Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist. Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.
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Hi everyone. I hope all is well with you. A few years ago I brought to you the beautiful Rosea Marri - Pink Rosea marri tree - Corymbia calophylla variation "rosea" - and as it is flowering here at the moment I thought it deserved another showing - along with two other flowering gums - also in the Corymbia family - that are currently flowering in our hot Western Australian summer.
Rosea in it's various shades of pink is a less common variation of the very common creamy form of Marri - Corymbia calophylla - which I brought to you a couple of years ago here -The Marri Trees are flowering
The tree is spectacular in flower. The bees love the flowers and the cockatoos and parrots love the nuts.
Marri is the indigenous aboriginal Noongar name. Growing to 40-60 metres tall they are not suitable for suburban gardens, but they are common in bush blocks and road sides everywhere in our area, as it occurs naturally through the south west of Western Australia in a range of habitats. The trees in summer are covered in flowers.
Corymbia calophylla - commonly known as Marri - is one of around 80 eucalypts which were transferred in 1995 from the genus Eucalyptus to the newly created genus Corymbia. The species was formerly known as Eucalyptus calophylla and that name is still preferred by some.Australian Native Plants Society
The common name Marri is a Noongar word for blood, which has been used to describe the sap that weeps from wounds in the bark. The large urn shaped nuts on this tree are commonly referred to as honky nuts. They hold large seeds that provide a food source to native birds such as parrots and cockatoos. WA Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
You can see the nuts in this photo here. Prior to this I love the way the tops pop off the buds and the flowers burst out.
Another tree flowering right now - though more common further south is - the red flowering gum - Corymbia ficifolia - which is another eucalypt which was transferred from the eucalypt family to the corymbia family. It grows to about 10 metres. Corymbia ficifolia is superficially similar to Marri, Corymbia calophylla. It differs in that it has barrel shaped fruits rather than urn shaped (Australian Native Plants Society).
You can see the difference in the nuts comparing the photo above, with the photo below here.
Here you can see images of the buds, nuts, and tree
Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the native summer trees that are flowering in my area. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
Hello dear readers. Welcome to the Australia Day edition. We celebrate Australia day on 26 January - but in true Aussie tradition - if the day comes on the weekend (like it does on Sunday this year), we declare a public holiday the next work day - ie Monday! Aussies love public holidays!
To celebrate Australia Day I thought I would share with you a few things us Aussies invented. You might be surprised about some of them - I was.
There has even been a song written about some them - written by Matt Scullion. So for the musical version click on the video - the words are below.
We Invented That written by Matt Scullion
Everybody knows we invented Iced VoVos Lamingtons, Cherry Ripes, and Chiko Rolls We're famous for the Hill's Hoist and the Speedos
We gave the world the ute, but I bet you didn't know -
We came up with the wine cask, I love the way we think
It doubles as a pillow when you've had too much to drink
And see that little black box that survives every plant crash
We invented that
Some clever Aussie invented that.
Now we were only showing off with the dual-flush dunny
We saved the Mint a fortune with plastic coated money.
From the Esky to the stubby cooler, we don't muck around
We even gave expecting mums an early look with ultrasound.
Next time you're using Wi-Fi, you've got us to thank
Yeah, we've been on the front line since we built the armoured tank
From the selfie, to the surf ski, even Google Maps
We invented that
Some clever Aussie invented that
We saved lives with penicillin, with Aerogard we made a killing,
They even put the AC in the power drill.
Mowed the competition over, with the two-stroke Victa mower
You'd think with all our accolades, we might have had our fill
But then we sailed into victory with the winged keel.
And with the Race-Cam put the lounge lizard behind the steering wheel
We were on the cutting edge with the Stay-Sharp knife
It was just a taste of things to come with Vegemite.
We put a battery in a heart, what a great idea!
Even gave the hard of hearing a bionic ear.
From the Ugg boot to electric shears, it's an unknown fact
We invented that.
It all started with the corks hanging from a swaggie's hat
Yeah, we invented that
Some clever Aussie invented that!
And wait there's more:
the boomerang - 10,000 years ago
Splayd - the Australian version of the spork - The splayd was created in 1943 in Sydney by William McArthur and was popular as a 1970's wedding gift.
In my family it is our most used eating utensil - Great for eating one pot stir fries and spaghetti and dessert slices - anything really that doesn't require a knife!
On Boxing Day 1906, The Story of the Kelly Gang, opened at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne. It was the first multi-reel, feature-length film ever produced in the world. See more here: National Museum of Australia
The Hills Hoist history is fascinating. It was developed in 1945 by South Australian Lance Hill, though the rotary clothes hoist design was created by another Australian, Gilbert Toyne, way back in 1911, who wanted a way to maximise the amount of clothesline space, but with less of a footprint. Australian seniors - The Hills Hoist
The Australian breakfast table wouldn't be complete without Vegemite. Made in Australia since 1923 - you can read more about Vegemite and it's history here -Vegemite.comMy hint to tasters new to Vegemite - only put a thin slather on your toast - especially delicious on fresh crusty bread with butter! And NEVER NEVER spread thick on burnt toast!
The Happy Little Vegemite song which we all grew up with has recently had a remake - evidently Vegemite had over 10,000 audition applications!
For more information and more amazing inventions that Aussies created -
And whilst there is still some discussion about the day we should celebrate Australia Day - 26th January - it doesn't stop me celebrating everything that is wonderful about Australia - and my Australian heritage through my ancestors who came to Australia in the early days of the colony.
This afternoon we went to see a wonderful heart warming true blue Aussie movie - Runt - if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favour and see it. You'll love it.
Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
Hi everyone. I hope 2025 has started well for you.
Last year I brought to you my Midwest, Goldfields, Wildflower Trundle which started in September - and I promised to bring you the last part. Finally here it is.
To recap here is the map - for part 7 we are on our homeward run, leaving Karalee Rock and heading to Elachbutting Rock and nearby Beringbooding Rock, before heading south through Bruce Rock where we stayed overnight at my nephew's farm, then back home to Bunbury.
We only had 194km to drive from Karalee Rock to Elachbutting Rock, so we didn't rush in the morning, but were on the road by 9am, arriving at Elachbutting Rock around 1pm. Located off Elachbutting Road in the Walyahmoning Nature Reserve, the rock is accessed via well maintained gravel roads. We stopped for morning tea at Southern Cross, on the Great Eastern Highway, and were able to empty our waste water put clean water into our caravan. We then travelled north through Bullfinch, then west along the Koorda Bullfinch Road, before turning north onto the Rabbit Proof Fence Road.
Here are a few wildflowers we stopped to photograph on the way. Clockwise from top left - the first two are the tall Flame Grevillea (Grevillea excelsior), Bottlebrush Grevillea (Grevillea paradonxa) Tinsel Flower (Cyanostegia microphylla), I think one of the Melaleuca Honey Myrtles, and the yellow Popflower (Glischrocaryon aureum).
It is easy to see why Elachbutting Rock got its
name which is thought to mean “big thing standing” in the local indigenous language. This prominent landmark is one of a number of
granite outcrops that rise abruptly from the plains of the wheatbelt landscape. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of it taken from a distance - but you might be able to get an idea from this image.
We easily found a spot to set up with some light shade in the free camping area located amongst natural bushland at the base of the
eastern side of the rock, 1.8 kilometres from the park entrance. Visitors are requested to stay on the
designated tracks. Watch for overhanging branches on the way in.
A map at the entrance to the park shows the five kilometre one
way track which winds around the rock and the location of the walking trail and
physical features.
We hadn't camped here for a number of years, so it was good to visit again. There is plenty of space to set up, and more open areas further away from the rock, especially if you are setting up with a group.
There are walking trails to explore. Not far from the park entrance is a 200 metre easy walk trail which leads to two rainbow coloured rock waves,
similar to but smaller than Hyden’s famous Wave Rock, the 40 metre Monty’s Pass
tunnel beneath a rock slide, and Kings Cave, a large acoustic cavern where you
can create echoes by stamping your feet at either end. You might decided as we did, that wearing a fly net is a good idea when you are walking about exploring.
A 4WD-only track takes you to the top of
the rock where you will see spectacular 360 degree views of farmland to the
west and mostly inaccessible virgin bushland to the east beyond the Vermin
Proof Fence marking the edge of the north eastern wheatbelt.
There is a rock cairn located on the
rock’s highest point. Along the way you will see numerous gnamma holes (rock depressions which collect water during rain) and huge rock slips and cracks which show the effects of the
incredible forces of nature on the rock.
You may also see Ornate Dragon Lizards (Ctenophurus
Ornatus), scampering
over and under rock crevices. Gnamma holes and water soaks were important sources of water for animals, Aboriginal people, explorers and early settlers.
Below are a couple of photos taken by my husband - the Ornate Dragon Lizard and possibly the Brown Flycatcher.
Located only 200 metres from the camping
area is an old well which has five to six rows of dry wall stones above a clay
or stone shaft. This well is typical of other wells in the area which were
built to provide a water supply for settlers.
And some more wildflowers from our wanders. I will attempt to identify some of them - starting clockwise from top left - possible on the the Teatrees, possibly one of the yellow Immortells or Waitzias, Tall Mulla Mulla just opening (Ptilotus exaltatus), Long tails Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus polystachyus), possibly Burrobunga (Olearia pimeleoides), possibly a yellow Immortelle variety, one of the pink everlastings varieties, I think the greeny one is one of the saltbush varieties, and in the middle a show of yellow immortells or waitzias.
And in the rock gardens on the rock - clockwise from top left - spikey rock garden plants, lemon scented sun orchid, clown orchid, the red is either the one-sided bottlebrush or a clawflower, granite sun orchid, and the little laughing leek orchid.
And at days end - there's plenty of time and space for a game of bocce, then after dinner sit by the fire and toast marshmallows and enjoy the peace and quiet under the night sky.
It is only 20km from Elachbutting Rock to Beringbooding Rock, so we drove over for the morning. I wrote a blog post about Beringbooding Rock and water tank back in June. You can click on the link above to read more about it.
Beringbooding Rock is dominated by a ten and a quarter million litre water tank built during 1937-38 for the farming community. It is the largest rock water catchment tank in Australia. The concrete tank and catchment was built by sustenance labour, a scheme which provided employment during the Great Depression. Over the years the corrugated iron roof covering the concrete tank started to come adrift through age and strong winds, creating a safety hazard, and has now been removed. The shire is committed to funding a new roof. Please - no swimming - the water is not drinkable.
The tank is fed by a seven hectare catchment area. Rock walls hewn from the rock itself encircle the rock and channel the rain water via a concrete aqueduct into the tank. These slabs were sledged away, stood on their sides and cemented together to form rock walls up to a metre high.
The picnic and small free camping area suitable for caravans and camper trailers is conveniently located at the base of the rock. They have built a new smaller water tank to service this.
A 2.3 kilometre walk trail starts at the gate at the base of the tank and takes you over the rock to a variety of natural features. There are said to be cave paintings, but we have never found them - perhaps looking in the wrong place.
I suggest you take a photo of the information map and allow a minimum of one and a half hours for your walk. The rock cairn at the highest point was erected in 1889 by surveyor and early explorer HS King. You can enjoy 360 degree views over grain-growing farmland to the south and west, and virgin bushland to the north and east.
One wonders how the rock you see above balances there, seemingly defying gravity. Below is the Kangaroo Pool and the Granite Kunzea (Kunzea pulchella) that grows there.
And some more wildflowers - of course! Clockwise from top left - Long tails Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus polystachyus), Quandongs (Santalum acuminatum) (an edible fruit), Native Cornflower (Brunonia australis), Hop Bush (Dodonaea inaequifolia), possibly the Nodding Chocolate Lily (Dichopogan preissii), and lastly one of the small Fringe Lilies.
If you are visiting Elachbutting and Beringbooding Rocks I would suggest you camp at Elachbutting.
An eco wheelchair friendly toilet and a couple of picnic tables and fire rings are provided. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own firewood, take note of fire-ban months, and take their rubbish away. Pets and motorbikes are discouraged. If you are camping you need to be self-sufficient with food, water and anything else you may want. The camping area is suitable for caravans, camper trailers and tents, although caravaners need to be aware of overhanging branches along the track.
To catch up on the rest of the tour - here are Links to our Midwest-Goldfields-Wheatbelt Trundle 2024. By the way - the campsites I have shown you on this tour are easy to get to on well made gravel roads. No hard off roading for us these days.
Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed my Western Australian Midwest, Goldfields, Wildflower trundle. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
