Albert enjoys the spring-time weather out in the garden.
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Hi Keres.
I busted out laughing when I saw Albert. I don’t know, but he’s appears to have a look of “Don’t mess with me.”
No, that’s his usual “look”. Of course, he never wants to be messed with, but in this instance he was just looking around inquisitively.
He likes being outside, and we like having him with us in the garden (behind a bunny proof fence).
We used to have an outside hutch that sat on the grass, but there are two rabbit diseases introduced to Australia to help control the feral population. Both are spread by mosquitoes, so we decided it’s not worth the risk of Albert getting bit while spending the day outside (so we gave the hutch away).
Hi Myriad.
I remember something being said about the rabbit diseases. That’s pretty much a bummer about him having to stay inside.
Are ya’ll starting to warm up any down there?
That was really me using Imogen’s login by mistake.
Yes, it’s finally warming up. Woohoo.
Imogen is actually in the north of the state tonight. It was a holiday today, but only in the south of Tasmania (talk about parochial), and since her job covers the whole state she ended-up having to work anyway. Bummer. She’ll be home around 4pm tomorrow.
I know I won’t understand, but what holiday?
It’s “Show Day”, as in the day everyone in the south of the state gets off to go to the Hobart Show (which equivalent to a US state fair). Then there’s “Regatta Day” for the Sydney to Hobart (sailing) Regatta. And there’s the Queen’s Birthday, Australia Day and a few other days I don’t remember. But even with the weird ones like “Show Day” there are still fewer holidays off here than in the US. Although generally Australian workers get more vacation days.
I might go to the Show tomorrow, just to see the farm critters.
Albert is so darned cute. And sorry if this is a dumb question, but is there really a feral rabbit population in Australia?
European rabbits and hares were intentionally introduced to Australia and have been an ecological disaster.
The State of Queensland does not even allow rabbits to be kept as domestic pets – for fear of their escaping.
“Feral” might not be the best descriptor, as it is primarily used to describe domesticated species gone wild. But in Australia it is also used to describe intentionally introduced “game” species, like “feral pigs” which are actually European wild boars. And yes, they are a problem as well. As are feral foxes, feral goats, feral camels, and feral water buffalo. And in Tasmania especially, feral cats – which I regularly trap and surrender to the Cat’s Home to be destroyed.
Australia, unfortunately, is awash in invasive species.
but last week you were commenting on how orderly my woods are and I admitted I just don’t take pictures of the “messy” parts. So here’s an exposé of the the un-neat Indiana forest.
Click image for larger version
Lovely, and still more orderly than our scraggly lot.
There are literally thousands of orchids in bloom at the moment. It’s a shame that there’s no real way of getting a photo to convey the effect of them dotting the hillsides with tiny bright sparks of color.
Well, it sounds like something that’s well worth trying because even an unsuccessful shot will be gorgeous.
I’ll try, as soon as I get my new compact flash card. 🙁
Woo Hoo. It came in today’s mail. A full one Gigabyte SanDisk Extreme III compact flash card. It holds four times the number of photos as my old card (which SanDisk is replacing under warranty and I’ll (eventually) have as a back-up).
I’ll try to get some orchid photos late in this afternoon. I’m hoping that the “raking” effect from the low sun will help highlight the flowers.
In the front are two purple Waxlip orchids, the yellow blossoms are on a Spreading Wattle bush, and the blue blossoms are Blue Lovescreeper, which is a leafless vine.
A very small brightly colored moth.
A very pink Pink Fingers orchid.
The flower’s about 3/4 inch wide.
Thats is so cool. You don’t see orchids around here except in pots.
Good morning, all!
This little snippet could have gone to the News Bucket, but seems a better fit in the critter blog:
Squirrel pays price for nutty idea
A timely metaphor for many of us, doncha think?
It relates well to one of my favorite sayings: “Good judgment comes from experience – which usually comes from bad judgment”. Unfortunately, even when we vow to we’ll, “never do that again”, there are still thousands of variations on that theme that we will also have to learn the hard way.
I’m seeing a trend with the Scottish Folds.
I had a cat years ago who had one ear folded down and another half folded down from scaring. People used to ask if he was a Fold, or part Fold. I replied: “no, he just likes to fight above his weight” (poor scrawny thing).
That is too cute. My kitty loves to hide under the table:
I have an extra special soft-spot for calico cats.
Me too. My first cat on my own as an adult was a long haired calico, whom I named Agate. She was a fabulous cat, so much so that we kept two of her kittens. She sneaked a pregnancy in before we could get her fixed. Sadly, she outlived both her kittens, but passed on a year ago. I vowed never to get another white cat. All my clothes are black. Yet, when we saw the cutie pictured and her black and white brother at the shelter, we had no choice but to take them home. :>)
The girl is Karma, and while she is calico, she and her brother have truly bizarre patterns. Spots, stripes, mish-mash, you name it, they have it. I find it interesting that in this breed, the girls are more colorful than the boys. They have very similar markings, but hers are in color and his are just various shade of black and white.
Cats are interesting in their color genetics. The genes for orange and black are mutually exclusive, and only located on an X chromosome. Which is why only females can be both orange and black (tortoiseshell or calico) – the orange is on one X and the black is on the other X.
Males, having only one X chromosome, get either orange or black, modified by whatever other genes they have, like the genes for suppression (white), dilution (greys and creams), tabby (stripes or swirls), etc.
no relation to Bu…but an interesting tale of puppies insatiable curiosity and the weird situations they get into: outer space dog
h/t wolcott
lTMF’sA
Nice story.
I’ve had cats and rabbits get containers stuck on their head, but they usually came off with a slight tug.
Otherwise known as “Superb Fairy Wrens”.
Mr. Puffball was sitting on the plants and posts, etc. to keep an eye on his wife. Superb Fairy Wrens are notorious for being the most promiscuous species of bird – so watch as he will, he’ll still be lucky to be raising a brood that’s mostly his own.
making the most of the recent rains.
Note the Aussie classic – the ice plant (known here as “pigface” planter made out of an old toilet.
What a great set of photos! Your garden is grand and the orchids look gorgeous and as always, your bird pics are perfect.
We can’t take much credit for the garden – it came with the house. Our only visible improvements are in the wire cages: native plants we’ve introduced to replace of some of the non-native plants that are pest species (because of their tendency to escape). Fuscias for example, which we are replacing with Coreas (often called “native fuscias”). Because the honeyeaters love the fuscia, we are waiting until the Coreas get big before we take it out. Much like how we are waiting for the eucalyptus trees we planted to get bigger, so that we can take out the pines. Obviously, this is a very long term endeavor.
Imogen and I braved the crowds and the Carnies to see a litter of six-and-a-half-month-old Tasmanian devils at the Royal Hobart Show (State Fair).
Looks like it was worth the trip!
Two more of the litter.
Adult devil. Don’t try this at home (devils jaws make Pitbulls seem like kittens).
Our friend’s minature horse, Cleo, had a filly about a week ago. They don’t have name for her yet.
This is Milo’s son, Max, at nine weeks.
Their’s is a mutually antagonistic relationship.
I love this picture!
And also the orchid pics and the puppy pic. And wow on the tasmanian devil baby pics.
I sure am enjoying that you got your camera back. 🙂