

Beautiful Beaches at Torquay, Victoria, Australia

Torquay, Victoria, Australia is a seaside town which is famous for its beautiful beaches. The most famous is Bells Beach which is home to the Rip Curl Pro - a professional surfing event which is held each year at Easter. The waves at Bells Beach can reach up to five metres but today they was very little surf.

 

Jan Juc is a cliff-lined sandy beach popular with surfers.  

A safe swimming beach is Fishermens Beach which is also popular for boating, sailing and 

windsurfing. 

Walking along the beach to Yellow Bluff are windswept sand dunes and coastal vegetation.

The Torquay surf beach has waves that are ideal for beginners.

Late Summer Flower Arrangement

As there is not much flowering in the garden at the moment, this arrangement has casuarina, hakea, acacia and eucalyptus foliage as well as some some brown leaves. The focal point is the white, yellow and brown seed  pods which I found in the garden ( I have no idea of the name of the seed pods). It all made for a different and quite attractive arrangement.