WEATHERVANE

It may look like a farm barn, but it's a suburban house.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

DAM

Farm dams are an omnipresent feature in the agricultural landscapes of eastern Australia, providing essential water for stock, crops, households and for native wildlife. They have typically been shaped like a shallow pond in which water accumulates and is accessed by animals.

In the context of a changing climate, water loss from farm dams by evaporation is likely to increase due to more extended dry periods, meaning traditional dams may become a less secure farm water source. This heightens the need for careful farm water planning and dam management.

Good design, construction and management of farm dams can pay significant dividends for farm productivity and for the environment. Enhancement of existing dams has significant benefits for agricultural productivity, biodiversity and climate management, through improved water quality, improved water persistence, improved provision of ecosystem services and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

IDYLLIC

A farm and a farmhouse, rolling hills and horses to ride on. A forest in your back yard, and wake to the sound of birdsong every day. Quiet place, clean air, and only an hour by train from the City...

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

ALMA MATER

On the City Campus of the University of Melbourne. Despite the large number of new buildings that have gone up since I was a student there, it was heartening to discover that some green spaces have remained and little nooks such as this one have hardly changed at all.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme

ALTONA WETLANDS

The Altona Important Bird Area (IBA) comprises several wetland sites on, or close to, the north-western coast of Port Phillip in Victoria, south-eastern Australia. Collectively they total 1223 hectares in area and lie within, or adjacent to, the western suburbs of the city of Melbourne. They were classified as an IBA because they support more than 1% of the world populations of Red-necked Stint, Chestnut Teal and Pacific Gull.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme

ADVERSITY

"Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity." - Og Mandino

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

SUMER IS ICUMEN IN

Summer's coming and we've had the hottest day so far this Spring with a maximum of 33˚C. The parks are beginning to look a little parched already as we haven't had much rain lately.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

URBAN GARDEN

The irises are in bloom...

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

PLANE TREES

The plane trees (Platanus × acerifolia) in our neighbourhood suddenly went very green over a couple of weeks, sprouting their Spring finery of new leaves.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme

SPRING IN THE SUBURBS

The plane trees in this suburban street have sprouted all their leaves and the green canopy will provide shade, coolness and a refuge for the birdlife during the Summer months. And did I mention the carbon sink effect and the generation of oxygen?

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

MERRI CREEK

Merri Creek at Clifton Hill on a fine Spring day.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme

CARPE DIEM

Stopping to have a quiet moment, relaxing, sharing a drink, enjoying the Spring sunshine, taking in the serenity. These are the moments we cherish as time inexorably races past us.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

DAREBIN CREEK

One of the lovely spots in the Darebin Parklands in the midst of metropolitan Melbourne.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

YARRA RIVER

At the Fairfield Boathouse on the Yarra River in Fairfield one fine Spring day. Yarra Bend Park surrounds the River as it comes to the City (≈4 km from the CBD) and is a beautiful and extensive nature reserve.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

SAD DAY...

Twenty-seven police officers were injured and 42 people were arrested today following a violent anti-war protest outside a weapons expo in Melbourne City.  About 1500 people descended on the City this morning against the Land Forces Defence Expo being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

It was the city's largest protest in 24 years with about 1000 officers, from both Victoria and New South Wales, deployed. Protesters were accused of throwing projectiles like rocks, suspected human faeces, horse manure and balloons filled with unknown liquids at officers following a clash about 7am. Scenes became more violent throughout the day before dying down by the afternoon.

Violence and war are not stopped by further violence an escalation of conflict. War is a vile thing and it should be stopped. However, these protesters were obviously unaware of Satyagraha...

Satyāgraha (from Sanskrit: सत्याग्रह; satya: "truth", āgraha: "insistence" or "holding firmly to"), or "holding firmly to truth", or "truth force". This  is a particular form of nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. Someone who practises satyagraha is a satyagrahi. The term satyagraha was coined and developed by Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) as early as 1919. Gandhi practised satyagraha as part of the Indian independence movement and also during his earlier struggles in South Africa for Indian rights.

Non-violent protesting is more effective in furthering one's cause and making people aware of wrongdoing, than is violent and antisocial behaviour. You cannot purport to be a peace activist by injuring others and putting innocent lives at risk. It is shameful, it is wrong, it is counterproductive. A sad day for Melbourne. More to come this week, unfortunately...

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme

DEMOLITION ZONE

As old buildings get demolished, it is has become important to be aware of potential hazards encountered in the process. Often, crews find caches of dangerous materials lying long forgotten in attics or basements; ricketty structures that could easily collapse and cause injury or damage to workers or adjacent buildings; rotting timbers and mouldy or vermin-infested interiors (rodents, spiders, snakes, termites, ants) pose a health risk to workers or even passers-by.

A special hazard that causes many problems is asbestos, which was widely used in the past as an insulating or building material. Asbestos is a risk in demolition work because disturbance of asbestos-containing material can release countless, deadly, microscopic asbestos fibres. During work, building materials are disturbed, cut, crushed, knocked down. This is the type of work that releases asbestos fibres. You might just see dust and particles, but that dust can kill you if it contains asbestos. Not right away. But years or decades later, causing deadly, highly malignant cancers in exposed people.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme

RAIN

We've had a lot of weather the last two days in Melbourne, with wind, rain, hail and even snow on the peaks. Winter is hanging on a bit, showing us his teeth as he is leaving...

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme
and also part of the Nature Notes meme

SIGNS OF SPRING

At the Darebin Parklands, on a cold but sunny Winter's day, with signs of Spring stirring...

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

TENTATIVE SPRING

We've had a couple of days of warmer weather in Melbourne and some Spring flowers have begun making their appearance. This ornamental plum trees in a sheltered, sunny spot have burst forth into full Spring blossom. Making the most of this weather, as we are going back to Winter weather over the weekend!

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

BERRIES

x Fatshedera is an intergeneric hybrid created by crossing Fatsia japonica 'Moserii' (Japanese fatsia) with Hedera helix (common ivy)  in the Araliaceae family. With one parent being a shrub and the other a vine, the plant can be trained in multiple ways.  It can be tied to supports as a vine or allowed to grow along the ground as a groundcover. Pruning the plant to encourage bushiness will give it a more shrub-like form. Greenish-white flowers are produced in Autumn, and berries (seen here) develop in Winter.

This plant is very tolerant of adverse conditions including air pollution and coastal sea spray.  Plant in shade or north exposure for winter protection.  Works well planted under taller shrubs, in containers, or in borders.  It even makes a good houseplant.  Propagates by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings. Variegated cultivars are available.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.