SOME FLORA and FAUNA


In the warm early autumn weather some of our Australian trees are flowering. A few days ago I noticed these cream gum flowers on the grass beside the footpath. 


 

I then saw red flowers strewn on the grass.


They came from this tree. I think it is Eucalyptus Leucoxylon, (click on highlighted words for more pictures). This tree can have either cream, pink or red flowers and is a popular street tree in our area. 


And this is the creature that was doing the 'strewing'. The blossoms are rich in nectar and very attractive to this subtly beautiful parrot called a Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum). This is a female, the male has a red crest. You can see an image of him at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang-gang_Cockatoo
I like the description of their call as being squeaky '...like a cork being pulled from a wine bottle.' (before it pops).



This weeks ikebana is an exercise in re-using. The flowers are the delightfully fragrant Abelias that I used in last weeks grass arrangement. The bottle shaped vase is by Barry Singleton. The graceful natural curve of the branches almost caused the flowers to arrange themselves.



Greetings from Christopher 
6th April 2013

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