Life Images by Jill: October 2020

Monday, 26 October 2020

Courage Compassion Creativity

Hi everyone, I hope you and yours are all dong well in these troubling times.

On Saturday evening we went to the "Confirmation" of our youngest grandson. We are not Catholic, but our grandsons are being brought up by my daughter-in-law in her Catholic faith, which is absolutely fine with us. Even though I don't attend church I like to think that I live in a Christian way and accept that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, whatever they are.

I enjoyed the priest's sermon relating to Covid and how we can approach it in other ways other than fear, but to practise courage, compassion and creativity in our daily lives. Showing compassion to others in our actions, the courage of our beliefs and creativity to find ways to fill our days and to step forward and help others.

I have been feeling a little low, but I know there is much to be grateful for - good friends, family, health (even while my wrist is broken), time, in fact life and all its glorious seasons and pathways. One of my writer's group members is going through cancer treatment at the moment, so I know I have nothing really to complain about.

Covid numbers in Western Australia, and Australia in general are very low due to our Government's stance on hard borders with the rest of the world and within Australia itself. However in the back of my mind constantly is my fear that we are just avoiding the inevitable, especially when I hear what is happening overseas and the thousands of new cases every day. .

I must admit that I have been hibernating and avoiding interactions. It is not good for the mind, body and soul. I must make more opportunities to catch up with family and friends.

A Chinese saying, which I've always thought rings so true, is:

"It is not what life does to you that is important, but what you do with what life does to you."

In the book I am currently re-reading "Salvation Creek" by Australian writer Susan Duncan (about finding a new life when life has hit you a few hard blows), I read this last night - it seem particularly apt in these times:

"There are huge swags of time. Empty. Waiting for you to fill them. No distractions. That's a gift".

I've also just finished reading "The Phone Box at the Edge of the World". by Laura Imai Messina - A beautifully crafted story about loss and finding love again and the magic of the wind phone in the phone box in the Bell Gardia Kujira-yama garden which came into existence after the tsunami in Japan in 2011. People come to talk to those who they have lost and it is where Yui and Takeshi meet. Bell Gardia, Japan.

This book was indeed a gift.

I think sometimes little messages are sent to us when we need them, if we open our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to receive them.

If you are struggling like me, this old post of mine might help: Ease your stress by following your passions - I really needed to re-read this post today

My garden is a joy at the moment. The roses and other garden flowers are blooming. The grape vines are graping, the apricot tree has tiny green apricots all over it, our small quince tree is a mass of flowers, the blueberries are ripening, the tomato plants are flowering and the lemon tree is a mass of yellow.

Statice

My quince tree is flowering

I do hope you and yours are doing well. Thank you for stopping by. Take whatever you will from my small offering today. Please take care an stay safe.

Sunday, 18 October 2020

Down in the "bush" (the woods) this week

I love to get out in the bush, especially when the wildflowers are out, which is why I love spring in Western Australia.

In fact there are more than 12,000 species of wildflowers in Western Australia, making it the world's largest collection. You can see some of this amazing array over on my blog post The wildflower hunter

You will always find something flowering somewhere, whatever the season - if not it is lovely to be out in the bush anyway....

However I was a little surprised today to find that the Clematis and waterbush which was flowering in late September had completely finished when we went up to the bush in the hills east of Harvey today. Spring is slowly fading.

But as I said, there is always something flowering and something new to discover, which was true today.

For instance I had never realised the flowers of the Tassel flower - Leucopogon verticillatus - are in fact tiny stars - so lovely

And that the blue Scented sun orchid - Thelymitra macrophylia - can be found here if you open your eyes. I'd never seen them here before. Beautiful aren't they.

There were also yellow Hibbertias scattered here and there - a burst of yellow

And the little trigger plants - Stylidium - flowering everywhere in the gravel were a delight. The flowers about 15mm long.

The trigger serves as a agent in the pollination process - when an insect lands on the flower to sip the nectar the trigger is activated depositing pollen on the back of the insect, which then visits another flower. You can read more about it here : Australian plants on line. I didn't know there are 132 known species in Australia.

You can see the trigger before and after it has been activated in this pic here.

Here is another of the little trigger flowers - although this one is seen in a bushland reserve about 15 minutes drive from where we live - more about this place in another post to come.

Here is the last of the Prickly Hakea - Hakea amplexicaulis -

And if there is nothing flowering there are always leaves and bracken fern - Pteridium esculentum - a terrestrial native fern

or gum leaves - even dried ones are great subjects

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed this little wander in the bush today.

I also hope you and your familes are safe and doing well in these difficult times. It is so important to get out and walk and do something you enjoy don't you think. I still have another 2 weeks in my cast and am looking forward to being free again. Typing one handed is s slow! In the meantime. I am grateful to my old model point and shoot that is allowing me to continue taking photos.

What are you doing to keep staying healthy and positive? Perhaps you would like to share in your comments. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.

Sunday, 11 October 2020

Stirling Ranges National Park Orchids, Western Australia

Hi everyone, I hope you and your families are all doing ok.

Back in September we stayed for a few days in the Mount Trio Bushcamp and Caravan Park which is located at the foot of the Stirling Ranges in Western Australia's south west. I blogged about it briefly here - Scarlet Banksia

The Stirling Ranges National Park was devastated by last summer's bushfires in Western Australia. More than 40,000 hectares was lost through the bushfire which swept through the Park.

The Park is a biodiversity hotspot containing more than 1,500 species of plants, at least 87 of which are found nowhere else in the world and some of which may be lost forever. Conservationists say it may take centuries to recover.

While we were there we went on a guided bushwalk with Jarrad in the bush around the edge of the camp. This walk is run daily, depending on numbers and weather, from 1st September to 31 October. During the one and a half hour easy walk we saw 26 wild orchid species as well as many other wildflowers. Jarrad said that if we came back in October we would see other varieties. Over the years they have seen around 50 varieties. During our own explorations around the National Park we saw another 10 varieties. 36 in total.

According to my "Guide to Native orchids of South Western Australia by Bob Liddelow, there are over 300 orchids species in Western Australia.

This week I share them with you. If you click on the collages below you can see the names. However I am not an expert so I apologise in advance for any inaccuracies.

You really have to watch where you are walking and have eagle eyes because some of these orchids are tiny, as you can see here. My husband is a great orchid spotter.

Below are the 36 orchids

Some orchids, like the Red Beaks love burnt earth and often grow in colonies where there have been summer bushfires. We saw lots of these growing in the burnt ground around the Park. We were told some orchids can lay dormant for years waiting for a bushfire.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed seeing these orchids.

References:

Guide to Native Orchids of South Western Australia - by Bob Liddelow

Wildflowers of the Stirling Ranges - by B Fuhrer and N Marchant

Colour Guide to Spring Wildflowers of Western Australia - Part 2, Perth and Southwest - by Eddy Wajon

Guide to Wildflowers od South Western Australia - by Simon Nevill & Nathan McQuoid

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Stay safe and 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!

All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday

ThroughMy Lens

Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.
Thankful Thursday
Der-Natur-Thursday

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit
Month end link up @ Live love craft me

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.