Camp amongst the wildflowers

During spring wildflower lovers and bird watchers travel to Western Australia’s mid west to enjoy the enormous variety of wildflowers and birds. Two easily accessible free overnight camp sites at Camel Soak and John Forrest Lookout located in station country on the north eastern edge of Western Australia’s wheatbelt east of Perenjori allow visitors to enjoy the natural beauty and tranquil scenery any time of year. 

Pink Velleia at Camel Soak

Access is initially on bitumen from Perenjori via the Perenjori-Rothsay Road and then good gravel roads to the campsites. However, be aware that flooding and boggy conditions along the road can be encountered after rain, as we discovered on our visit in April, so a 4 wheel drive is recommended.  

Camel Soak campsite is nestled under shady trees at the base of a granite outcrop on the Rabbit Proof Fence Road, approximately 39 kilometres east of Perenjori.  There is plenty of camping space and the picnic area has a drop toilet, wood BBQs and picnic tables. In spring the surrounding bushland is covered in wildflowers, particularly fields of everlastings and velleia. Orchids can also be found around the base of the rock.

After rain the gnamma holes on the rock fill with water and the small granite catchment on the rock, also known as The Rock Hole, was sunk as a watering point for men and their camel teams who camped here while constructing the Number 2 Rabbit Proof Fence between 1903 and 1906.  The 1166 km long Number 2 Fence, and the 1837 km Number One Fence, stretching from Cape Keraudren on the North West coast to Starvation Harbour on the South coast, were built to stop rabbits invading Western Australia’s agricultural regions, but did not however stop the invasion. 

Further east, 61 kms east of Perenjori along the Perenjori-Warrieddar Copper Mine Road is John Forrest Lookout. The Lookout is located in the Damperwah Hills which Sir John Forrest (explorer and later WA’s first Premier) discovered and named during his failed search in 1869 for the missing German explorer Ludwig Leichhardt. In 1897 Forrest used the hill-top as a survey point during his expedition to Cue and Day Dawn. 

 It is easy to understand why granite outcrops and hills were used as survey points and lookouts by our early explorers, and as camping places to rest and water their horses. As well as the expansive viewpoint which would have assisted them in mapping their progress, the shelter of the outcrops would have given relief from days of forging their way through the thick scrubland.

The walk up to the Lookout is 750 metres uphill, but is not difficult. During spring, the dry scrubland is covered in many varieties of wildflowers and your climb will be rewarded with a spectacular 360 degree panoramic view of the surrounding station country spreading out to the horizon in an undulating sea of scrubland splashed with the colours of spring.

To see this complete article, see On The Road magazine, August 2011.

The wildflowers are starting to bloom

Only about 500 metres from my house is a stretch of bush between the houses and the main road. Every year when spring comes I go there to look for wild orchids to photograph. Sadly foreign weeds and grasses are choking out the natural vegetation and every year I see more and more weeds (you can see them in the top RH photo trying to choke out the beautiful mauve wildflower - the wild violet). 

And now some of the beautiful banksia trees are starting to die. The last couple of years have been very dry and the water table has dropped - and some believe it is because of climate change and global warming. 

Today when I went walking in our patch of bush some of the new spring wildflowers were starting to bloom. In this photo you can see wild violet, hovea and fire bush. Soon I will go again to look for the wild orchids. 

It is lovely to have a small stretch of bush to walk in so near my home.

If you are Australian you would have heard of the book "Snugglepot and Cuddlepie" by May Gibbs - a much loved Australian children's book about gum nut and wattle babies and their adventures. (a bit like Australian fairies I suppose)

In the book the bad men were the "banksia men". If you look in the first picture - this is a picture of the banksia nut after the flower has died off. The "eyes" pop open and the seeds fall out. This will especially happen after a fire. You can see why May Gibbs may have used the "banksia men" as the bad guys - they look pretty fearsome.

The banksias flower in our patch of bush around Christmas and the flowers look like giant Christmas candles. The one in this picture would be about 1 foot - 30cms - long. 
















In the picture below you can see a close up of the parts of the flower, just before they open. 

We haven't had a lot of opportunity this year to go bush walking (with other goings on in our lives) but now that spring is just around the corner I hope we will be able to get out and do some bush walking, and I will again be able to indulge in my passion for wild flower photography.

Have a wonderful weekend, and hug the ones you love. 

Went down to the beach to play one day.................

I recently found this peom in an old poetry book I found while packing up my mother-in-laws house. The book is called "The Charge of the Light Brigade and other story poems" (Scholastic Book Services, 1969)

I really liked the image it created of the little girls playing on the beach and the treasures they found...........and the innocence of childhood and carefree days on the beach.

ps - there are no capital letters because this is how it was printed in the book....

maggie and milly and molly and may

maggie and milly and molly and may

went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang

so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles, and

milly befriended a stranded star

whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing

which raced sideways while blowing bubbles; and

may came home with a smooth round stone

as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

It’s always ourselves we find in the sea

                                                             By EE Cummings

It is winter here in Australia, but the beach is so much a part of the culture of Australia it can be enjoyed any time of year in different ways.  Here is my mosaic I created from the poem - some photos are new from our recent weekend in Yallingup, and some are from my archives -  unfortunately I don't have a star fish...

 I hope you enjoyed the poem and pictures. I look forward to hearing from you. I am linking up with Mosaic Monday at Little Red House. To see the work of Mary and other wonderful contributors, please click on the link here -  Mosaic Monday

Take care, have a wonderful week, and hug the ones you love.

Oranges and lemons.......

It is the time of year for oranges and lemons in my garden. The fruits of winter.

Today was a mixed winter day - white clouds scudding across a beautiful blue sky one minute and then grey sky and driving rain the next, but always constant was a a howling wind that blew all day, wrapping my washing around the line, and tearing at my hair as I worked in my garden doing some winter pruning that was well overdue.

The orange and lemon trees are bearing their bounty and so I picked this basket of beautiful oranges, and made a jug of lemon juice - pretending to be a summer day.

 

 The last few grape vine leaves are clinging onto the vine, and will soon wither and drop - making way for the new shoots of spring to come.

I hope you have enjoyed these pics. I look forward to hearing from you. Have a wonderful week.

This is my contribution to Mosaic Monday. To see the work of Mary and other wonderful contributors, please click on the link - Mosaic Monday at Little Red House

Congratulations Cadel - winner of the 2011 Le Tour de France

Congratulations Cadel Evans from Australia in winning the 2011 Le Tour de France.

As an Aussie I am very proud of his achievement, and so I have created a little mosaic with some pictures I took in 2005 when we were in France at the time of the Tour. (thankyou to www for the pic of Cadel in this mosaic)

Cadel, born Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia, announced in 1991 when he was 14 that he wanted to win the Tour de France and today he realised his dream.

Cadel said - "I think that's the ultimate dream of a Tour rider, to stand on the Champs-Elysees with an Australian singing the national anthem ... it's not a dream that comes true for many Australians.

"This win is for everyone in our country. It's amazing."

I have been glued to the TV every night watching the Tour - maybe now I can get a proper night's sleep!

Read more about Cadel here - Cadel Evans - Dream Comes True

I am linking up with Mary at Mosaic Monday at Little Red House. Please click on the link to see the wonderful work of Mary and other amazing photographers - Mosaic Monday at Little Red House

The ocean's edge - Yallingup & Smith's Beach, Western Australia

Last weekend we plucked a few days from our too busy lives and stayed at a lovely beach side place at Smith's Beach at Yallingup in Western Australia's spectacular Cape to Cape region that stretches between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.  It is an area we have explored many times over the years, but there is always something new and interesting to do and places to go. And is just perfect for relaxing. A prime area for surfers and holiday makers in summer, it is also a great destination any time of year, as there are bush and coastal walks, wineries, gourmet food outlets, galleries and restaurants. Or just lay on your balcony looking out over the ocean, and spend time walking along the beach.

Here are some views. 

Early one very cold morning as the sun was coming up we went walking along the beach. There was a mist rising up from a stream running into the ocean, and the mist gently spread out over the ocean, caressing the waves.

As the mist curled over the crashing waves and it looked to me like a mob of wild white horses plunging across the water with their white manes flying in the wind.

They inspired me to write my first attempt at Haiku poetry which I have just been introduced to by my writer's group, South Side Quills.

Mist over crashing waves

flying manes of wild horses

in the morning light

                                                     Jill Harrison 25-7-2011

At the end of the beach you can see where we stayed at the  Canal Rocks Beach Front Apartments.  It really is a lovely spot, with a balcony and view over the ocean.

 From Smiths Beach we did part of the Cape to Cape walk around to Canal Rocks and then beyond to Wyadup and back. It was a wonderful 3-4 hour walk (depending on how many times you stop) with spectacular views over the rocky cliffs.  There were only a few wildflowers out but during spring it would be a mass of colour. This is looking towards Canal Rocks.

At Canal Rocks you can see the power of the ocean as it crashes against the rocks.  Spectacular on a winter's day.

 Further on we came to a seat where we just sat and looked. On the seat was plaque commemorating the life of Alison Taylor (1980-1999). And we were reminded of her words which we had read at another lookout along our walk - 

"The ocean's edge is a place to contemplate life's journey with it's changing patterns of winds, waves and tides. 
Please care for these special places."

And a beautiful sunset at day's end with the promise of another beautiful tomorrow. And the knowledge that life is a wonderful gift to be treasured.

I hope you have enjoyed these images. I look forward to hearing from you.  Have a wonderful weekend. 


To see more of the Capes region, you might like to go to my September 2010 post - click here - Walking at Cape Naturaliste 

mist in our path

Life changes and our future is in the mist - we might have a plan, but we don't know how our path will twist and turn, and take side roads we never expected.  However, there can still be joy experienced along the way, if only we embrace change and the challenges that are put in front of us. And see beauty through the mist.

And a few words that I borrowed from the wonderful blog of one of my favourite "on-line" Canadian "friends" Lisa at Red Willow -please click on the link to visit her blog - Red Willow Photography

Letting Go

"When we choose not to focus on what's missing from our lives
but are grateful for the abundance that's present...we experience heaven on earth." 

                                  Sarah Breathnach

This photo was taken through the top of a glass outdoor table, with the roses underneath. A little grain added in Photoshop Elements.

The Bird

The beautiful Bird of Paradise is flowering at the moment.............such gorgeous colours on a dull winter day.......have a wonderful weekend

and a quote for you -    

Happiness is something that comes into our lives through doors 
we don't even remember leaving open                                                                                            

                                                    - Rose Lane

Camp amongst the Cajuput trees, Skull Springs, Western Australia

Skull Springs is a free camp site located 108kms east of Nullagine - an old goldmining town on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, 1186km north of Perth and 110 km south of Marble Bar in Western Australia (known as the hottest place in Australia).

There are no facilities, but Skull Springs provides a wonderful place to relax under the Cajuput trees, wander along the river banks, or try some fishing.

We collected a “mud” map and some local information from the Nullagine Road House before heading off along the Skull Springs Road which winds through spinifex covered hills softened by the colour of Mulla Mulla and Sturt Desert Pea.

It took us three hours to drive from Nullagine to Skull Springs.  There are many creek and river crossings to negotiate that require low range 4WD and good ground clearance.  It may be necessary to wade through creek crossings to check for depth before crossing. Places of interest along the way are the 20 Mile Sandy Creek State Battery ruin and the Granite Wall, a natural ridge of rock that juts up like a manmade wall.

The turnoff to Skull Springs is appropriately signposted by a camel’s skull.  The springs are located in the bed of the Davis River and despite its name it is a beautiful and idyllic place to camp and spend a few days. Gigantic silver cajuput trees shade the numerous trickling watercourses that crisscross the river bed. 

Explorer Nat Cooke named Skull Springs when he found an Aboriginal skull here in 1886. It is said that the papery bark of the cajuput trees was used by Aborigines to construct huts and make baskets. 

The river is protected from the wind by high ridges, but the force of cyclonic flooding is illustrated by the debris caught high in the tree branches and huge trees that had been uprooted.  Flooding can happen without warning, so be careful where you camp. 

My full story about camping at Skull Springs can be seen in the May edition of On The Road magazine, Australia.  On The Road Magazine

Gorgeous Grevillea's

There are many types of Grevillea in Australia - and there always seems to be one or two flowering around my area.

I love the way the parts of the flower start all curled up and then slowly open out

This one I didn't notice the ant till I downloaded! - see along the lower edge of the pic...

And this is a Flame Grevillea from the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia

And the Silver Leaf Grevillea from the Kimberley

Have a wonderful week - life is too short so enjoy every minute - and hug the ones you love.
Thankyou for stopping by to have a look at my blog - I look forward to hearing from you - and your comments are always appreciated and enjoyed. 

I am joining Mary and other wonderful photographers from all around the world at Mosaic Monday. Click on the link to see their work - Mosaic Monday at Little Red House