Australia · colours · garden flowers · in my garden · Mount Warning · spring · subtropical weather · sunset · Tweed Valley

A Week of Flowers ~ Day 5

This week, Cathy at Words and Herbs has asked bloggers to share flower photos to brighten up the grey days as winter approaches in the Northern Hemisphere. Here in Australia we are just a few days off summer, but every day is a good day to share flowers, as far as I’m concerned.

One of the greatest attractions of Cathy’s suggestion, for me, is seeing so many gorgeous gardens, and flowers that I don’t recognise. Some flowers are familiar, but others I can only dream of growing. Our harsh, subtropical climate prevents me from growing some of the more delicate varieties.

My favourite flower colours to have in the garden are shades of purple, pink and blue. Most people would recognise the first photo of a Hydrangea which is one of my favourite flowers, but I wonder, are Tibbouchinas, shown in the second photo, grown in the Northern Hemisphere?

We have enjoyed a fine weather here today. As the last photo shows, there are no clouds tonight and Mount Warning is clearly outlined against the orange sun-setting sky.

I’ve had an extremely tiring day, washing curtains, cleaning windows, vacuuming and mopping floors, in the hope that I would have our living area back in order now the new floor has been laid. No such luck! I think I set my target too high, so I will have to continue getting the room back together tomorrow.

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments this week. For now, I’m off to bed, but I will catch up with everyone tomorrow. I don’t think I will be able to keep my eyes open much longer tonight, so goodnight. ❤

Australia · Changes · flowers · Mount Warning · renovations · seasons · son · spring · subtropical weather · Tweed Valley

A Week of Flowers – Day 3

We had another dull, but warm weather day today as spring winds down for another year. We usually have several storms during our subtropical summer, and just as I began to type this post, I heard the first clap of thunder rolling around the night skies.

For Day 3 of Cathy’s Week of Flowers, I looked back on photos I had taken earlier this year and found several I had taken in May. My youngest son gave me a huge bunch of flowers for my birthday, and he had chosen some stunning flowers to include. He called the photo above a “Cabbage Rose”. Whether or not that is what this unusual flower is called I really don’t know, but the description certainly suits the flower.

The three photos above were all the same bunch of flowers – such variety!  🙂

If you look carefully at the last photo you will see the faintest outline of Mount Warning. I took this photo quite early in the day, and the view of the mountain became even fainter, if that’s possible, this afternoon. Perhaps tonight’s rain will wash away the haze and I will have a clearer image of the mountain to share tomorrow.

As for the new floor, it’s getting there. There’s just a few details that need finishing tomorrow, but hopefully by Thursday I will be able to clean up the dusty layer covering every surface of the house and turn the room back into my own.

I just love the new floor! It’s so lovely to walk on and it will be easier to clean than carpet.

I think the poor man laying the floor for us hadn’t planned on returning for a third day, but he’d worked a long day and thinks he’ll have the job finished within a couple of hours. Husband and I both agree he’s done a wonderful job for us and has taken great care to give the floor a smooth finish, which we appreciate very much.

It will be interesting to see how the rooms comes together now. I’m on a decluttering spree – which has lasted, so far, about a year, but that’s another story for another day – so I don’t intend taking anything back into the area unless I am sure I will use it.

 

Australia · clouds · family · flowers · grandchildren · in my garden · Mount Warning · native Australian birds · palm trees · spring · subtropical weather · sunset · Tweed Valley

Warmer Days Return

After a few days of spring-like weather, the warmer weather returned today. The chores we needed to get done were mostly inside the house – thankfully – where the ceiling fans kept us cool.

I’m glad every week is not as busy as the past week has been. Between one thing and the other I have hardly had a moment to spare, which has kept me from visiting my blogging friends. I keep thinking about you all, hoping you are well, wondering what you have been up to. I know tomorrow will be another busy day, but on Monday I will be couped up in my office all day …

Adult Honeyeater.

… couped up with my computer, that is, so I plan on having a blog visiting day then.

So why will I be couped up in my office? I’m glad you asked …

We are (finally) having the floor coverings replaced in the main living area and hallways of our house, so I will need to make myself scarce so as not to get in the way of the workers. This week preparations began, including emptying cupboards ready to be moved, and removing tired old skirting boards that we have decided to replace.

Also this week I minded little Aurora for two days, and have had two extra dogs here for four nights while my daughter and family took a few day’s holiday. Tomorrow I will have four-year-old Braxton here for half a day as well. It’s little wonder I nodded off at the computer the other night while posting my daily photo of Mount Warning – I’m feeling tired just writing about the week that was. 😉

The frangipani tree in full bloom.

Between the heat, the mess, and plain old tiredness, we had takeaway pizza for dinner tonight, which was very nice for a change. 🙂

 

Australia · clouds · Mount Warning · spring · subtropical weather · Tweed Valley

The Mountain Reappears

This morning again, there was nothing to see in the valley other than a pale outline of what we know is there. It couldn’t be heat haze any more hiding the mountain as the temperature has dropped back to spring-like weather, and it isn’t mist because it has stayed the same, all day, for days.

By tonight, however, the outline of the mountain and ranges re-emerged from beneath the veil of the unknown. It’s not the greatest photo of all time, but better than it was. 🙂