The theme for this week was to photograph the season's changes. Here in sub-tropical Queensland we really don't see seasonal changes, even in winter. Our autumn season started on March 1st and, while there may be deciduous trees growing somewhere, there aren't any in my neck of the woods so I can't really meet the requirements for this week's theme.
Anywhoo, here are some other pics of nature around my pergola and backyard which, at the moment, remains a stinky, stagnant swampland due to all the rain we've had this past month.
Remember you can click any image to enlarge it.
The seeds in the pic below belong to my potted snake plant.
They remind me of teensy mandarins.
Last month, I took a cutting from Michelle's Crassula Ovata plant, commonly known as a Money Plant in this region. Mum took a cutting at the same time but her cutting didn't take. My Mum!...the person who just has to look at a plant and it flourishes overnight.Yes, I'm bragging because my plants always look anorexic compared to my Mum and Dad's plants. I was stoked that my cutting actually took and you can see the new leaf growth in the pic below.
My African Milk Tree - botanical. Euphorbia Trigona - is trying to break through the eaves! What am I to do??? Should I just cut it back? It's actually bending. This plant was gifted to me by my daughter, Michelle, close to eight years ago and then, it was under 4" tall. I have given Michelle and my Mum cuttings from it too and they are doing extremely well.
If you enlarge the next pic, you will be able to see a tadpole, which is one of hundreds swimming gleefully around the backyard. My research tells me that these are toad tadpoles...YUCK! I hate cane toads! I'll be very glad when I get my backyard back. I only hope the grass recovers from all the slime and sludge.
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I'm sick........my throat kills, I feel nauseous the majority of the time, and I'm feeling quite sorry for myself right now. I had to cancel my student coming for an art class today. I've been attempting to work on some gifties for my Pay It Forward recipients so I can't show any pics of those until they have been finished, shipped off, and received. However, here is a quick watercolour and pen EveryDayMatters sketch I did the other day before I got sick.
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| Watercolour and Pigma Micron pen in A5 sketchbook |
I'm now off to rest in front of the telly....enjoy your week!
Love, light and peace
Aww.. I'm sorry you're sick. I can relate to how down being sick can make one feel. I get in a very pissy and pitifu mood when I'm sick- I jut have no patience for it. Hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteYour banana drawing is wonderful- I can almost smell it. I love the smell of ripe bananas
Tropical plants are so much more colorful than our maritime ones. Well, at least until my roses bloom. I haven't seen a tadpole in years - my brother and I used to catch them in the creek near my grandmother's house way too many years ago. Thanks for the memory, and I hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteThe seed pods in the first picture also look like slightly wrinkled cherry tomatoes.
ReplyDeleteI hope your yard dries out soon. I don't think we have cane toads here, but it doesn't sound like something I'd want in my backyard.
I agree with you about bananas. I can only eat them when they are yellow and don't smell like a banana. Once they do, it means they are too ripe. As for banana flavor anything: no way. I thought I was the only person who dislikes banana flavoring.
Hope you feel better.
Hugs,
Tamerie
Hope you feel better soon, DS1 has come home coughing and spluttering and complaining of sore throat. Just hope he keeps it to himself
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you are sick Serena! Hope you will be feeling better soon! Love your bananas you drew out...very pretty!
ReplyDeleteOf course, I am happy to see your succulent plants! That trigona is one of the largest I've ever seen. Boy, it seems a shame to havet o cut it back, but what are the options? If you need to keep it in that room, you may have to...and get your cuttings re-rooted in soil. Good luck!!!
BTW...E. trigona (African Milk Tree)
ReplyDeleteSap is irritating to skin and eyes, causes swelling to tongue, mouth and throat, so be very careful if you cut into it.
that african milk tree is a wonderful looking plant :) shame you might have to cut it, but the only other option would be to put a hole where its growing, and thats probably not an option :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better soon. That banana looks great. I love all the photos too, such beautiful images.
ReplyDeleteSerena, your plants are just beautiful. I have a "brown" thumb so I admire others ability to grow such lovely ones. Your sketch is right on as always...feel better soon...Shelly
ReplyDeleteYou have the most interesting plants down there--but, even tho I love our small brown toads up here, I'd pass on those huge cane toads. I saw a program about what a problem they have become in Australia--and mice--and certain birds. Upsetting nature's balance by introducing new species. That is happening everywhere, but those big toads! And they are poisonous, too, aren't they? Shudder!
ReplyDeleteLove your sketch, as always. I can't eat bananas when they get too ripe either--or if they are too sour and not ripe enough--short window of time. Your bananas you drew might qualify--hehe! The only thing I can eat made with bananas is banana bread-nothing else for some reason. And it can't be too soft and mushy--shudder. No--I guess you're not the only one with banana issues--hehe!
I hope you aren't sick long. Both Dagan and Leah are sick right now, so I haven't even been able to go over and meet the new cats they have adopted. I just don't need to get sick right now after just starting to come off a real low time with the fibro. Good thing we can't catch anything from cyberspace visits! :):) Get well soon!
Get well soon, Serena! I'm so sorry you're feeling bad -- and with a swampy mess in the backyard to boot. That's no good. :( (The photo of the tadpoles kind of grosses me out when I think of all those toads. Your landlord needs to install some serious drainage pathways!)
ReplyDeleteOkay, on a more positive note, lovely drawing and beautiful plants. I love banana cream pie, but then I realized the bananas in it are not actually baked. ;)
Those seedpods do look like teeny Mandarins, how cool. I admire you for putting a bright spin on what has to have been a tough day Monday. Looking forward to hearing you're on the mend...
Hi Mum,
ReplyDeleteJust thought I'd write and say you've done a great post! All the photos (except the one of the swampy backyard) are pretty good and I love the sketch of the bananas that you did!
Love Brad!
xoxox
Hope you feel better real soon Serena, I know too many sick people right now, that time of year I guess.
ReplyDeleteLove your banana drawing but them I love all your drawings they are all fabulous!
Serena
ReplyDeleteAre you are feeling better? Enjoyed seeing some of your local plants.
Everything looks exotic to me. I also loved your Thai Temple post.
You are lucky to have your Mum near you. I'm missing mine.
Namaste
Hi Serena,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear you are sick. :(
Plese take care and get better soon. Your plants lookf wonderful. When I looked at the first photo I thought they were little mandarins.
:)
I have finally posted some things on my blog. Trying to catch up.
Love your banana sketch. I have one everyday in my peach and banana smoothie for breakfast. YOur money plant looks like my jade plant leaves.
ReplyDeleteand how could I neglect saying i hope you feel better, cause I do.
ReplyDeleteHi Serena, sorry to hear you are feeling so ill. it sounds like its time to tuck yourself up with some chicken soup laced with garlic! hope you feel better real soon xo
ReplyDeletecane toad tadpoles - never seen one but was wondering if you have to dispose of them to prevent them from breeding. they are horrid!
[want to say a big thankyou for your continuing comments and support over the past week.. I am slowly getting to catching up on blogs. xo]
sending some love & angels to help you heal xoxo
Hi Serena:
ReplyDeleteMissed checking out your blog but life has been crazy here. Mum is still fighting her cancer and now it has gone to her lungs. I am trying to work on art. I am doing the IF challenge just to do something every week.
We are going into spring while you are going into fall.
Take care.
Becky
www.rgavneydriscoll.com
I believe a little bird told me it's your birthday today ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY SERENA!!! :-D :-D :-D Hope you have a wonderful day today (Tuesday) BIG HUG! Maria :-)
ReplyDeleteSerena -- This is what I love about blogging. I get to learn about so many things I've never seen before. I loved seeing all your plants. I wish you luck with the tadpoles. I'm not so fond of frogs, myself.
ReplyDeleteI was VERY impressed with the banana. It looks like I could pick them up off the page and peel one:~)
Also, I hoe you will feel better soon. I will send healing energy your way. In the meantime, enjoy the telly and be good to yourself:~)