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Tag: flora

Christmas in February (“Aspects of Waychinicup” # 16)

Published April 20, 2022 by Pelidoug

Christmas in February (“Aspects of Waychinicup” # 16)

 


Nuytsia Floribunda is generally known as the Western Australian Christmas tree.

In southwest WA (its only home range) most people simply call it a “Christmas tree”.

Enormously more colourful and much more bizarre than any “traditional” Christmas tree, it is usually in full bloom at Christmas.

The world’s largest member of the mistletoe family is hemi-parasitic, rather than merely parasitic; Nuytsia (the single member of its own genus) does photosynthesize, and it has prodigiously long roots.

read moreChristmas in February (“Aspects of Waychinicup” # 16)
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Revelatory covers (#20 in series): “I’ll Be Seeing You”, sans words, but really singing…

Published July 5, 2021 by Pelidoug

Revelatory covers (#20 in series): “I’ll Be Seeing You”, sans words, but really singing…

Arguably the quintessential nostalgic song, I’ll Be Seeing You was composed in 1938. (music by Sammy Fain, words by Irving Kahal)

That year it was inserted into a Broadway musical…which flopped.

The song, however, became a “standard”, covered by countless singers…and not a few instrumentalists.

It was a #1 hit for Bing Crosby in 1944.

Frank Sinatra recorded it more than once.

Even Eric Clapton did so, in 2016.

The most celebrated recording – Billie Holiday’s 1944 version – is the one which reached Mars in 2018, as the conclusion to NASA’s final transmission to its Explorer rover.

However, the most “out of this world” version to reach this Earthling’s ears is a “live” and exploratory instrumental trio treatment, delivered in “the city of fallen angels”, in June 2016.

read moreRevelatory covers (#20 in series): “I’ll Be Seeing You”, sans words, but really singing…
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Kings Park Banksia Garden, May 2021

Published June 4, 2021 by Pelidoug

Kings Park Banksia Garden, May 2021

This post, the two recent Boab posts, and two future posts are all fruits of the afternoon of the same day – 20.05.21.

Southwestern Australia’s Spring flowering is indeed one of the world’s most astonishing and beautiful natural phenomena, and Kings Park in Spring is guaranteed to leave any Northern Hemisphere resident’s jaws agape.

It is, however, a BIG mistake to pay attention in Spring, only.

In southwest WA generally, and Kings Park specifically, you can easily see some extraordinary endemic species, in full bloom, at any time; Kings Park’s Banksia Garden never disappoints.

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Stirling Range, after fire

Published April 11, 2021 by Pelidoug

Stirling Range, after fire

 

 

At 1,159 square kilometres Stirling Range National Park is “large”, or “small”, depending on one’s perspective.

Four hours drive northwest, Perth – Western Australia’s sprawling metropolis  – occupies more than five times as much ground.

The Stirlings’ “footprint” is less than one 209th of the United Kingdom’s 242, 495 square kilometres.

Botanically, however, the Stirling Range is much the “bigger”/“hotter” place!

It has more flowering plant species than does the entire UK; many of them grow only in or near the Stirling Range.

Two recent “catastrophic” fires seemingly “destroyed” much more than half of what had been growing there…

 

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15 inner suburban minutes

Published October 21, 2020 by Pelidoug

15 inner suburban minutes

No “glamorous” or “exotic” destination – photos taken within one 15 minute period, within 15 minutes easy walk of our inner suburban home.

In 2020 West Australians have had it very much easier than have most other humans, even most other Australians.

Still, the kind of beauty pictured here remains easily accessible to just about any able bodied Australian.

Simply take a walk during “golden hour” – when the sun is within an hour or so of sunrise or sunset!

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African Flower (#34 in “a shining moment” series)

Published April 27, 2020 by Pelidoug

African Flower (#34 in “a shining moment” series)

This one is probably the most popular African flower among Australia’s gardeners.

This post’s example was photographed on Anzac Day afternoon, in a petite, surprisingly lush parkland, on the “doorstep” of Perth’s CBD.

Today’s musical selection was inspired by an African flower…or, perhaps, by an imaginary one, blooming in a jungle, somewhere…

read moreAfrican Flower (#34 in “a shining moment” series)
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