5 weeks break - Day 17 exploring Macquarie Rivulet

This afternoon I went for a small bush walk along the edge of the Macquarie Rivulet at the bottom of Macquarie Pass, Green Valley.  I drive this road every day to and from work but I have never stopped to discover its delights.  Oh I've thought about it, said "I should".  But that's the problem with life isn't it? You get into habits, you avoid doing fun things because you have somewhere to be, something you have to do. By taking 5 weeks off work I am able to go where the wind leads me and today it lead me to this idyllic spot.  A short walk from the main road there is this lovely swimming hole where the water trickles over stones.   Here are a few photos from my visit.

 The tree canopy reflected in a muddy puddle always reminds me of my favourite Escher artworks.

 Fine maidenhair fern fronds along the path.

 I don't know wht this plant is but it was popular with bees and butterflies.

Stunning fungi sprouting from a rotting log on the rainforest floor.

Beautiful busy bees in my blooming lavender

Honey bee supping on nectar

Stages of a waratah coming to bloom

Waratahs are the most magnificent complicated flower. They thrive in Roberston. 

The flowers start from a tight bud like a lotus that forms months before opening.

As they open they turn from green to pale pink and eventually to red.

When finished a new branch springs from the centre growing at least 50cm before forming a new flower next year.

Day one of my homespun bliss week: where do I start?

Day one: where do I begin? Its sunny, but windy. The chooks are scratching around in the yard. The dogs are under my feet, the cats are sleeping in their favourite sunny spot. I got lots of housework done on Saturday but I didn't quite finish it. So I suppose I'll quickly round up the rest of the vacuuming, laundry and sorting. I have a small bag to go off to charity: I think there are a few more things to go in there. 

Once that is done I'll feel I have more space to be creative. 

Oh what a wonderful feeling a week at home is! Homespunbliss ahead.

Planting flowers for spring: Ranunculas

Today on a cool, wet, early Winter day here in Robertson I planted almost 100 ranuncula bulbs for Spring.

I created the curved garden inside our fence line a few years ago after being inspired by a visit to Monet's garden in Giverny. The dominant colour scheme is blue and yellow but I have thrown in a few random mixes like these ranunculas that flower after the daffodils are mostly spent.

Lately it has become overgrown with clumps of grass. Yet I have been surprised season after season how easily I can restore it: a couple of hours weeding and mulching and it looks lovely again. Today I weeded, covered gaps between the perennial lavender, sea spray, Marguerite and African daisies with horse manure and freshly made mulch from the hedge pruning we did a month ago. And planted these divine bulbs to fill in the gaps.  Howard mowed too so it won't need any attention now for months but will give us a lovely display to herald the Spring.

Spring flowers

 Spring is obvious everywhere in my garden. Here are a few cheerful pictures for you.

A giant daffodil in the early morning sunshine.

 A mixed bunch of daffodils for my desk this week.

This is the first of my two rhododendrons to flower.

The second tree has very pale pink flowers which will appear when these are finished.